Global Vice President Engineering Product Development and R&D

Company Overview

Our client is a global manufacturer of high-quality COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTIAL KITCHEN EQUIPMENT, accessories, and appliance solutions. They also provide workspace optimization services for the foodservice and convenience store industries. Our client is part of a multinational conglomerate with several divisions and operations across continents, offering over a century of experience in crafting tailor-made equipment for the largest and most recognized organizations in the food service industry worldwide. They are also strong business partners with brands in expansion and chain organizations in different segments.

Their corporate strategy is built on insightful knowledge of their customers' core business, positioning them as strategic partners in tailoring solutions for automation and equipment interoperability. Their customers seek more efficient and modern ways to operate restaurant systems, finding our client highly competitive and reliable.

Additional information will be provided to qualified candidates later in the process.

Title: Global Vice President of Engineering, Product Development and R&D

Location: Nashville area, Tennessee

Reports to: CEO

The Position

The VP of Engineering, Product Development and R&D is a crucial global leadership role responsible for driving the innovation and development of new products within the division to marketing specifications. In this role, you will define the vision of product development for the division to ensure continuous growth and success in the highly competitive food service industry by using technical expertise, leadership skills, industry knowledge, and a passion for leading change.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate a track record of driving successful product launches, have a strategic mindset, and have the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams. This individual will be responsible for driving the development of products from engineering through manufacturing, along with quality assurance product acceptance procedures, to market release under marketing specifications.

Candidates must have prior experience building a strong global team, creating centers of excellence, increasing technical competencies, and being a champion of design quality, product management alignment, and design for manufacturing.

In line with corporate goals, the ideal candidate will develop strong relations with the appropriate authorities and testing laboratories for product approval. You will provide direction on managing all product-related regulatory matters including the legalities of patent infringement, patent application, patent research and product liability. This person will be the face of the company at trade association meetings, conventions, and client summits.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Ensuring the development of new products to Marketing specifications and corporate goals
• Creating conceptual design, recommending materials and manufacturing details
• Managing the development process for new and/or potential products; liaising with customer and/or other departments to gain approval along with appropriate authorities and testing laboratories
• Provides direction and/or manages all product related legal issues including patent infringement, patent application, patent research and product liability
• Designing, implementing, and standardizing, policies, and procedures in the Product Development department across continents, with a strong continuous improvement mindset
• Representing the Company at trade association meetings, conventions, and client meetings
• Analyzing and controlling expenditures of the department to conform with budget requirements
• Approving products for market release, maintaining all relevant data records and providing accurate information to product management. Work with other departments to recommend selling price and forecast sales of new and/or potential products
• Coordinates, with Human Resources, all aspects of employee relations including recruiting, hiring, training & development, coaching and counseling, scheduling, among others
• Liaise with FAS to ensure all materials and processes are compliant with ANSI/FDA standards and testing is conducted to ASTM standards
• Ensures employees Business skills requirements and current level of FAS, providing necessary training.
• Manage all global smallware product complaints and any subsequent liability to ensure corrective actions are established and executed to minimize impact to the Division and its customers
• Take lead role in the development and establishment of all business tools and standards for the global smallware product development groups; support of all global smallware’s teams to maximize information sharing and minimize product duplication
• Negotiate and establish price adjustment terms based on commodity indices and exchange rates.
• Research, recommend and implement new manufacturing/sourcing channels to maximize competitive advantage

Qualifications

• An ENGINEERING DEGREE is required, preferably with a master's degree in relevant fields (engineering, or industrial design)
• A robust experience in COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTIAL KITCHEN EQUIPMENT, accessories, and appliance product development is essential, in the foodservice industry or industries with similar challenges. Candidates should have a proven track record of successfully launching new products and managing the end-to-end product development process in a global business environment with a low volume high mix production
• Influencer, results driven, process oriented, and competitive global orientation with a hands-on leadership style
• A deep understanding of the food service industry dynamics is necessary. This includes knowledge of market trends, customer needs, and a competitive landscape. Commercial kitchen equipment and systems knowledge
• Extensive experience building/rebuilding global high performance teams in the US and Europe or US and Asia
• Ability to travel within the US and abroad (25-30%)
• Strong strategic thinker, organizational leadership skills, innovation mindset, communicator and collaborator, project management skills and quality focus approach