VP, Chief Innovation Officer

Job Summary

Senior Director, Research & Development responsible for defining and leading the organization's R&D strategy to drive innovation, product development, and technology advancement in support of business growth and competitive differentiation. This role provides enterprise‑wide leadership for research, product development, and innovation pipelines.

Role Overview:

• R&D Strategy & Innovation Leadership
  Define and own the enterprise R&D and innovation strategy aligned with business objectives.
  Establish multiyear technology and product development roadmaps.
  Ensure R&D priorities balance near‑term delivery with long‑term innovation.
• Product & Technology Development
  Oversee development of new products, platforms, and technologies.
  Ensure disciplined execution of development programs from concept through launch.
  Promote design for quality, scalability, manufacturability, and sustainability.
• Portfolio Management & Investment Prioritization
  Lead governance of the R&D portfolio, including prioritization and resource allocation.
  Evaluate technical feasibility, market potential, risk, and ROI of initiatives.
  Ensure effective decision‑making across stage‑gate or development lifecycle processes.
• Innovation Pipeline & Market Alignment
  Foster ideation, experimentation, and exploration of emerging technologies.
  Partner with Marketing and Business Development to align innovation with customer needs.
  Monitor market and technology trends to inform innovation direction.
• Technical Excellence & Standards
  Establish R&D standards, methodologies, and best practices.
  Ensure rigorous technical reviews, validation, and verification processes.
  Promote knowledge sharing and reuse of platforms and technologies.
• Cross‑Functional Product Realization
  Collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Regulatory, and Operations.
  Ensure smooth transition of designs from R&D to manufacturing and commercialization.
  Support product launches and post‑launch performance monitoring.
• People Leadership & Capability Development
  Lead and develop a high‑performing R&D organization.
  Build capability in research, product development, and innovation leadership.
  Establish organizational structures, performance expectations, and succession plans.
• External Collaboration & Ecosystem Engagement
  Build relationships with universities, research institutions, suppliers, and partners.
  Support open innovation, partnerships, and external research initiatives as appropriate.
  Evaluate opportunities for collaboration to accelerate innovation.
• Senior Leadership Collaboration & Communication
  Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on innovation strategy and technology risk.
  Communicate R&D performance, progress, and roadmap to senior leadership forums.
  Provide thought leadership on innovation culture and long‑term technical direction.

• Education & Experience:
  
  Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science, or related technical field required.
  Master's degree or PhD (or MBA with strong technical background) strongly preferred.
  Typically 12‑15+ years of progressive experience in R&D, engineering, or product development roles.
  Demonstrated experience leading enterprise‑level R&D or innovation organizations.
• Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
  Deep technical expertise and understanding of product and technology development.
  Strong strategic planning, portfolio management, and innovation leadership skills.
  Proven senior leadership and people development capability.
  Ability to influence and align cross‑functional and geographically dispersed leaders.
  Strong analytical, decision‑making, and risk‑management skills.
  Clear communication, judgment, and change‑leadership capability.

Management - M5

• Organizational Impact:
  
  * Establishes operational initiatives that significantly influence the mid‑to‑long‑term success and performance of the overall business unit, department and/or job family group.
  
  * Leads the implementation of strategies set forth by executive leadership, ensuring alignment with functional or business unit objectives.
  
  * Develops and oversees strategic operational plans for the department and/or job family group, focusing on mid‑term…