Manager, Research & Development- Lysol (Wipes)

Description

Want to give customers the ‘Wow!’ factor? As a Manager, Research & Development- Lysol (Wipes) you’ll have the freedom to drive innovative propositions that make our brands stand out.

Manager, Research & Development- Lysol (Wipes)

Montvale, NJ 

Competitive Salary & excellent benefits package 

Taking consumer insights, you’ll drive innovation into our product development process. You’ll interpret customer wants, needs and preferences. You’ll help our wider R&D team understand the opportunities and create winning innovations that differentiate our brands and products. You’ll disrupt markets. You’ll surprise and excite consumers. Working with our leading brands, you’ll ensure we ‘get’ our customers so we can continue to offer them products that they truly value.

You’ll succeed because… 

…you understand consumer science in healthcare or consumer goods. You use consumer insights to formulate research plans. You understand brand strategy and blend it with market data to drive innovation. You use data to make fact-based decisions. You bring the best out of others, encouraging your team to explore new ideas. You welcome being challenged and in-turn question others. You’re innovative, resilient and entrepreneurial. Just like us.

You’ll love it because… 

…you’ll have the freedom to make a difference. You’ll put your own ideas into practice. The products you get out there will allow people to live healthier lives and have happier homes. And our dynamic, ownership-driven culture will bring the very best out of you, every day.

Key Responsibilities

The R&D Manager will lead a team focused on technical product development on key projects for the R&D team.  

•    Lead a technical team with global responsibility to deliver product development projects (new and enhancements to current products) to market in line with Brand footprint and defined Product Strategy.
•    Utilize non-woven knowledge and technical expertise to lead development of new products, and benefits to address relevant consumer needs in support of brand initiatives
•    Ability to lead innovations related to wet wipes development – understanding current business hurdles and being able to propose unique solutions
•    Good understanding on regulatory/consumer/industry trends in non-woven category
•    Being able to innovate in non-woven territory, proposing new solutions, technologies related to substrate manufacturing and its final attributes
•    Work closely with Marketing, Manufacturing and key functional groups to advance initiatives successfully through the product development process.
•    Contribute to the Innovation process and support the implementation of short term innovation and technology strategies to underpin long term pipeline development
•    Work with Key Marketing and Management to develop and define clear Project Development Briefs
    o    Following approval of Project Briefs, to be accountable for: 
            achievement of project development milestones and objectives
            liaising and motivating the appropriate RB functions, colleagues, and external resources to ensure completion of all activities to plan. 
            timely completion of specifications, support data and generation of Technical Dossiers
•    The management and interface with Global colleagues to ensure “seamless” project handover to manufacturing, launch to the market and further expansion.  
•    Develop sound commercial knowledge and relationships with Cross-functional Team(s) to understand needs to ensure responsiveness to business needs.
•    Build a cohesive, motivated and professional team within a results-oriented culture, where personal responsibility/initiative, teamwork, and mutual respect are key.
•    Foster personal development growth with continuous coaching and feedback on career development as per the R&D Guiding Principles and Corporate Core Values  
•    Effectively develop and manage assigned talent and prioritize resources to effectively advance assigned Hygiene Personal Care activities and projects 
•    Recruit team members to ensure strengthening of the bench.
•    Set objectives, conduct performance reviews and advise on the development of his/her team members to enable them to achieve their full potential 
•    Responsible for ensuring that all development activity within the team conforms with legislative, Health and Safety and environmental requirements.
•    Proactively track and respond to competitor threats by 
            understanding their development activities
            advising Category Team(s) and the business of competitor threats
            identifying technical solutions in response to such threats

Qualifications

•    BS/BA degree in a related science and 10+ years’ experience, or MS degree in a related science and 6 years’ experience, or PhD in a related science and 4 years’ relevant experience in Personal Care and/or Surface Care
•    Experience in Wipes (non-woven production, baby/cosmetic wipes, disinfecting wet wipes) industry
•    Proven track record of successful delivery of technical projects in Wipes/Non-woven producing company
•    Experience with technologies / formulation in wet wipes desirable
•    Experience to include understanding of management within a FMCG company running a small development team
•    Process Engineer experience desirable
•    Proven track record of successful delivery of technical projects in a FMCG company 
•    Strong formulation expertise and understanding of raw material chemical interactions 
•    Experience with and understanding of chemistry and basic clinical methodologies used to support product and new claims development 
•    Familiarity with various regulatory (FDA, BPD, etc.) and development requirements. 
•    Strong understanding of the product development process from concept ideation to launch
•    Experience with recruitment, management and development of people.
•    Results oriented, entrepreneurial and self-motivated, with solid planning and organizational capabilities, a bias for action, and the capability to define, evaluate and take risks.
•    Strong leadership, motivational and interpersonal skills.
•    Global mindset, commercial understanding of corporate and operational business issues.
•    Strong analytical and project management skills with the ability to think strategically, develop tactics and measurable implementation plans and able to transform solid thinking into action.
•    Excellent networking and communication skills.
•    Strong intellectual curiosity with an appetite for exploring new and previously uncharted territories and an openness to change and ability to think out of the box.
•    Proven ability to display a degree of flexibility and adapt effectively to change 
•    Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills 
•    Strong interpersonal skills to nurture teamwork and foster an environment of achievement 
•    Proven people management and people development skills 
•    Proficient with common software, including MSOffice.

Equality

At Reckitt, we recognise that in real life, great people don’t always ‘tick all the boxes’. That’s why we hire for potential as well as experience. Even if you don’t meet every point on the job description, if this role and our company feels like a good fit for you, we still want to hear from you. Come and join a team whose purpose is to protect, heal and nurture in the relentless pursuit of a cleaner and healthier world.

All qualified applicants to Reckitt will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, disability or medical condition; colour, ethnicity, race, citizenship, and national origin; religion, faith; pregnancy, family status and caring responsibilities; sexual orientation; sex, gender identity, gender expression, and transgender identity; protected veteran status; size or any other basis protected by appropriate law.