RB LLC
R&D Senior Associate - Open Innovation, Disruptive Technology - Lysol & Harpic (Finance)
The Outside Innovation & Technology team collaborates with both internal teams (R&D, marketing, consumer insights, etc.) as well as external partners (startups, universities, etc.) in an effort to drive revenue opportunities to RB's Lysol & Harpic brands within the Hygiene Global Business Unit. Our focus is on scouting for adjacent and disruptive innovations, scoping the opportunity, forming meaningful partnerships, maintaining great relationships, and growing an ecosystem of world-class innovators.
You are someone who has demonstrated experience in:
• Integrating a variety of open innovation tactics to identify & forge partnerships with start-ups & academia, implement crowdsourcing tactics, and conduct IP landscaping
• Experience testing and validating innovations for desirability, feasibility, and viability
• Human-centric design thinking to define unmet needs across the fast-moving consumer goods (and adjacent industries) value chain
• Leveraging consumer insights and trends to ideate and test new solutions for future growth opportunities
Key Responsibilities
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders such as product development, marketing, R&D teams, as well as third party networks to define, identify and validate innovation opportunities aligned with the Hygiene business growth objectives and generating net new revenue to the pipeline
• Lead and advance multiple projects from opportunity framing and front-end product development to delivering proof of concepts; define key success metrics, milestones and objectives to assess project performance against
• Manage partnerships with external technology partners through non-confidential communications and confidential discussions under formal legal agreements
• Build a global external partnership network to bring new and relevant external innovations to Hygiene categories, such as surface care & disinfection
• Present innovation initiatives and projects to global, cross-functional teams and senior leadership throughout RB
• Foster strategic growth and best practices in innovation philosophies and systems across internal teams and organization
Professional Qualifications
• BS/BA degree in an engineering, science and/or design disciplines with 5-7 years of working experience, or MS degree in an engineering, science and/or design disciplines with 3-5 years of working experience
• Demonstrated experience working with various types of partners such as start-ups, academia, and adjacent industry corporations
• Proven track record of delivering projects utilizing Design Thinking, Lean Start-up and open innovation philosophies; demonstrated Project Management skills including timeline management and coordination of key internal and external stakeholders
• Experience with interpreting quantitative and qualitative consumer research to drive human-centric innovation opportunities; designing and implementing consumer research methodologies is preferred but not required
• Understanding of intellectual property, competitive intelligence and different collaboration mechanisms between companies; understanding of confidentiality and experience executing contracts with 3rd parties is preferred
• Ability to learn technical category fundamentals such as formulation chemistry, testing & validation and regulatory requirements (a background in chemistry strongly preferred)
• Proficient with common enterprise software, including MS Office, Business Intelligence/Data Analytics platforms, and IP Landscaping/Patent Monitoring Software
Leadership Attributes
• High relationship management acumen, especially with external collaborators; must be able to independently engage, liaise, and communicate with internal and external partners
• Entrepreneurial and self-motivated individual with capability to efficiently evaluate new opportunities and take calculated risks;
• True out of the box, creative thinkers who will approach the Hygiene & Home categories with an open mindset, and are not afraid to challenge the status quo
• Ability to display a degree of flexibility and adapt effectively to change, common to iterative innovation design philosophies
• Experience working with global and culturally & professionally diverse teams
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (oral and written), especially with both technical and non-technical disciplines/functions and senior leadership
Equality
In Return RB offer very competitive salaries with excellent benefits and the chance to progress your career within a truly global organisation.
RB is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by appropriate law. All hiring decisions are made based on merit, competence and business need.
Nearest Major Market: New York City