Research Organization Structure
This editable research example shows one practical way to group leadership, specialist roles and subfunctions under Head of R&D.
Research Organization Structure
Illustrative, editable reporting structure. Adapt roles and lines to your organization.
About this department template
Research Organization Structure is a role-based example, not a depiction of a specific employer. It shows how responsibility can be split while keeping each reporting line explicit.
This cross-industry example needs adaptation for pharmaceuticals, food, chemicals and electronics. Their testing, regulatory and manufacturing interfaces differ.
Use the department-level view to define the main subfunctions before adding individual job titles or location-specific layers.
How this research is organized
Head of R&D is the top role in this example. The first layer groups Research, Product Development, Engineering, Testing & Validation, Technical Project Management and other specialist functions.
The branches show managerial reporting for this sample. Collaboration across departments and functional governance may require separate notes or a different relationship type; they should not be read as another solid-line manager.
For a smaller organization, combine roles before adding layers. For a larger one, add supervisors, regional owners or specialist teams where workload and decision rights justify them. This cross-industry example needs adaptation for pharmaceuticals, food, chemicals and electronics. Their testing, regulatory and manufacturing interfaces differ.
Lead role
Head of R&D
Example department lead — Replace this role title with the accountable leader in your organization.
How to adapt this structure
The chart gives each major responsibility one visible home, making it easier to discuss ownership and handoffs.
Because this is an editable org tree, teams can remove irrelevant branches and add their own supervisors without changing the underlying template architecture.
Design tradeoffs
- Specialist branches make ownership easy to find.
- Too many standalone teams can add coordination overhead in a small organization.
What this chart shows
- The chart is an illustrative template, not a required department design.
- The root role is Head of R&D.
- Its first layer includes Research, Product Development, Engineering.
- Shared or federated responsibilities need explanatory notes when they are not managerial reporting.
Related process templates
Frequently asked questions
What should a research chart include?
Start with the accountable leader, the major responsibilities and the real reporting lines. Add individual roles only where they help explain ownership.
Can a small organization use this template?
Yes. Combine branches that one person or team actually owns, and remove layers that do not exist.
Are these reporting lines mandatory?
No. This is an illustrative structure. Change every role and line to match your organization.
Use this org chart template
Open and edit this research org chart in QueryChart.