The progress of a company or business relies upon the research and development that comes from employees constantly looking for better approaches concerning issues like management, growth, expansion, and cost-efficiency. If seeking ways to improve a business interests you, it is recommended to consider some of the occupations listed below:

Clinical Research Coordinator

A Clinical Research Coordinator is in charge of the organization of research data concerning clinical projects. Typical responsibilities include selecting and observing subjects, and then helping out with the analysis of acquired information. A high school diploma (or its equivalent) paired with two to four years of related experience is required for this job. An array of tasks is encountered, which allows an employee to exercise their creativity, judgment, and planning skills. It is not uncommon to report to a supervisor or manager. The average annual salary for this job title ranges between $37,063 and $68,018.

Market Research Analyst

The collecting and analysis of data in regards to existing and potential product/service markets is one of the main concerns of a Market Research Analyst. Knowing the competitors within the market and keeping an eye on change within the industry is another important part of pursuing this kind of career. A bachelor's degree (with zero to two years of experience in the field) is necessary in order to build a working knowledge of commonly used concepts, practices, and procedures associated with market research. The average salary is seen between $35,182 and $56,999.

Research and Development Director

If you are interested in becoming a Research and Development Director, there is a lot of experience required in order to fill the shoes of this lucrative position. As director, a watchful eye is needed in order to keep tabs on the research and development policies of an organization. You will review and approve objectives and initiatives concerning the future of a company. The research and development programs you back should boost the profitability of a business and hopefully create more of a threat to competitors. A bachelor's degree with at least ten years of experience in the field is required to apply for this position. Typical salaries are seen between $98,732 and $253,482.

Market Research Manager

As a Market Research Manager, you will manage the activities that take place within the market research department. It will become your duty to oversee the inner-workings of a team of analysts to make sure they follow proper procedures concerning analytic techniques that access the various demands for products and services on the market. You will become a wizard at predicting consumer trends and become responsible for looking over current research projects. A bachelor's degree in an area of specialty with at least seven years of experience in the field is necessary for this position. It is also important that you are able to lead and work well with others. An average yearly salary for Market Research Manager is seen between $65,538 and $114,791.

Operations Research Analyst

The collection and analysis of data in regards to the evaluation of operational difficulties is one of the many duties of a Operations Research Analyst, who will later suggest the best course of action when it comes to solving issues concerning a company. A bachelor's degree and zero to three years of experience is required for one to gain a sufficient amount of knowledge for the execution of typical concepts, practices, and procedures concerning your job. Yearly salaries for this position range from $30,126 to $61,010.

Best Companies in Research and Development

When looking for the best companies to work for in the field of research and development, using the Fortune magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For" list could become a rather helpful starting point. Making the list for 2008, FactSet Research Systems Inc. has proven itself worthy in the world of integrated financial information and analytical applications. As a small company, it ranks #20 on the list and captured the #52 overall position on the Top 100.

Another praiseworthy company is Genentech, which showers its employees with an onsite farmers' market and day care for dogs. Their 401(k) match is rather impressive, where employees also enjoy access to an onsite fitness center, subsidized gym membership, job sharing program, compressed workweek, and telecommuting. The most common salaried job at Genentech is a Research Associate at $85,880. There is also a satisfying balance of minority and female employees in the company.