We are looking for an experienced Research & Product Development Manager to oversee the strategy, development, production, testing and optimization of: our R&D projects, existing systems and commercial projects. Responsibilities include management of R&D, innovation, new product development, and product/system improvement. You will lead the R&D team and also have a good balance of hands-on work. This role touches a wide range of skills and bodies of knowledge so proficiency in everything is not required but rather a can-do attitude in the fuzzy front end.
Who you are
- Self driven and accountable – you will need to completely own the R&D space and achieve results with limited supervision.
- Sharp technical expertise – you will need excellent command of science and engineering to develop concepts from fundamental theory to commercial launch.
- Proficiency in Research and Analysis – You need to know How to conduct research, how to use (or build) tools to compile and analyze data and, how to interpret all of the data these tools generate.
- Great Communication Skills – you will need the ability to communicate complex information clearly to many different audiences.
- Great Organization Skills – you need to always stay organized, to keep your strategic, high-level information handy at all times.
- Product Management Knowledge – You will be responsible for planning and execution throughout the Product Lifecycle so you will need knowledge of best practices in the trade.
- Basic Business Competencies – You don’t need a degree in business or finance but you will need some fluency in business basics.
- Basic marketing competencies – you will need to support the marketing team in building and driving marketing plans for promising products or update those of existing products.
- Leadership skills – You will need vision and ability to drive and lead stakeholders and team members.
What you’ll do
Overall
- Full ownership and management of Sunwell’s R&D space with guidance and supervision from senior leaders. This includes leading, developing, growing, and coaching the R&D group.
- Develop and drive the product and system block roadmap inline with Sunwell’s strategic plan.
- Support commercial projects in scope of work that require R&D in its execution.
- Actively lead or take part in activities relating to standardization of the system blocks.
- Lead design initiatives with the ability to manage multiple projects and complete work on time.
- Translate high level vertical and product strategy into a set of detailed technical requirements for each initiative.
- Ensure all work is based on fundamental science and engineering principals.
- Be responsible for multiple tasks including R&D, engineering calculations, prototyping, testing, certification, and coordination with fabrication facilities.
- Responsible for overseeing projects from solution development, resource management, production, quality control and delivery.
- Assist in the outsourcing of design and manufacturing, as necessary.
Engineering (is the use of scientific principles to design and build machines, structures, and other items. Specifically process, mechanical, industrial, and manufacturing engineering tasks will be executed).
- Develop P&IDs, control philosophy, and select system components.
- Complete calculations for sizing, design, cost, quality of systems and components.
- Manage system installation and start-up if required.
- Ensure compliance with industry standards and government regulations.
- Provide innovative ideas to improve organizational design, systems or processes.
- Assist Head of Engineering in cost reduction activities through a combination of design improvement, increase operation efficiency and outsourcing.
Project management (is the process of leading the work of a team to achieve goals and meet success criteria at a specified time).
- Own end-to-end new product development, from market & product research, competitive analysis, timeline development, design, sourcing, costing and packaging, and pricing.
- Lead or supervise the development and execution of project execution plans, project control documents, reports, budgets etc.
- Communicate effectively with all levels of internal and external customers and employees.
- Support the sourcing and communication with suppliers and manufacturers to negotiate pricing, terms, and manufacturing capabilities for both new and existing products.
- Work with engineers, designers, electrical control and programming, and production team to ensure they meet projects deliverables in a timely manner.
Research and development (is the process by which a company works to obtain new knowledge that it might use to create new technology, products, services, or systems that it will either use or sell).
- Analyze, develop and implement holistic solutions, including exploring multiple concepts, taking into account all viable alternatives supported by strong data, and gaining cross-cutting support to implement recommendations.
- Lead efforts in developing specifications, design, fabrication and modification of tests and prototypes throughout the product development cycle.
- Use science and engineering knowledge to solve complex technical problems with practical solutions.
- Ensure research, calculation, testing and analysis, prototyping and reporting is appropriately documented.
- May include such functions as: product design and technical definition, development of bill of materials, product modification, and technical support of a product line and problem resolution.
Product development (is the complete process of delivering a new product or improving an existing one for customers. The customers can be external or internal within a company).
- Own and lead Sunwells five stages of product development being idea generation, fundamental theory, concept development and prototyping, product development, and commercialization and launch.
- Lead technical presentations, stakeholder communications and internal reporting.
- Developing the price strategy, product forecasting, assisting in the development of marketing materials, system configuration, and roll-out plan.
- Collaborate with Marketing Communications team on promotional plans, sell sheet creation and maintenance; and other product-based communications that differentiates our products in the market.
- Work with customers and potential customers to gather feedback on how to improve and extend our offerings and solve customer problems.
- Developing the price strategy, product forecasting, assisting in the development of marketing materials, system configuration, and roll-out plan.
Qualifications we are looking for
- Above all else is the ability to progress in the fuzzy front end, and «get it done» despite obstacles.
- Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering (mechanical, industrial, or chemical).
- Minimum 10 years total of related professional experience.
- Minimum 5 years manufacturing experience.
- Minimum 2 years R&D experience.
- Minimum 2 years product development experience.
- Preferred 2 years experience in managerial role.
- PMP certification is valued.
- Strong results orientation i.e. has a proactive, business-oriented focus with the resolve to set challenging goals and demonstrate the commitment and persistence to achieve them.
- Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical and/or diagram form and to deal with several abstracts and/or concrete variables.
- Demonstrate superb written, verbal and presentation skills. Must be proficient in English Language.
- Ability to drive a problem-solving process, interpret problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.
- Must have successfully completed projects of sufficient complexity.
- Proven experience in bringing a product from concept to launch.
- Technical marketing skills (needs, segmentation, SWOT analyses, creation of competitive strategies, risk assessment).
- Knowledge of designing and assembling experimental systems, and instrumentation.
- Business travel required within Canada (regular) and internationally (sporadic).
What we offer you
- Opportunity to influence and direct, build your team, and be proud of owning this space.
- Work on exciting and high impact technologies that you’ll be proud of.
- Exposure to Projects around the world with the opportunity to travel to exciting places.
- Friendly, welcoming, and inclusive work environment that fosters collaboration across all departments and levels.
- Flexible career direction with opportunities for advancement
- Work in partnership with companies and institutions that lead the world in R&D
- Competitive salary with a significant upside on performance, flexible work environment, industry leading benefits