Executive Head of Engineering and R&D

About

The Executive Head of Engineering and R&D is a key member of the senior leadership team reporting to the VP, Product. This role works closely with Product, Operations and Commercial to create innovative solutions that improve our products and manufacturing processes along with creating differentiation that can be leveraged by our Commercial group to enhance market share and customer satisfaction. This person will lead the Engineering organization responsible for technical product development, R&D, product compliance testing, sustaining engineering and technical sourcing while also partnering with Operations on the consideration and adoption of new manufacturing technology. The role’s responsibilities include but are not limited to providing leadership for mechanical, electrical, chemical and design engineering applied to our products which include spas, swim spas, cold plunges, sauna and specific key aftermarket products. Additionally, this person will oversees the development and utilization of controls and systems used to ensure compliance with various regulatory standards and to support effective Product Lifecycle Management.

This role has multiple departments and managers/directors that report directly to this role. The departments supervised by this position are Electronics, R&D, Sustaining Engineering, Engineering Services which include engineering data systems, Tooling and Technical Sourcing.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• This leader will assume direct leadership of multiple departments and cost centers, utilizing these resources to develop, test and help bring to market new products and features which will provide Watkins with meaningful differentiation for its various product categories and multiple sales channels.
• The successful leader possesses exceptional organizational leadership, inspires, motivates, and builds confidence and engagement in their team, and creates an environment where associates are highly committed and perform at their best.
• This individual is a member of the Watkins senior leadership team and will be asked to partner with other senior leaders to improve our processes, set strategic direction and reinforce and refine our culture.
• Provide R&D strategic and functional leadership partnering with leaders in the Product group to establish criteria for effective management and measurement of R&D efforts.
• Work closely with Operations, Product and Commercial teams to transition R&D projects into NPI based on established criteria.
• Accountable for engineering expertise and long-term continuity in the areas of tooling development, testing manufacturing capabilities.
• Responsible for the vision and execution of cost improvement and sustainability aligned with the NPI (Product), Operational Excellence efforts and overall strategic direction.
• Attract, develop, and retain strong talent required to implement the strategic plan.
• Provide training and mentorship as appropriate to optimize the specific departments and the overall function.
• Lead and investigate new techniques, best practices, and technological innovation and present them to the business and manufacturing leadership.
• Provide technical ownership for product design aspects for products within the platforms throughout the entire lifecycle.
• Create solutions for technical problems using systematic problem-solving methodologies.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with the Manufacturing, Quality and Supply Chain to ensure designs are manufacturable and that new products are meeting manufacturing needs for repeatable processes and complexity management.
• Provide leadership to evaluate field warranties to identify manufacturing and distribution related warranty issues and work with Quality, Manufacturing and Distribution on corrective actions.
• Accountable for budget development and management.
• Develop and maintain engineering procedures and systems that assure uniformity and consistency.
• Instill a high degree of process and project management discipline and rigor in the organization, solving technical problems, delivering on time sensitive initiatives, driving continuous improvement of processes and ensuring compliance with all applicable local, state, federal, international and safety regulations, policies, and standards.
• Achieve results under challenging circumstances by establishing capacity and capabilities.
• Build robust succession plans and paths for engineering technical career advancement.
• Growth Mindset: Demonstrated agility to learn and thrive as a servant leader in changing environments with complex, matrixed organization.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION And/or EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree (B.A.) in Engineering from four-year college or university; MBA preferred.
• Minimum 15 years of progressively responsible engineering management experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated ability to lead people and get results through others.
• Problem analysis and problem resolution at both a strategic and functional level.
• Technical skills in engineering management, quality assurance and costing.

Computer And Other Skills

• Must be able to prepare reports, performance reviews, worksheets, charts, schedules, procedures, and other data as necessary.
• Organized and detail oriented.
• Knowledge of value engineering.
• Experience in Lean Manufacturing environments.
• Computer proficiency.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES AND REGISTRATIONS

• None Required

COMPETENCIES

• Possesses strong Core and Leadership competencies as they pertain to Watkins performance criteria.
• Exhibits the values of the Watkins Way.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and ability to adjust focus.

Company

Watkins Wellness

Employment Type

Full time

Hiring Range

$182,600.00 - $286,770.00 USD

Actual compensation may vary based on various factors including experience, education, geographic location, and/or skills.

Watkins (the “Company”) is an equal opportunity employer and we strive to employ the most qualified individuals for every position. The Company makes employment decisions only based on merit. It is the Company’s policy to prohibit discrimination in any employment opportunity (including but not limited to recruitment, employment, promotion, salary increases, benefits, termination and all other terms and conditions of employment) based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, pregnancy, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, age, physical/mental disability, medical condition, marital/domestic partner status, military and veteran status, height, weight or any other such characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. The Company is committed to complying with all applicable laws providing equal employment opportunities. This commitment applies to all people involved in the operations of the Company regardless of where the employee is located and prohibits unlawful discrimination by any employee of the Company.

Watkins is an E-Verify employer. E-Verify is an Internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that allows participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees in the United States. Please click on the following links for more information.

E-Verify Participation Poster: English & Spanish

E-Verify Right to Work Poster: English & Spanish