Sr. Director, Research and Innovation (R&I)

Sr. Director, Research And Innovation (R&I), Docking

The Sr. Director, Research and Innovation (R&I), Docking provides technical leadership for innovation and product development and leads technology innovation and execution to enable product strategies defined by Product Management. This includes enabling execution of product roadmaps through system architecture, feasibility validation, and design. They bridge the gap between front-end ideation and commercial-scale manufacturing, ensuring that the company maintains a competitive advantage through breakthrough products, process optimization (e.g., automation, digitalization), and technology scale-up. They lead through technical expertise and cross-functional influence in a matrixed organization, guiding execution across R&I teams and initiatives. This role owns system architecture, design standards, and technical validation across all Docking products to ensure reliability, scalability, and manufacturability. Provides technical recommendations on prioritization and portfolio decisions; final prioritization authority resides with Product Management and BU leadership.

Description Of Essential Job Functions:

1. Innovation & Technology Strategy
2. Research Execution & Process Excellence
3. Leadership & Collaboration

Innovation & Technology Strategy

1. Define the long-term vision for research and development (R&D) and product innovation. Align innovation roadmaps with overarching business goals, market trends, customer needs, emerging technologies, and sustainability initiatives.
2. Oversee the execution of R&D strategies, ensuring alignment with industry trends and best practices.
3. Apply emerging technologies selectively to solve validated customer and business problems, ensuring alignment with product strategy and measurable business outcomes. Manage the end-to-end R&D, innovation, and emerging products portfolio (front-end ideation, scale-up, and commercialization), including prioritization, resource allocation, and disciplined decisions to advance, pivot, or stop work based on data and business value.
4. Ensure new products and processes are designed for North American scalability, cost-effectiveness, and manufacturability. Oversee the transition from benchtop formulation/lab prototypes or prototyping into full-scale, cost-effective industrial operations.

Research Execution & Process Excellence

1. Identify and resolve technical risks early in the development lifecycle, including recommending termination or pivoting of non-viable concepts based on feasibility, cost, and performance criteria.
2. Accelerate time-to-market using design thinking, experimentation, and rapid learning cycles.
3. Oversee intellectual property (IP) strategy and growth, including invention disclosures and patent development, and protect company assets.
4. Manage and oversee New Product Introduction (NPI) and Engineer-to-Order (ETO) processes ensuring all scalable designs meet cost, quality, safety, and compliance.
5. Establish and maintain innovation processes and governance that support disciplined technical execution, speed, quality, and learning.
6. Manage the end-to-end innovation portfolio using Stage-Gate or Agile methodologies to optimize resourcing, mitigate risk, and control R&D budgets. Responsible for technical readiness, validation, and delivery of engineering outputs required to successfully pass each stage-gate.
7. Oversee research budgets, determine early-stage investment priorities, and drive continuous improvement toward measurable ROI.
8. Supports product P&L performance through cost, design, and technical decisions; does not own commercial or pricing accountability.
9. Develop, track, and report Research and Product Development key performance indicators (KPIs).

Leadership & Collaboration

1. Provide visionary leadership for R&D/engineering strategy development.
2. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify and prioritize the R&D initiatives that drive operational efficiency.
3. Partner closely with Product Management, with clear accountability that Product Management defines 'what' and 'why,' while R&I defines 'how' and ensures technical feasibility and execution quality. Partner closely with Marketing, Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, and Commercial teams to ensure innovation pipelines meet customer requirements and regulatory/compliance standards.
4. Facilitate co-creation opportunities with internal and external customers to enhance product offerings and market competitiveness. Lead and mentor teams of researchers, product developers, and process engineers.
5. Represent the company at external technical forums, industry events, and customer meetings as needed.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Directly lead and develop a team of R&I engineers and technical specialists, providing both people leadership and strong hands-on technical direction.
• Balance team leadership responsibilities with active involvement in system architecture, design reviews, and technical problem-solving.
• Carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with organizational policies, including hiring, development, performance management, and team effectiveness.

Qualification Requirements:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education And Experience:

• Minimum of a Bachelor's degree (Master's or Ph.D. preferred) in Engineering (i.e., Mechanical, Industrial, Manufacturing), Material Science, or a relevant discipline.
• 10+ years of progressive R&D and leadership experience within manufacturing or product development, ideally with at least 5+ years in an executive or people-management capacity.
• Proven expertise in developing and executing technology strategies that foster innovation.
• Experience with emerging technologies and their application in a business context
• Proven success in bringing new or complex, scalable technologies or products from the early research phase through to full-scale market deployment.
• Demonstrated experience developing ROI analyses with a strong understanding of product commercialization and standardization.
• Broad experience with manufacturing techniques, materials, and processes.

Computer Skills

• Ability to use a personal computer utilizing spreadsheet and word processing software applications, databases, and automated systems to accomplish work.
• Advanced/Intermediate skill level with Microsoft Office Suite; Word, Excel, Project, and PowerPoint.

Certificates, Certifications, Licenses, Registrations:

• Professional engineering licensure preferred

Company Core Competencies (Standard behavioral performance dimensions are listed below):

Communications - Flexibility - Builds Effective Teams - Change Leadership

Change Management - Cost Consciousness - Creativity and Innovation - Customer Focused

Developing Others - Fostering Teamwork - Global Mindset - People Leadership

Problem Solving - Quality Orientation - Safety Focus - Valuing Diversity

Accountability & Dependability - Core Values & Guiding Behaviors

Demonstrating Beliefs and Principles - Diagnostic Information Gathering

Integrity, Trust, & Respect - Levering Customer Networks

Managing Through Systems - Self-Development & Continual Learning

Strategic Decision Making - Technical & Professional Skill and Expertise

Other Skills, Abilities, or Competencies:

• Solid business acumen.
• Possess high ethical standards.
• Hands-on, high-output leader required.
• Self-motivated, results-driven problem solver.
• Excellent project management and prioritization skills.
• Strong analytical and data-driven decision-making abilities.
• Advanced/Hands on approach to problem solving and analysis.
• Knowledge of industry-standard testing methods and techniques.
• Working knowledge of intellectual property and patent processes.
• Strong collaborator capable of thriving in a cross-functional environment.
• Proven ability to build and lead high-performing teams in dynamic settings.
• The ability to develop, coordinate, and manage multiple concurrent projects.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
• Hands-on leadership style with the ability to engage at all organizational levels.
• Ability to understand, interpret, and apply industry standards and best practices.
• Exceptional leadership skills with a focus on team development and mentorship.
• Strong understanding of Design for Manufacturability and Assembly (DFMA) principles.
• Ability to promote a culture of data-driven, cross