Job Title: Director, New Product Innovation (NPI)
Waterbury, CT, US, 06705
Are you a dynamic leader ready to shape the future of innovation? We're looking for a Director of New Product Innovation (NPI) to drive transformative product development that bring ideas to life and propels our organization forward. This role combines strategic vision, technical expertise, and leadership skills to guide our innovation pipeline and deliver solutions. This is your opportunity to make a meaningful impact by guiding the creation of new technologies that redefine industry standards and deliver real-world value. We're looking for a leader who values collaboration, thrives on solving complex challenges, and empowers others to excel.
This role travels domestically and internationally ~30% of the time.
What you'll do:
Strategic Leadership
- Shape and execute innovative strategies that align with organizational goals and market trends.
- Guide R&D to identify a continuous stream of emerging technologies and opportunities to drive meaningful business growth.
- Partner with senior leadership to build a forward-thinking product and technology roadmap that paves the way for long-term success.
- Develop and manage a budget, ensuring cost-effectiveness and resource optimization.
- Secure and allocate resources, including equipment, materials, and talent, to support initiatives.
Project Management
- Drive projects from concept to completion, ensuring they're delivered on time, on budget, and exceeding expectations.
- Establish clear milestones, manage risks, and allocate resources effectively to achieve impactful outcomes.
- Champion best practices in Agile, Scrum, or other methodologies to streamline execution.
Team Leadership and Development
- Build and lead a dynamic team of engineers, designers, and technicians.
- Foster a collaborative culture that values innovation, learning, continuous improvement, and accountability.
- Invest in your team's growth by mentoring and supporting their career paths.
Innovation and Product Development
- Oversee the design, development, and testing of products and technologies.
- Ensure projects meet performance, quality, and expectations while adhering to regulatory standards.
- Continuously evaluate alpha and beta builds and guide iterations to ensure quality and market readiness.
Stakeholder Engagement
- Present progress, challenges, and success to senior stakeholders.
- Build strategic relationships with partners, vendors, and research institutions.
- Represent the company at conferences and industry events as an innovation thought leader.
We are looking for:
Education and Experience:
- Bachelor's degree in related field, Master's preferred; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- 10+ years of progressive experience in electro-mechanical (or related) product design, R&D leadership, and project management.
- Proven track record of driving innovation and building high-performing teams.
- Certifications in project management (e.g. PMP, Six Sigma, Agile) are a plus.
Skills That Set You Apart:
- Experience in product development and lifecycle management.
- Exceptional leadership skills with the ability to motivate and inspire a variety of teams.
- Outstanding communication and collaboration abilities.
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving to navigate complexity and deliver results.
- A passion for innovation and continuous improvement.
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Nearest Major Market: New Haven
Nearest Secondary Market: Hartford