Senior Director NA Brand R&D Lead
About The Position
The Senior Director NA Brand R&D Lead will set and execute end-to-end R&D strategy, innovation pipelines, and product development for Opella’s North America Allergy and Sleep brands. The role translates science and technology into consumer-focused products and partners with Marketing, Sales, Regulatory, Medical, and other functions to support business growth and successful product launches. The position leads the long-term brand portfolio and innovation roadmap over a 1–5-year horizon, drawing on consumer insights, scientific expertise, and external partnerships to develop differentiated products, support patent strategy, ensure timely project execution, and align with sustainability and regulatory priorities. It also contributes to the wider science leadership community and helps shape an ambitious, collaborative culture focused on recognition and belonging. The leader is expected to mentor emerging talent, model a challenger mindset, and embed sustainability, access, and social impact in decision-making. Opella describes itself as a global self-care company with a portfolio in OTC and VMS, approximately 11,000 employees, 13 manufacturing sites, and four science and innovation development centers. It is headquartered in France and is a certified B Corp.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in a scientific discipline.
- At least 10 years of R&D experience leading innovation pipelines and delivering successful product development for consumer health brands.
- Experience developing OTC and NDA products, supporting FDA submissions, and managing multiple brands across regulatory pathways.
- Ability to translate consumer insights into brand strategies, communicate complex science to diverse stakeholders, and influence business decisions through storytelling.
- Leadership experience building and coaching cross-functional technical teams, allocating resources, managing budgets, identifying risks, and leading innovation from concept through commercial launch.
- Experience establishing external partnerships with suppliers, research organizations, and key opinion leaders.
- Strategic experience partnering across R&D, Regulatory, Marketing, Project Management, and Commercial teams.
Nice To Haves
- Master’s degree or Ph.D.
- Experience identifying new technologies, ingredients, formulations, claims, and sustainable product opportunities by tracking industry trends.
- Experience leading a diverse innovation portfolio that includes business development opportunities, new product development, clinical programs, novel formulation technologies, and sustainability initiatives.
Responsibilities
- Define R&D strategy for the brands and inspire Marketing and Commercial teams with innovative, executable ideas.
- Lead the R&D innovation pipeline for key growth brands, delivering products and innovations that meet growth and sales objectives and ensuring consistent portfolio execution.
- Promote acceleration and simplification through effective decision-making and appropriate risk-taking.
- Lead short-, medium-, and long-term product development projects, including formulations, claims, clinical studies, packaging innovations, and sustainability initiatives.
- Partner with Marketing, Sales, Consumer Science, and Project Management to develop consumer-driven innovation projects and support successful, on-time launches.
- Develop and execute patent strategies and use external technology partnerships to create differentiated products and strengthen the innovation pipeline.
- Collaborate with Development, Packaging, Finance, Regulatory, and other stakeholders to develop business cases, manage project risks, and deliver innovation.
- Prioritize and lead base-business protection projects to maintain product quality, compliance, and supply continuity while balancing business risk.
- Lead and inspire cross-functional teams, fostering innovation, bold decision-making, and accountability.
- Mentor and uplift emerging talent and contribute to the wider science leadership community.
- Embed sustainability, access, and social impact into decisions.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
