Head of Product Development & Innovation

Job content

Job purpose

To lead the businesses global Product development and innovation (PD&I) strategy, ensuring the business has a relevant, evolving portfolio of products and associated services across all key markets and geographies. Delivers excellence through people, innovation, commerciality and operational performance while identifying opportunities for improvement in support of business goals. Plays a lead role as a member of the wider businesses leadership team developing and delivering the strategy of the business today while preparing for tomorrow.

Principal Accountabilities

Senior Leadership Team (SLT) – plays an integral, proactive role as part of the Senior Leadership Team in the development and progression of business.

• Takes a proactive role in the development, definition and execution of the strategic business plan.
• Ensures that decisions being taken at a business level are consistent with the vision and values, of the business.
• Influence and respectfully challenge peers within the SLT in pursuit of achieving business goals.
• Acts as an Ambassador of the business, representing its values (at all times) internally and externally alike.
  

Research & Development strategy - develop the PD&I strategy to ensure all aspects of the function are intrinsically aligned with the needs of the business, while ensuring standards of excellence are maintained and developed.

• Define, develop, and implement a compelling PD&I strategy in line with short, medium and long-term business goals.
• Leads the analysis of and understands key future trends, technologies and practices in relevant areas, developing strategies to aid the acquisition of supporting expertise and knowledge. In doing so clearly defines a pipeline of innovation to ensure the business is exploring opportunities with the necessary resource and investment.
• Develops significant new programmes of research in line with the PD&I strategy and business goals.
• Explores and secure corporate or business support for research programmes that support activities within a relevant theme.
• Works collaboratively with technical experts to develop Technology Road maps
• Ensure a shared vision is established across the PD&I organisation in support of delivering an effective innovation strategy that is aligned to the commercial goals of the business.
• Work with the department management team to develop high impact plans in line with the innovation strategy and business goals.
• Engage with stakeholders across the business and externally in support of ensuring optimum strategic alignment between the PD&I organisation and business goals.
  

Leadership – A serious, passionate and innovative scientist / technologist who inspires at all levels, leads by example, operates strategically and delivers rapid innovative solutions

• Provide support and guidance to direct reports offering clear direction on objectives and indicators of success.
• Ensure clear succession plans for colleagues are developed, clearly documented and implemented.
• Provide clear direction to cross functional teams and peers across the business, acting as a visible, proactive member of the SLT.
• Recruit talent in support of the PD&I strategy, skill gaps, striving to raise the calibre bar and identifying future potential.
• Be the figurehead for PD&I (internally and externally)
• Take accountability and responsibility for driving the New Product Development & Introduction process, engaging with all stakeholders to make it a success
  

Scope

PD&I operations –work with PD&I management and technical experts to oversee the effective operation of the PD&I organisation, ensuring that it achieves all operational metrics in line the highest levels of quality and needs of the business.

• Oversees adherence to EHS policies and practices as well as contributing to best practice and policy guidance in areas of expertise.
• Drives a positive business culture that supports the delivery of research programmes in line with internal standards, processes and policy while identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Ensures research programmes are high quality science and delivered to internationally competitive standards, which continue to provide technology leading platforms for the business.
• Guarantees PD&I management and technical experts are accountable for developing and delivering significant business impact through advice and support to complex projects, functions and customers.
• Secures IP positions and assures technology translation through to business PD&I programmes as well as providing ongoing support for the corporate knowledge.
• Oversees partnering with other businesses to launch new products and investigate problems as well as gain information to help develop new and/or improved products.
  

Customer Experience – plan, deliver and maintain, through the PD&I team a highly regarded experience across all customer touch points, now and in line with the future needs of the business.

• Ensure developments meet customer requirements through regular communication, evaluation and feedback.
• Acts as a technical consultant across the Group and with customer PD&I groups to ensure developments meet customer requirements.
• Define and continuously evaluate standards of excellence in respect of experience, defining and implementing clear service level agreements.
• Proactively seek out feedback and data, in support of continuously assessing customer experience, to ensure mechanisms are relevant and continuously improving.
  

Innovation & improvement – define and deliver the innovation & improvement strategy for the PD&I organisation, using quality information and analysis to make informed recommendations around current and future changes in line with the needs of the business.

Person specification

Qualifications/ Knowledge/ Experience

(Technical/ professional knowledge and skills competency)

• Degree Educated in a Science related subject
• Evidence continued professional development (CPD) and/or membership of appropriate professional bodies.
• Demonstrable track record of success leading teams within a successful PD&I / R&D organisation in a global environment
• Expertise within matrix structured, group/corporate business
  

Personal skills and key competencies

(including JM behavioural competencies)

• Driven, with a robust, resilient approach to delivering commercial goals
• Embraces change and innovation, constructively challenging the status quo taking on new activities with vigor.
• Passionate, exudes natural energy leading by example at all times.
• An inspirational leader, coach and mentor able to demonstrate success developing team capabilities and enhancing performance.
• Lives the values of the business, acting as a true ambassador of the business.
• Able to operate with total autonomy, and as such are highly organised with and exceptional eye for detail.
• Brings focus and direction, able to absorb large amounts of information and distil to salient
• Strong strategic acumen, balanced with an operational “can-do” attitude, able to deliver the now while planning for the future.
• Thrives under pressure, in a dynamic environment to deliver against multiple deadlines.
• Outstanding team player, who brings enthusiasm and fun to the Group, influencing and engaging people at all levels
• Unwavering commitment to quality and natural desire to continuously improve themselves, the business and people around them.
• Operates with the highest levels of integrity and respect.
  

All applications are carefully considered and your details will be stored on our secure Application Management System. This is used throughout Johnson Matthey for the selection of suitable candidates for our vacancies as they arise. Johnson Matthey respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. For more information about how your personal data is used please view our privacy notice:  matthey.com/en/website-information/privacy-notice

You will be contacted by the Johnson Matthey Talent Acquisition team once your details have been reviewed. Please allow four weeks from the closing date to allow for screening to take place.

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How To Apply

If you have the necessary skills and experience to join our team, please apply online. For any queries or should you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application please let your recruiter know when they contact you.

Johnson Matthey Plc is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief.