R&D Strategy and Operations Manager - Elida Beauty

Job Type: Full-Time or Part-Time

Location: Liverpool, UK

Position Summary

The R&D Strategy and Operations Manager will play an key role as part of the Elida Beauty R&D Leadership Team. Reporting directly to the Chief R&D Officer you will be key to ensuring the successful and efficient delivery of the growth ambition of Elida Beauty, by ensuring that R&D is consistently operating efficiently, is continually improving and is developing future capability to enable brands to deliver great performance alongside exceptional value for consumers and customers.

You will be working closely with the small, tight knit, entrepreneurial R&D team, and also with key x-functional partners to ensure smooth and optimised function of both R&D and inter-dependant x-functional activities. You will have broad exposure to many aspects of the business, and opportunities to interact with other leadership teams to understand choices and focus that needs to be made within function to deliver the overall business programme.

This will be your opportunity to ensure effective definition and delivery of the agenda and approach for Innovation and Optimisation of brands that are recognisable household names, and under your guidance will return to the growth and prominence they deserve.

Role Accountabilities

This role divides into three main areas:

R&D Business Operation

• Understanding of whole entirety of support from R&D, RoI and impact of resourcing and identification of opportunities to improve impact and efficiency of delivery

• Leadership of people agenda within R&D, working closely with HR, to ensure the continuous growth and development of our people to meet both their own and business goals

• Management and tracking of resources leverage within R&D, including budget responsibility

• Support of all activities required to ensure portfolio and business compliance to external landscape through close collaboration with internal teams and external bodies

R&D Site Operation

• Ensure smooth and efficient operation of the site, through collaboration and work with landlord and supporting business to ensure all Elida Beauty needs are met

• Define processes and leadership / accountability within the broader teams based at our Liverpool Site to ensure a safe and welcoming environment

R&D Strategy

• To define, drive and deliver the capability/JTBD programme for R&D as a key underpinning to delivery of the overall business objectives

• Through understanding of the total Innovation and product development programme, identify gaps and risk areas and put in place partnerships and programmes to address these for future executions

• Lead FEI (Front End of Innovation) approach and programme for R&D to ensure active population of Innovation funnel, delivering against BPS (Brand Performance Standards) and PPU (Product Performance Understanding)

• Ensure a seamless operation process both within R&D, and other functions, to ensure OTIF delivery across whole programme

Critical Competencies

• BA / BSc or equivalent experience and demonstrable technical knowledge – alongside business performance understanding. MBA preferred

• Track record of delivery within cross-functional teams though others and via stakeholder management and influence

• Experience working within Elida Beauty, or similar sized / entrepreneurial organisation is preferred

• Understanding of key drivers and leavers within R&D specifically, and also broader SCRD organisation, that can be used to maximise growth, profitability and RoI from resource investment

• Rigor and vigilance in understanding competitive landscape, updating innovation team, assessing threats and defining our defense and future Innovation plans

• Self Starter, creating their own deadlines and plans

• Very strong written and verbal communication skills

• World class analytical skills and strategic thinking

We are looking for someone to lead our Elida Beauty brands into an exciting new space – challenging the status quo and acting as a true Business Partner to bring improved products to the market, improving the lives of consumers, customers and the broader world.

You’re a change maker:

​You’re constantly looking to improve the world and consumer experiences through package development, and create new ways to deliver more value to Dragonfly’s business growth. ​

You’re a born leader:

By combining technical knowledge with a passion for creative problem-solving, you never hesitate to act when faced project obstacles.

You love to win, and have fun doing it:

​​An infectious passion for success is a must. You’re detail-orientated, but not risk adverse, with an ability to manage multiple fast-track projects in a collaborative team environment. ​

You’re a story teller:

​​You communicate technical packaging successes by translating into a business impact message. You adapt to an audience and influence direction across project functions and categories. ​

You’re a leader:

​​You are able to inspire and build a vision with those around you, developing total product solutions with packaging thinking as an integral element, and delivering unprecedented growth to our brands. You grow those around you to new heights that even they did not think possible. ​

Job Category: Research/Development

Job Type: R&D Manager

Industry: UnileverExperiencedProfessionals