Associate Director Research Development, Glad Core

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Your role at Clorox:

As a leader in Glad R&D, this individual will be responsible for building and overseeing 3P (Product, Process, Package) capabilities within R&D to support our core business. The core work is focused on assuring our products deliver clearly superior consumer experiences through new insights, product design, cost savings, and quality.

This position will be located in our Willowbrook, IL R&D site and will report into the Glad R&D Leader.

In this role, you will:

• Drive the 5 P Superiority framework across the global portfolio to achieve greater consumer value and market share for our product lines.  Create improvements and line extensions to achieve superior experiences, including customer story-telling and connection with the sales and marketing teams. 

• Focus on Design to Value process to fully understand the most important consumer attributes across the product line, and how to enhance them while simplifying and cost saving the rest of the proposition.

• Develop a global pipeline and roadmap for new claims and improvements on current product lines.  Utilize modernized discovery tools to focus on more impactful and meaningful claims.  Collaborate and align with marketing and sales counterparts. 

• Create a global roadmap and playbook for sustainability, including the development of long term plans, timing, and technology needs.  Utilize M&S, AI/ML, and partnerships to find new solutions and cost effective ways to achieve our targets. 

• Manage the Glad Pilot plant to drive efficient scale up with Supply Chain, and develop new technical advances to drive our cost, efficiency, and innovation strategies. 

• Develop and manage an organization comprised of 2 R&D managers, technical SMEs (Subject Matter Experts), and scientists across Process, Package, Product, and Clinical Efficacy.  Create an environment of where individuals and teams can thrive and achieve their KPIs. 

• Drive Bench Strength and Succession Planning for the team, working with SME and BU R&D Lead, to develop talent with a focus on building individual development plans

  • Build a culture of inclusivity while inspiring and driving engagement in a high performing R&D team, while holding them accountable to business results and cross-functional collaboration.

• Develop, align, and drive the product development strategy with BU R&D Lead to deliver on short- and long-term business objectives with a focus on agility, process efficiencies, and effective use of resources. Lead delivery of aligned net revenue for core business.

• Accountable for cross-functional collaboration with supply chain and manufacturing partners to deliver scale-up and margin improvement initiatives

• Lead consumer testings to drive efficiencies, improve product performance metrics, and leverage existing and new methods or technologies as needed to facilitate impactful product claims.  Collaborate cross-functionally to define and lead efficacy strategies, and oversee execution, data analysis, documentation and communication.    

• Be Accountable for the appropriate level of technical rigor to ensure execution with excellence and quality across the 3Ps

• Adopt enterprise transformation capabilities appropriately into the business unit to strengthen digital capabilities, consumer-focus and growth mindset.

What we look for:

• 10+ years experience

• 4+ years experience leading teams and managing people

• Excellent leadership skills, as evidenced by a track record of hiring, developing, and motivating top-tier talent.

• Experience across Product, Process, Packaging.

• Experience leveraging external manufacturers for speed and innovation.

• Design to value experience

• Understanding of consumer-centric design and delivering on consumer needs

• Understanding of the supply chain and track record of leading successful scale up of product.

• Experience in serving the needs of international markets.

• Experience in working with Leading Edge Retailers to sell in innovation and the creation of high impact demos.

• Track record of inclusive lead