Research Project Manager Resume Guide

Research project managers coordinate and manage research projects from conception to completion. They are responsible for overseeing the entire process, including resource allocation, budgeting, scheduling and implementation. They must also ensure that all relevant stakeholders are kept informed of progress throughout the duration of the project.

As a research project manager, you have the ability to coordinate and manage complex projects. To make yourself known to employers in the field, it’s important that your resume stands out from other candidates’.

This guide will walk you through the entire process of creating a top-notch resume. We first show you a complete example and then break down what each resume section should look like.

The guide is divided into sections for your convenience. You can read it from beginning to end or use the table of contents below to jump to a specific part.

Full Resume Example Summary Experience Skills Education Certifications Contact Info Cover Letter Templates

Research Project Manager Resume Sample

Gladyce Bailey
Research Project Manager

[email protected]
537-947-4805
linkedin.com/in/gladyce-bailey

Summary

Accomplished research project manager with 10+ years of experience in the medical field. Demonstrated success in leading and managing teams to meet deadlines, delivering on-time results within budget constraints. Proven ability to develop innovative strategies for conducting clinical trials that adhere to industry standards and regulations. Skilled at utilizing data analysis techniques to interpret study findings accurately and effectively communicate results across multiple stakeholders.

Experience

Research Project Manager, Employer A
Seattle, Jan 2018 – Present

Accurately managed a $2M research project budget, ensuring all expenditures were tracked and documented within deadlines.
Presented the findings of research projects to upper management and external stakeholders in an engaging manner; successfully obtained additional funding for two key initiatives resulting in increased efficiency by 30%.
Assessed risk factors associated with each stage of the project cycle and implemented appropriate mitigation strategies, reducing total cost overruns by 18%.
Revised existing protocols according to changing business needs or industry standards; conducted regular quality checks that enabled successful completion of four research projects before deadline.
Streamlined administrative processes related to post-project reviews via automation techniques; saved 16 hours per review period on average without compromising accuracy or results delivery timescale.

Research Project Manager, Employer B
Amarillo, Mar 2012 – Dec 2017

Reliably managed over 50 research projects simultaneously, ensuring that all deadlines were met and no budget exceeded by more than 10%.
Introduced innovative strategies to improve project workflow processes, increasing productivity levels by 20% while saving $10,000 in operational costs per quarter.
Demonstrated strong leadership skills when supervising a team of 15 researchers; organized weekly training sessions which improved employee performance ratings across the board.
Compiled reports analyzing data from completed studies and presented findings at professional conferences 4x/year; received positive feedback for each presentation given on behalf of the company.
Achieved success in obtaining grant funding for new research initiatives worth an estimated total of $750,000 over 3 years.

Skills

Data Analysis
Clinical Research
Qualitative Research
SPSS
Public Health
Statistics
Teaching
Healthcare
Program Evaluation

Education

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Educational Institution XYZ
Nov 2011

Certifications

Certified Research Administrator (CRA)
Research Administrators Certification Council
May 2017

1. Summary / Objective

A resume summary/objective for a research project manager should highlight your ability to lead teams, manage multiple projects simultaneously, and deliver results on time. Include any relevant certifications or qualifications you have obtained in the past that demonstrate your expertise in this field. You could also mention how many years of experience you have with managing complex research projects, as well as any awards or recognition you may have received from previous employers.

Below are some resume summary examples:

Proficient research project manager with 8+ years of experience managing complex and multi-disciplinary projects from conception to completion. Skilled in identifying, analyzing, and resolving issues that arise during the course of a project. Seeking to join ABC Research Labs to manage interdisciplinary research initiatives for its wide range of clients. At XYZ Lab, oversaw 10 total projects with an average budget of $1M per year while ensuring on-time delivery within 95% accuracy rate.

Detail-oriented research project manager with 5+ years of experience in the field. Successfully led five multi-disciplinary research projects, resulting in significant growth and improved customer satisfaction for XYZ company. Proven track record of managing complex tasks and meeting deadlines while delivering high-quality results on time. Skilled at developing effective strategies to maximize resources, motivate teams, and ensure successful completion of projects.

Hard-working research project manager with 7+ years of experience in leading research teams. Expertise in developing and executing projects, creating presentations for stakeholders, managing budgets, and analyzing data. Proven track record of success in delivering high-quality results on time while working within allocated budget constraints. Recent accomplishment includes launching a successful consumer survey to gain insights into customer satisfaction levels.

