Director, Global Hearing Protection and Protective Communication R&D

Job Description:

Director, Global Hearing Protection and Protective Communication R&D

Collaborate with Innovative 3Mers Around the World

Choosing where to start and grow your career has a major impact on your professional and personal life, so it’s equally important you know that the company that you choose to work at, and its leaders, will support and guide you. With a wide variety of people, global locations, technologies and products, 3M is a place where you can collaborate with other curious, creative 3Mers.

This position provides an opportunity to transition from other private, public, government or military environments to a 3M career.

The Impact You’ll Make in this Role

The Director of Global Laboratories for HP&PC is a senior technical leader responsible for setting the strategic direction and overseeing execution of all R&D product development and laboratory activities.  This role leads multidisciplinary teams across two main COE global lab locations in Indianapolis, IN and Varnamo Sweden as well as across multiple product categories.

The Director is also responsible for maintaining third party accredited Hearing Protection and certification labs in both Indianapolis and Varnamo used for product development, initial certification and maintenance of existing products. 

The Director will be accountable for portfolio outcomes across both mature and emerging product categories, including passive and electronic (active) hearing protection and communication products. The role has broad influence across global programs and requires extensive collaboration with portfolio management, applications engineering, quality, regulatory, legal and global manufacturing sites.

Primary Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Strategic Leadership:

  • Set and execute the technical vision and strategy that is aligned with global business objectives and growth initiatives.

  • Translate business priorities into actionable, resourced, and measurable R&D plans, balancing innovation with compliance, product maintenance and cost optimization.

• People and Organizational Development:

  • Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team of product development and test engineers across multiple skillsets in project management, acoustics, mechanical design, electronics hardware, embedded firmware, product engineering, advanced development and the associated functional laboratories required.

  • Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning.

• Program Oversight and Execution:

  • Direct portfolio execution of NPI programs, global regulatory certification projects, product engineering, and cost/productivity initiatives.

  • Ensure technical rigor, risk management, and quality outcomes throughout the development lifecycle.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration:

  • Partner with Marketing, Regulatory, Manufacturing, Global Labs, and Business Leadership to drive customer-centric innovation and ensure readiness for global commercialization.

  • Maintain alignment and compliance with global regulatory and standards bodies for personal protective equipment.

• Operational and Financial Management:

  • Own laboratory budgets, resource planning, capital investment, and R&D vendor management.

  • Support the annual strategic planning process in partnership with the Lab Operating Committee (LOC), ensuring portfolio priorities and commercialization plans align with division strategy.

  • Continuously improve accredited test lab efficiency, capability, and throughput using Lean and digital tools (e.g., PowerApps, digital test requests, lab scheduling systems, AI).

  • Continuously improve special builds capability reacting to Customer requests and requirements.

• Technology and Intellectual Property:

  • Maintain fluency in core and adjacent technologies. Guide development of proprietary solutions and patent filings in partnership with 3M Legal.

  • Serve as a technical mentor and thought leader across businesses, anticipating industry trends and identifying key innovation opportunities.

• Serve as a key member of the Lab Operating Committee (LOC), contributing to strategic, operational, and portfolio decisions for the division.

Your Skills and Expertise 

To set you up for success in this role from day one, 3M requires (at a minimum) the following qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or h