The growth of science and technology generates new challenges and new needs in management. The development of the spheres of science and technology, rapidly changing global labor market, causes permanent alteration of requirements to managerial competences of the heads of scientific organizations. The article considers the problem of development of managerial competence of the head of a scientific organization, capable of initiative and non-standard management decisions. The problem of managerial competence is important not only from the point of view of practical efficiency, but from the point of view of scientific research.The article discusses some theoretical aspects of the concepts “competence”, ”competency’’, interrelation of managerial competences of the head of a scientific organization with the system for developing programs of continuous professional education of managers themselves. The article emphasizes the importance of the thorough analysis of the concept “competence”. To consider the ways of developing the managerial competence of leaders it is necessary to reveal the basic requirements to these leaders and define the managerial competence content of new type leaders. Leaders of new type should possess a high level of development of managerial competence, providing the achievement of traditional and new functions simultaneously. The idea of forming managerial competence is based on the content of continuous professional development of heads of scientific organizations, which implies expanding intellectual potential, developing creativity, creating and providing the effective managerial competence of leaders. Heads of scientific organizations should take responsibility how well they manage their own organization in the process of achieving their goals. In their everyday work they should be responsible for high level of initiative, willingness to work and ingenuity of their subordinates. The involvement of managerial skills with psychological character into retraining programs of the heads of scientific organizations is considered appropriate.