Dependable and detail-oriented research project manager with 7+ years of experience managing complex projects for clients in the finance, healthcare, education, and government sectors. Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams through all phases of the research lifecycle including planning, data collection/analysis and report writing. Seeking a position at ABC Corporation where I can apply my expertise to drive high quality results on time and under budget.

Skilled research project manager with 7+ years of experience in the medical field, working on both large and small scale projects. Experienced in developing and executing research plans that adhere to strict timelines while also ensuring accuracy of data collection. Solid track record of successful outcomes, including achieving a 90% satisfaction rate among participants for a major clinical trial study at XYZ Research Institute.

Committed and organized research project manager with 5+ years of experience leading teams in the development, implementation, and evaluation of clinical trials. Awarded “Outstanding Employee” at XYZ for completing projects on time and under budget while maintaining a high level of accuracy. Seeking to join ABC as a Research Project Manager to continue driving innovation by managing complex cross-functional initiatives.

Seasoned research project manager with 8+ years of experience planning, managing and executing projects for a variety of clients. Proven ability to build relationships between different stakeholders and coordinate resources efficiently. Seeking the role at ABC Research Institute to lead innovative projects that have an impact on society and help drive positive change in the world.

Driven research project manager with 5+ years of experience in leading research projects from concept to completion. Successfully led the XYZ Research Project and delivered results 2 months ahead of schedule, saving $15K for the company. Skilled at managing complex tasks, staying organized and on-track, as well as developing creative solutions to challenging problems.

2. Experience / Employment

In the experience/employment/work history section, you should list your professional experience in reverse chronological order. This means that the most recent job is listed first.

When writing this section, stick to bullet points as much as possible; it allows the reader to quickly digest what you have written. When providing details on what you did and accomplished in each role, make sure to include quantifiable results if applicable. For example, instead of saying “Managed research projects,” say something like “Successfully managed 10+ research projects from start-to-finish within budget and timeline constraints.”

To write effective bullet points, begin with a strong verb or adverb. Industry specific verbs to use are:

Other general verbs you can use are:

Achieved
Advised
Assessed
Compiled
Coordinated
Demonstrated
Developed
Expedited
Facilitated
Formulated
Improved
Introduced
Mentored
Optimized
Participated
Prepared
Presented
Reduced
Reorganized
Represented
Revised
Spearheaded
Streamlined
Structured
Utilized

Below are some example bullet points:

Improved the accuracy and completeness of research data sets by 25%, through diligent attention to detail and rigorous quality checks.
Optimized the performance of over 20 research projects, ensuring that objectives were met within budgeted time frames; saved 3 hours on average in project cycle times.
Structured a comprehensive database for storing, tracking and analyzing all relevant information related to each project; reduced manual effort required for data organization by 30%.
Reduced overall expenditure on external resources by 10% whilst maintaining excellent standards of research output & results delivery across all projects managed.
Diligently monitored progress against deliverables at regular intervals, providing timely reports & updates to stakeholders throughout the duration of the projects assigned.

Participated in and managed 10+ research projects, coordinating with stakeholders to ensure timely completion of deliverables within budget.
Spearheaded the design & execution of innovative strategies for conducting market surveys, increasing response rates by 15%.
Expedited data collection processes and accelerated project timelines by 40%, resulting in savings of $25K on overheads costs per project cycle.
Advised senior management team on best practices for leveraging primary/secondary research results when formulating business decisions; achieved an accuracy rate of 97% in insights gathered from analysis reports generated each month.
Competently evaluated qualitative & quantitative data collected through various methods (in-person interviews, focus groups etc.), identifying key trends that improved decision making accuracy across multiple departments by 87%.

Developed comprehensive research plans and managed up to 8 concurrent projects, leading a cross-functional team of 15 researchers; increased efficiency by 25% within the first 3 months.
Facilitated collaborative efforts between project stakeholders, ensuring clear communication channels and efficient resource utilization at all times.
Formulated detailed reports on findings for senior management teams that accurately reflected data gathered from field studies; improved accuracy rate by 10%.
Prepared timely deliverables such as presentations, surveys and technical documents to ensure deadlines were met without compromising quality standards or process integrity.
Actively consulted with key stakeholders in order to identify areas of improvement across various projects and implemented changes resulting in an additional $20K savings per month for the client organization.

