Global Head of Wellness R&D

Haleon • Warren Township, NJ

10d

About The Position

We are seeking an exceptional Global Head of R&D Wellness Category to lead end‑to-end innovation, portfolio protection, and capability building across a strategically critical global business. This is a senior enterprise leadership role with full accountability for driving innovation‑led growth while ensuring the ongoing strength, compliance, and competitiveness of the existing portfolio. Operating at the intersection of science, consumer insight, and commercial strategy, this leader will bring urgency, ambition, and creativity to deliver noticeable and meaningful consumer benefits at scale. The role is a key member of both the Wellness Category Leadership Team and the Global R&D Leadership Team, partnering extensively across the enterprise to deliver long‑term value.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in life science or Engineering – advanced scientific or technical degree preferred (i.e. PhD)
• 15+ years’ experience in R&D leadership within life sciences, consumer health, or related industries
• Experience within Wellness, or adjacent health categories
• Strong technical background with deep understanding of innovation, development, and regulatory pathways
• Consumer‑centric, commercially astute, and science‑driven
• Inspires collaboration, creativity, and accountability
• Proven track record of delivering breakthrough products and building robust innovation pipelines
• Experience leading large, senior, multidisciplinary global teams (typically 8+ senior professionals)
• Enterprise‑level leader with the ability to influence across complex, global organisations.
• Passionate about talent development, inclusion, and building future‑ready capabilities.
• Strong financial acumen and ability to assess feasibility, margins, and return on innovation investment

Nice To Haves

• Established external network across academia, industry partners, CDMOs, and innovation ecosystems preferred

Responsibilities

• Consumer‑led innovation Lead a consumer‑first innovation agenda by identifying, tracking, and acting on global and local insights, trends, and unmet needs. Translate health, wellness, and lifestyle trends into compelling product concepts, claims, and propositions that drive meaningful superiority for consumers.
• Innovation pipeline leadership Create and own the global, multi‑horizon innovation pipeline and associated technology platforms for Wellness. Partner closely with commercial teams to deliver bigger, bolder, and faster innovation with flawless execution into markets. Enable external innovation through partnerships, collaborations, and alternative innovation models. Build capability and talent for growth.
• Product and execution excellence Deliver end‑to-end product superiority across concepts, formulations, packaging, claims, visualization, and execution. Actively manage and strengthen the intellectual property portfolio to create sustainable competitive advantage.
• Breakthrough science and capability building Create new categories, forms, and benefits across Wellness, and adjacent health areas. Advance innovation in emerging science (e.g. actives, delivery systems, usage occasions). Build scalable formulation and packaging architectures that enable late‑stage local differentiation.
• Business partnership and portfolio protection Act as the senior R&D partner to commercial, quality, supply chain, finance, and other enterprise functions. Lead R&D input into key business decisions and technical readiness forums. Protect existing revenue through regulatory excellence, proactive ingredient management, and adherence to quality, safety, environmental, and sustainability standards.
• Operational and talent excellence Lead strategic resource planning and investment to support category ambitions and R&D productivity. Drive operational excellence, delivery of KPIs, and strong in‑year execution. Build, mentor, and inspire a high‑performing, diverse, and inclusive global R&D organisation.

Benefits

• Haleon offers a robust Total Reward package that consists of competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits program.
• This includes a generous 401(k) plan, tuition reimbursement and time off programs including 6 months paid parental leave.
• On day one, you are eligible for benefits, including our healthcare programs where the company pays for the majority of your medical coverage for you and your family.
• We also offer the opportunity to receive a discretionary bonus based on the achievement of key business performance and other incentive/recognition programs as part of the offering.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive