Director of R&D

Role Overview

• To lead the implementation of the product and technology development across the Hochiki Group international businesses based in the UK
• To oversee all new product development and product improvements through effective management and planning of Research & Development (R&D) resources for the EMEIA, Asia Pacific (Excluding Japan) and Americas regions
• Drive communication, collaboration, knowledge-sharing and teamwork across R&D functions within the business
• Overseeing the delivery of Fire Control and Indicating Equipment (CIE), Fire Detection and Alarm (FDA) products and industry related R&D projects while supporting a unified culture, vision and strategy for the R&D Centre.
• Working with relevant stakeholders within the International Business Division to establish a product strategy and prioritize R & D projects
• Developing a strong relationship and shared vision within the International Business Division to establish a common vision of development plans and priorities that align with the corporate strategy and business needs.
• Establish and overseeing project success criteria including resource allocation, key milestones, budget, performance and quality requirements ensuring on-time and on-budget and on-spec delivery of new product development and improvement projects
• Identify and resolve complicated issues to schedule, resources, scope and risk assessment
• Driving and leading a culture of innovation, quality and continuous improvement in R & D processes and procedures, whilst communicating the importance of commercial awareness within the R & D Centre.
• Harmonizing processes, technologies, systems, tools and knowledge bases to support growth through innovation.
• Sustaining professional development and industry knowledge and seeking for the best current practices.
• Providing leadership for all elements relating to people management; including development and engagement of employees, ensuring that robust and secure succession plans are in place, recruiting high level teams and ensuing that people resource is maintained against budget and project requirements
• Providing support to a strategic product and system testing strategy to ensure that product releases maintain the reputation of the Hochiki brands.
• Budget planning, execution and control, as well as reporting on budget status for the R & D Centre.
• Presenting R & D project outcomes at conferences/professional meetings.

Requirements

• Degree (or equivalent) in Engineering, Electronics, Product Design, or a related technical discipline
• Postgraduate qualification (e.g. MSc, MBA or equivalent desirable)
• Professional accreditation (e.g. Chartered Engineer or similar) desirable
• Evidence of continued professional development in R&D, innovation, or leadership disciplines
• Significant leadership experience within Research & Development, ideally in fire safety systems, electronics, or a related technical industry
• Proven experience operating at senior leadership level (e.g. Head of R&D, Engineering Director, or similar)
• Demonstrable track record of delivering complex new product development programmes on time, on budget, and to specification
• Experience managing multi-disciplinary and geographically dispersed R&D teams
• Strong experience in developing and implementing product and technology strategies aligned to business objectives
• Experience of budget ownership, resource planning, and financial control within an R&D function
• Desirable: Experience working within an international or matrix organization
• Deep understanding of product development lifecycles, including design, testing, validation, and compliance
• Strong knowledge of industry standards and regulatory requirements relevant to fire detection and alarm systems (or similar sectors)
• Understanding of emerging technologies, innovation practices, and continuous improvement methodologies
• Commercial awareness with the ability to align R&D activity to market needs and business strategy
• Knowledge of project management methodologies and governance frameworks
• Proficiency in project and programme management tools and methodologies (eg: WBS, milestone management, Gant chart, CPM(Critical Path Method), RACI chart, Risk register, Design Review process, Systems Engineering, Requirement management, Lessons Learned)
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, particularly in complex technical environments
• Experience with product development systems, engineering tools, and testing frameworks (e.g. CAD, CAE, Microsoft Visual Studio)
• Ability to interpret technical data and translate into strategic decisions
• Competence with standard business software (e.g. Microsoft Office suite) with standard data analytic skills such as Excel Pivot/PowerPivot, PowerPoint presentation for executive progress summaries, Microsoft Word documentation for project planning specification and engineering analysis reporting, and Microsoft Teams platform for remote meetings and collaborations.

Benefits

• rewarding careers
• competitive benefits
• opportunities to grow in a supportive, energetic workplace