Coordinated a team of 15 research scientists to develop innovative solutions for a wide range of projects, resulting in the completion of 5 successful research initiatives ahead of schedule.
Mentored 6 junior researchers on data analysis and project management principles; led training sessions that resulted in an average productivity increase among mentees by 20%.
Resourcefully identified potential funding sources, wrote proposals & managed budgets totaling $500K across 10+ projects with no discrepancies or audit issues reported.
Represented the company at various industry events & conferences as well as presented findings from completed projects to internal stakeholders and international partners alike.
Utilized excellent communication skills when liaising between cross-functional teams, ensuring all parties were kept abreast about milestones achieved and resources needed to move forward with each initiative promptly.

3. Skills

Skill requirements will differ from employer to employer – this can easily be determined via the job advert. Organization ABC may require experience in managing large-scale research projects, while organization XYZ might need someone with a background in grant writing and financial management.

Therefore, it is important to tailor the skills section of your resume for each job that you are applying for. This will help ensure that your application stands out from the crowd as many employers use applicant tracking systems these days which scan resumes for certain keywords before passing them on to a human.

You should also elaborate further on any relevant skills or qualifications mentioned here by discussing them more thoroughly elsewhere in your resume (e.g., summary/objective statement, work history).

Below is a list of common skills & terms:

Analysis
Biotechnology
Cell Biology
Cell Culture
Clinical Research
Clinical Trials
Communication
Data Analysis
Data Collection
Data Entry
Data Management
Editing
Epidemiology
Fundraising
Grant Writing
Health Education
Healthcare
Higher Education
Life Sciences
Lifesciences
Literature Reviews
Market Research
Molecular Biology
Nonprofits
PCR
Program Development
Program Evaluation
Program Management
Project Planning
Psychology
Public Health
Qualitative Research
Quantitative Research
Research Design
SPSS
Science
Stata
Statistics
Teaching
Team Leadership
Teamwork
Time Management
Western Blotting
Writing

4. Education

Including an education section on your resume will depend on how much experience you have in the field. If you are just starting out and don’t have a lot of work experience, mention your education below your resume objective. However, if you have been working as a research project manager for many years with plenty to showcase, omitting the education section is perfectly acceptable.

If an education section is included, try to list courses related to the research project management role that demonstrate skills relevant to performing well in this position.

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Educational Institution XYZ
Nov 2011

5. Certifications

Certifications are a great way to demonstrate your expertise in a certain field. They show that you have been tested and certified by an authoritative body, which can be very attractive to potential employers.

If the job posting mentions any specific certifications or qualifications, make sure to include them on your resume so that hiring managers know you meet their requirements. Additionally, if there is any professional development courses related to the position you’re applying for, list those as well!

Certified Research Administrator (CRA)
Research Administrators Certification Council
May 2017

6. Contact Info

Your name should be the first thing a reader sees when viewing your resume, so ensure its positioning is prominent. Your phone number should be written in the most commonly used format in your country/city/state, and your email address should be professional.

You can also choose to include a link to your LinkedIn profile, personal website, or other online platforms relevant to your industry.

Finally, name your resume file appropriately to help hiring managers; for Gladyce Bailey, this would be Gladyce-Bailey-resume.pdf or Gladyce-Bailey-resume.docx.

7. Cover Letter

Submitting a cover letter is an excellent way to demonstrate your interest in a job. It allows you to showcase your skills, experience and knowledge that may not be evident from reading through just your resume.

A cover letter should typically consist of 2-4 paragraphs and include information on why you’re the perfect candidate for the role. By writing one, it will give employers more insight into who you are as a professional and help them make their decision quickly.

Below is an example cover letter:

Dear Emile,

I am writing to apply for the Research Project Manager position at [company name]. With a Master’s degree in Science and more than 10 years of experience managing research projects, I am confident I will be an asset to your team.

In my previous role as Research Project Manager at [company name], I was responsible for overseeing all aspects of assigned research projects, from study design and implementation to data analysis and reporting. I also managed a team of five research associates and coordinated with internal and external stakeholders to ensure successful project completion. My experience has given me a strong understanding of the scientific method and how to effectively manage complex research projects.

I am passionate about conducting high-quality research that makes a positive impact on people’s lives. In my most recent project, we developed a new clinical trial protocol that improved patient safety and resulted in fewer adverse events. This work was published in the Journal of Clinical Trials, which is one of the leading journals in the field.

I am excited about the possibility of bringing my skills and experience to bear on the important work being done at [company name]. I look forward to speaking with you soon about this opportunity.

Sincerely,

Gladyce