Sr. Director, Research and Innovation (R&I)

Position Summary: The Sr. Director, Research and Innovation (R&I), Docking provides technical leadership for innovation and product development and leads technology innovation and execution to enable product strategies defined by Product Management. This includes enabling execution of product roadmaps through system architecture, feasibility validation, and design. They bridge the gap between front-end ideation and commercial-scale manufacturing, ensuring that the company maintains a competitive advantage through breakthrough products, process optimization (e.g., automation, digitalization), and technology scale-up. They lead through technical expertise and cross-functional influence in a matrixed organization, guiding execution across R&I teams and initiatives. This role owns system architecture, design standards, and technical validation across all Docking products to ensure reliability, scalability, and manufacturability. Provides technical recommendations on prioritization and portfolio decisions; final prioritization authority resides with Product Management and BU leadership.

1. Description of Essential Job Functions:

1. Innovation & Technology Strategy

1. Define the long-term vision for research and development (R&D) and product innovation. Align innovation roadmaps with overarching business goals, market trends, customer needs, emerging technologies, and sustainability initiatives.
2. Oversee the execution of R&D strategies, ensuring alignment with industry trends and best practices.
3. Apply emerging technologies selectively to solve validated customer and business problems, ensuring alignment with product strategy and measurable business outcomes. Manage the end-to-end R&D, innovation, and emerging products portfolio (front-end ideation, scale-up, and commercialization), including prioritization, resource allocation, and disciplined decisions to advance, pivot, or stop work based on data and business value.
4. Ensure new products and processes are designed for North American scalability, cost-effectiveness, and manufacturability. Oversee the transition from benchtop formulation/lab prototypes or prototyping into full-scale, cost-effective industrial operations.

2. Research Execution & Process Excellence

1. Identify and resolve technical risks early in the development lifecycle, including recommending termination or pivoting of non-viable concepts based on feasibility, cost, and performance criteria.
2. Accelerate time-to-market using design thinking, experimentation, and rapid learning cycles.
3. Oversee intellectual property (IP) strategy and growth, including invention disclosures and patent development, and protect company assets.
4. Manage and oversee New Product Introduction (NPI) and Engineer-to-Order (ETO) processes ensuring all scalable designs meet cost, quality, safety, and compliance. 
5. Establish and maintain innovation processes and governance that support disciplined technical execution, speed, quality, and learning.
6. Manage the end-to-end innovation portfolio using Stage-Gate or Agile methodologies to optimize resourcing, mitigate risk, and control R&D budgets. Responsible for technical readiness, validation, and delivery of engineering outputs required to successfully pass each stage-gate.
7. Oversee research budgets, determine early-stage investment priorities, and drive continuous improvement toward measurable ROI.
8. Supports product P&L performance through cost, design, and technical decisions; does not own commercial or pricing accountability.
9. Develop, track, and report Research and Product Development key performance indicators (KPIs).

3. Leadership & Collaboration

1. Provide visionary leadership for R&D/engineering strategy development.
2. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify and prioritize the R&D initiatives that drive operational efficiency.
3. Partner closely with Product Management, with clear accountability that Product Management defines ‘what’ and ‘why,’ while R&I defines ‘how’ and ensures technical feasibility and execution quality. Partner closely with Marketing, Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, and Commercial teams to ensure innovation pipelines meet customer requirements and regulatory/compliance standards.
4. Facilitate co-creation opportunities with internal and external customers to enhance product offerings and market competitiveness. Lead and mentor teams of researchers, product developers, and process engineers.
5. Represent the company at external technical forums, industry events, and customer meetings as needed.

2. Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Directly lead and develop a team of R&I engineers and technical specialists, providing both people leadership and strong hands-on technical direction.
• Balance team leadership responsibilities with active involvement in system architecture, design reviews, and technical problem-solving.
• Carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with organizational policies, including hiring, development, performance management, and team effectiveness.

3. Qualification Requirements: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and Experience:

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree (Master’s or Ph.D. preferred) in Engineering (i.e., Mechanical, Industrial, Manufacturing), Material Science, or a relevant discipline.
• 10+ years of progressive R&D and leadership experience within manufacturing or product development, ideally with at least 5+ years in an executive or people-management capacity.
• Proven expertise in developing and executing technology strategies that foster innovation.
• Experience with emerging technologies and their application in a business context
• Proven success in bringing new or complex, scalable technologies or products from the early research phase through to full-scale market deployment.
• Demonstrated experience developing ROI analyses with a strong understanding of product commercialization and standardization.
• Broad experience with manufacturing techniques, materials, and processes.

