R&D Director MEA

at  NTS Group FZLLE Ltd

WE ARE NTS GROUP.

The region’s leading Executive Search, Outplacement & Career Transition firm across the Middle East, bringing over 25 years of local expertise and a track record of exceptional service for our clients and candidates.
Operating from our strategically positioned offices in Dubai, London, and Singapore, we offer a comprehensive range of services delivered by industry experts. These include Contingency & Executive Search Campaigns, Outplacement & Redundancy Support, RPO Projects, Talent Mapping, Women in Leadership & Leadership Development, and our award-winning Executive Career Transitioning Programs.
We are currently working with a global giant within the consumer space to recruit an R&D Director MEA to be based in either Cairo, Dubai or Jeddah, with a heavy preference on Egypt. This position exists to drive innovation, sustainability, and product quality across Middle East & Africa. By providing leadership in R&D innovation design, the incumbent ensures the development of high-quality products that meet local consumer insights and global innovation strategies. Additionally, the role oversees third-party manufacturing (TPM) development, driving sustainability initiatives and the transition to net zero practices. Through effective line management and people leadership, the director recruits, retains, and develops talent to deliver on innovation and sustainability goals. As a key member of the MEA Leadership Team and the Technical Leadership Team (TLT), the manager represents the R&D function, fostering cross-functional collaborations to drive sustainability and product quality initiatives in MEA which is in excess of $1Bn and managing various categories. The role line manages 30+ Associates working in product, packaging, process engineering, quality and food safety in Egypt, Kenya and Saudi Arabia.

What You’ll be Doing…

• Lead R&D innovation design activities and collaborate with local demand teams and Global/Regional R&D Development teams to develop and deploy MEA Innovation Development and Deployment strategies.
• Supervise Co-manufacturer (COMAN) development and qualification to ensure the delivery of quality, safe, products meeting financial Critical Success Factors (CSF), as well as leadership in quality and food safety.
• Provide product design briefs for innovation projects, aligning with local consumer insights and global innovation strategies while emphasizing sustainability, net zero practices, quality, and food safety.
• Serve as a member of the R&D Leadership Team for global emerging markets (GEM) and the MEA Leadership team to co-develop and deliver the R&D vision, functional strategies, and talent/capability building initiatives, including business continuity planning.
• Take accountability for associate and team development, including recruitment, retention, succession planning, and fostering engagement and teamwork within R&D and cross-functional teams.
• Drive high-performing collaboration between the GEM team and various R&D functions, implementing the High-Performance Collaboration (HPC) model, Communities of Practice, and effective communication tools.
• Champion consumer and customer-centricity, facilitate cross-functional conversations, and provide training to achieve business models meeting Desirability, Feasibility, and Viability.
• Manage research expenses and provide transparency of research priority, planning, and results to drive consumer insights and product excellence, as well as business continuity.
• Partner with demand teams to create a future back technology funnel, aligning technology development with future consumer needs and market trends.

Who You Are…

• At least 10 years of business experience, including a minimum of 5 years in R&D, with 2 years in line management and a proven record in people leadership and/or strategy development.
• Preferably 5 years or more experience in FMCG companies with a focus on Consumer Science within Research & Development.
• Experience in digital transformation initiatives within R&D, leveraging technology to enhance processes and drive innovation.
• Familiarity with agile methodology, utilizing its principles to drive efficient and effective project delivery.
• Strong background in quality management, ensuring adherence to high standards in product development and manufacturing.
• Strong communication and presentation skills in English; additional languages are advantageous.

• Lead R&D innovation design activities and collaborate with local demand teams and Global/Regional R&D Development teams to develop and deploy MEA Innovation Development and Deployment strategies.
• Supervise Co-manufacturer (COMAN) development and qualification to ensure the delivery of quality, safe, products meeting financial Critical Success Factors (CSF), as well as leadership in quality and food safety.
• Provide product design briefs for innovation projects, aligning with local consumer insights and global innovation strategies while emphasizing sustainability, net zero practices, quality, and food safety.
• Serve as a member of the R&D Leadership Team for global emerging markets (GEM) and the MEA Leadership team to co-develop and deliver the R&D vision, functional strategies, and talent/capability building initiatives, including business continuity planning.
• Take accountability for associate and team development, including recruitment, retention, succession planning, and fostering engagement and teamwork within R&D and cross-functional teams.
• Drive high-performing collaboration between the GEM team and various R&D functions, implementing the High-Performance Collaboration (HPC) model, Communities of Practice, and effective communication tools.
• Champion consumer and customer-centricity, facilitate cross-functional conversations, and provide training to achieve business models meeting Desirability, Feasibility, and Viability.
• Manage research expenses and provide transparency of research priority, planning, and results to drive consumer insights and product excellence, as well as business continuity.
• Partner with demand teams to create a future back technology funnel, aligning technology development with future consumer needs and market trends