Research and Development Head  

Duties and responsibilities

A vice president (VP) of research and development (R&D) is an executive who oversees and supervises all development and innovation efforts by a company. They work to recruit product development team leaders to handle these efforts and directs R&D teams with budget approvals, scheduling, and deadline management. The VP also works with other teams within the company — such as sales, marketing, engineering, and manufacturing — to bring new products from the research and development side to market or implementation within the organization.

Usually a board-level executive, the VP of R&D typically spends much of their time directing R&D teams rather than performing hands-on supervision. The VP usually receives progress reports and conducts regular meetings with team leaders at a middle-management level. They assess the efforts of R&D teams, adjust scheduling and personnel, and help steer research efforts. The VP helps create an environment that fosters innovation in developing new products, creating improvements on existing products or services, or even developing new processes and technology for the organization to improve efficiency.

As an upper-level executive within a company, a vice president for research and development typically needs at least a bachelor's degree in some scientific, business, or engineering discipline, with many companies preferring individuals with master's degrees in business administration. The VP typically works within his or her own office and has an administrative staff he or she directly supervises. As a supervisor of a department that may consist of many teams, the VP of R&D should expect that travel will be a regular part of his or her job as well.

• Develop and direct the design and development of new products and the improvement of existing products.
• Work with members of the senior management team to further department and company goals.
• Provide leadership and develop objectives for the Research and Development (R&D) department.
• Obtain funding for existing and future Research and Development (R&D) projects.

• Qualifications requirements

  Licensed chemist/ registered chemical engineer with expertise in coatings, polymer, paints and construction materials, as much as possible previously worked with Adhesive/chemicals industry.

• Develop and direct the design and development of new products and the improvement of existing products.
• Work with members of the senior management team to further department and company goals.
• Provide leadership and develop objectives for the Research and Development (R&D) department.
• Obtain funding for existing and future Research and Development (R&D) projects.