VP, Chief Innovation Officer

We begin with dreams. Dreams drive our motivation. Dreams are our future. The world's dreams, people's dreams, our dreams. Our passion creates ideas that make dreams come alive. Technology and products that were only dreams become reality.

All for dreams. Dreams challenge and the Nidec-Group will continue to meet the challenge. For the world's and people's tomorrows; the world's first, the world's best technologies and products; we will continue our part in creating a better society.

Job Summary

The Senior Director, Research & Development is a senior leadership role responsible for defining and leading the organization’s R&D strategy to drive innovation, product development, and technology advancement in support of business growth and competitive differentiation. This role provides enterprise‑wide leadership for research, product development, and innovation pipelines.

Job Description

Role Overview
The Senior Director, R&D owns the enterprise R&D strategy, governance, and performance across innovation, product development, and technology exploration. The role balances strategic direction with execution oversight to ensure resources are focused on high‑value opportunities and that development programs deliver timely, high‑quality outcomes.
This position leads directors, managers, and senior technical leaders and serves as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on innovation priorities, technology roadmaps, and portfolio investment decisions.

Key Responsibilities
R&D Strategy & Innovation Leadership

Define and own the enterprise R&D and innovation strategy aligned with business objectives
Establish multi‑year technology and product development roadmaps
Ensure R&D priorities balance near‑term delivery with long‑term innovation

Product & Technology Development

Oversee development of new products, platforms, and technologies
Ensure disciplined execution of development programs from concept through launch
Promote design for quality, scalability, manufacturability, and sustainability

Portfolio Management & Investment Prioritization

Lead governance of the R&D portfolio, including prioritization and resource allocation
Evaluate technical feasibility, market potential, risk, and ROI of initiatives
Ensure effective decision‑making across stage‑gate or development lifecycle processes

Innovation Pipeline & Market Alignment

Foster ideation, experimentation, and exploration of emerging technologies
Partner with Marketing and Business Development to align innovation with customer needs
Monitor market and technology trends to inform innovation direction

Technical Excellence & Standards

Establish R&D standards, methodologies, and best practices
Ensure rigorous technical reviews, validation, and verification processes
Promote knowledge sharing and reuse of platforms and technologies

Cross‑Functional Product Realization

Collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Regulatory, and Operations
Ensure smooth transition of designs from R&D to manufacturing and commercialization
Support product launches and post‑launch performance monitoring

People Leadership & Capability Development

Lead and develop a high‑performing R&D organization
Build capability in research, product development, and innovation leadership
Establish organizational structures, performance expectations, and succession plans

External Collaboration & Ecosystem Engagement

Build relationships with universities, research institutions, suppliers, and partners
Support open innovation, partnerships, and external research initiatives as appropriate
Evaluate opportunities for collaboration to accelerate innovation

Senior Leadership Collaboration & Communication

Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on innovation strategy and technology risk
Communicate R&D performance, progress, and roadmap to senior leadership forums
Provide thought leadership on innovation culture and long‑term technical direction


Qualifications
Education & Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Science, or related technical field required
Master’s degree or PhD (or MBA with strong technical background) strongly preferred
Typically 12–15+ years of progressive experience in R&D, engineering, or product development roles
Demonstrated experience leading enterprise‑level R&D or innovation organizations

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Deep technical expertise and understanding of product and technology development
Strong strategic planning, portfolio management, an