Nidec Motor Corporation
VP, Chief Innovation Officer
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Senior Director, Research & Development
Nidec Group
We begin with dreams. Dreams drive our motivation. Dreams are our future. The world's dreams, people's dreams, our dreams. Our passion creates ideas that make dreams come alive. Technology and products that were only dreams become reality. All for dreams. Dreams challenge—and the Nidec Group will continue to meet that challenge.
For the world's and people's tomorrows; the world’s first, the world’s best technologies and products; we will continue our part in creating a better society.
Job Summary
The Senior Director, Research & Development is a senior leadership role responsible for defining and leading the organisation’s R&D strategy to drive innovation, product development, and technology advancement, supporting business growth and competitive differentiation. The role provides enterprise-wide leadership for research, product development, and innovation pipelines.
Role Overview
The Senior Director, R&D owns the enterprise R&D strategy, governance, and performance across innovation, product development, and technology exploration. This position balances strategic direction with execution oversight to ensure resources focus on high-value opportunities, delivering timely, high-quality outcomes.
The role leads directors, managers, and senior technical leaders while serving as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on innovation priorities, technology roadmaps, and portfolio investment decisions.
Key Responsibilities
R&D Strategy & Innovation Leadership
- Define and own the enterprise R&D and innovation strategy in alignment with business objectives
- Establish multi-year technology and product development roadmaps
- Ensure R&D priorities balance near-term delivery with long-term innovation
Product & Technology Development
- Oversee development of new products, platforms, and technologies
- Ensure disciplined execution of development programs from concept to launch
- Promote design for quality, scalability, manufacturability, and sustainability
Portfolio Management & Investment Prioritisation
- Lead governance of the R&D portfolio, including prioritisation and resource allocation
- Evaluate technical feasibility, market potential, risk, and ROI of initiatives
- Ensure effective decision-making across stage-gate or development lifecycle processes
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Innovation Pipeline & Market Alignment
- Foster ideation, experimentation, and exploration of emerging technologies
- Partner with Marketing and Business Development to align innovation with customer needs
- Monitor market and technology trends to inform innovation direction
Technical Excellence & Standards
- Establish R&D standards, methodologies, and best practices
- Ensure rigorous technical reviews, validation, and verification processes
- Promote knowledge-sharing and reuse of platforms and technologies
Cross-Functional Product Realisation
- Collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Regulatory, and Operations
- Ensure smooth transitions of designs from R&D to manufacturing and commercialisation
- Support product launches and post-launch performance monitoring
People Leadership & Capability Development
- Lead and develop a high-performing R&D organisation
- Build capability in research, product development, and innovation leadership
- Establish organisational structures, performance expectations, and succession plans
External Collaboration & Ecosystem Engagement
- Build relationships with universities, research institutions, suppliers, and partners
- Support open innovation, partnerships, and external research initiatives where appropriate
- Evaluate opportunities for collaboration to accelerate innovation
Senior Leadership Collaboration & Communication
- Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on innovation strategy and technology risk
- Communicate R&D performance, progress, and roadmap to senior leadership forums
- Provide thought leadership on innovation culture and long-term technical direction
Qualifications
Education & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Science, or related technical field (required)
- Master’s degree or PhD (or MBA with strong technical background) (strongly preferred)
- Typically 12–15+ years of progressive experience in R&D, engineering, or product development roles
- Demonstrated experience leading enterprise-level R&D or innovation organisations
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Deep technical expertise and understanding of product and technology development
- Strong strategic planning, portfolio management, and innovation leadership skills
- Proven senior leadership and people development capability
- Ability to influence and align cross-functional and geographically dispersed leaders
- Strong analytical, decision-making, and risk-management skills
- Clear communication, judgment, and change-leadership capability
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Organisational Impact
- Establishes operational initiatives that significantly influence mid- to long-term success of business units, departments, or job family groups
- Leads implementation of executive strategies, ensuring alignment with functional or business unit objectives
- Develops and oversees strategic operational plans (focus on mid-term outcomes, e.g., ~3 years)
- Substantial accountability for organisational resources and influences high-level business decisions
- Typically accountable for significant revenue generation and/or expenditure across major areas, with high autonomy and decision-making authority
Equal Employment Opportunity & Affirmative Action
Nidec is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Affirmative Action Employer, encouraging diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to their:
- Age
- Gender
- Gender identity
- Sexual orientation
- Race
- Color
- Genetic information
- Religious creed
- National origin
- Physical or mental disability
- Protected veteran status
For more information on EEO rights, visit here.
Additional Notes
- No Soliciting: Nidec will not accept unsolicited resumes from individual recruiters or third-party agencies for this posting.
- No Fee: No fee will be paid to third parties submitting candidates directly to hiring managers without previous clearance. Pre-approval from the Nidec Talent Acquisition team is required.
Nidec has worked its way up to be the world’s No.1 manufacturer of small precision motors. Expanding to motors, machinery applications, and electronic/optical components used in telecoms, office equipment, home appliances, automobiles, industrial equipment, and renewable energy, the group’s motto, "For Everything that Spins and Moves", drives its mission for next-generation drive technologies meeting societal needs.
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