Computer Skills

• Ability to use a personal computer utilizing spreadsheet and word processing software applications, databases, and automated systems to accomplish work.
• Advanced/Intermediate skill level with Microsoft Office Suite; Word, Excel, Project, and PowerPoint.

Certificates, Certifications, Licenses, Registrations:

• Professional engineering licensure preferred

Company Core Competencies (Standard behavioral performance dimensions are listed below):

Other Skills, Abilities, or Competencies:

• Solid business acumen.
• Possess high ethical standards.
• Hands-on, high-output leader required.
• Self-motivated, results-driven problem solver.
• Excellent project management and prioritization skills.
• Strong analytical and data-driven decision-making abilities.
• Advanced/Hands on approach to problem solving and analysis.
• Knowledge of industry-standard testing methods and techniques.
• Working knowledge of intellectual property and patent processes.
• Strong collaborator capable of thriving in a cross-functional environment.
• Proven ability to build and lead high-performing teams in dynamic settings.
• The ability to develop, coordinate, and manage multiple concurrent projects.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
• Hands-on leadership style with the ability to engage at all organizational levels.
• Ability to understand, interpret, and apply industry standards and best practices.
• Exceptional leadership skills with a focus on team development and mentorship.
• Strong understanding of Design for Manufacturability and Assembly (DFMA) principles.
• Ability to promote a culture of data-driven, cross-functional, and continuous improvement.
• Working knowledge of simulation tools/methodologies and experience in deploying them in product design.
• Strong strategic thinking and business acumen to drive technological initiatives aligned with business objectives.
• Knowledge of project management methodologies and tools to ensure effective execution of technology initiatives.
• Creative and innovative thinking to challenge current practices and ways of looking at processes across the organization.

• Exceptional ability to work in matrixed environments alongside supply chain, operations, marketing, and commercial teams.

• Deep understanding of how manufacturing technology drives competitive advantage, operational efficiency, and bottom-line growth.
• Must have strong interpersonal and communication skills that build productive relationships and influences others, both within the business and across organizations.
• Requires independent judgment and discretion with project framework for planning, organization, control, integration and completion of projects and company objectives.
• Ability to interact with all levels of the business (senior leaders to working teams); exceptionally good listening skills; able to present complex or new ideas with clarity and simplicity.
• Working knowledge of material types specifications and characteristics used in dock levelers, dock seals & shelters, impactable dock doors, high speed and high performance doors, and other entrance automation products and warehouse solutions.
• Thorough understanding of company product, trade terminology, quality management and control systems and techniques, manufacturing processes including material controls, workflow, scheduling, just-in-time/pull system, machine operation, and company policies as standards.

Other Qualifications, Experience, or Requirements:

• Must be able to travel up to 50% of the time to visit customers, vendors, suppliers, and other manufacturing sites including travel for training on new equipment and processes may also be required.

• Must be able to travel to customer locations to perform field evaluations and/or survey job site and make recommendations for product application and/or modifications.

• Requires a valid motor vehicle operator’s license and the ability to operate a motor vehicle while carefully observing all traffic rules and regulations.
• Requires the ability to use a variety of office/production related equipment such as a telephone, photocopier, facsimile machine, and precision measuring instruments.

• Work beyond the traditional 40 hours per week may be required as workload or projects dictate, including weekends and holidays.

4. Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The phrases “occasionally,” “regularly,” and “frequently” correspond to the following definitions: “occasionally” means up to 1/3 of working time, “regularly” means between 1/3 and 2/3 of working time, and “frequently” means 2/3 and more of working time. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, use hands to finger, handle, or touch objects or controls, and talk and/or hear.
• The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, climb, or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, and/or reach above shoulders.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds while performing duties such as moving files or manuals. 
• Specific vision requirements of this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

5. Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The employee occasionally works in proximity to moving mechanical parts, works in high, precarious places, outdoor weather conditions, and is exposed to fumes or airborne particles.  
• The employee must occasionally travel on Company business.
• The employee must occasionally wear a hard hat and eye protection while working in manufacturing areas.
• The noise level in the work environment is moderate while working in the office but may be loud while working in production areas.

We are the ASSA ABLOY Group
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As an employer, we value results – not titles, or backgrounds. We empower our people to build their career around their aspirations and our ambitions – supporting them with regular feedback, training, and development opportunities. Our colleagues think broadly about where they can make the most impact, and we encourage them to grow their role locally, regionally, or even internationally.

As we welcome new people on board, it’s important to us to have diverse, inclusive teams, and we value different perspectives and experiences.