Research managers need friends in high places

Anne Katrin Werenskiold and Meike Dlaboha describe how they raised their profession’s political profile

In the past 10 years, a new brand of research manager has emerged at Germany’s universities and research institutes. They are tasked with a growing list of obligations—open access and technology transfer, administering structured doctoral programmes, winning third-party funding, managing international collaboration, working on public relations and more. 

Despite this, they still struggle with career paths, professional recognition and how their jobs are defined. Roles at the interface of research and administration are not yet fully recognised.