At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead engineering teams to deliver innovative products on time and ensure compliance with standards.
- Company: A leading international technology manufacturer based in County Durham.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development opportunities, and a dynamic work environment.
- Other info: Collaborative role with opportunities for cross-site teamwork and external partnerships.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by driving product development and fostering a culture of innovation.
- Qualifications: Experience in leading engineering teams and managing product compliance in relevant sectors.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
The Client: My client is a leading international technology manufacturer headquartered in County Durham and is looking for a people-driven Head of R&D to lead best-in-class NPD delivery. This is a highly hands-on role, focused on execution, product lifecycle excellence and compliance - not strategic R&D oversight or architectural ownership.
About the Role: Reporting to the Global Head of R&D, the Head of R&D will drive high-quality, on-time product development and sustaining engineering across the business unit portfolio, with full accountability for product compliance to all relevant standards and regulations. Leading UK-based engineering and product compliance teams, the role works closely with European R&D leadership to align priorities, accelerate execution, and deliver consistently strong performance across sites.
Main Responsibilities:
- Engineering Delivery & Execution: Own delivery of UK-based engineering projects (scope, timeline, quality). Drive predictable execution through structured planning, tracking, and accountability. Align engineering capacity with project priorities and business needs. Establish and manage delivery KPIs (cycle time, on-time delivery, throughput).
- Product Lifecycle & Sustaining Engineering: Own engineering support for the existing product portfolio, including obsolescence-driven redesigns, cost optimisation and component changes, regulatory and standards-driven updates. Ensure continuity of supply and product competitiveness. Balance new product development and sustaining engineering activities.
- Product Compliance Leadership: Lead the Product Compliance team within R&D. Ensure all products meet relevant regulatory, safety, and certification requirements. Maintain alignment with applicable standards (e.g. IEC, ISO, regional compliance requirements). Work closely with engineering teams to embed compliance early in development. Support certification, audits, and regulatory approvals.
- Team Leadership & Capability Building: Lead and develop UK-based engineering and compliance teams. Build a culture of accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement. Strengthen technical and delivery leadership within the team. Ensure effective resource utilisation and capability development.
- Cross-Site Collaboration: Work closely with European-based R&D leadership and engineering teams to ensure aligned priorities and coordinated execution. Support a unified development model across UK and Europe. Contribute to a cohesive, high-performing engineering organisation across locations.
- External Development Integration: Integrate external development partners to increase engineering capacity and speed. Define clear scopes, interfaces, and deliverables. Ensure quality and timely delivery from external partners.
- Process & Performance Improvement: Improve engineering efficiency, reducing development cycle time and rework. Implement pragmatic, scalable development processes (Agile / hybrid). Ensure clear visibility of delivery performance, risks, and dependencies. Proactively remove technical and organisational blockers.
About You: To be considered for the role, it is essential that you possess demonstrable experience and strength in the leading of engineering teams and NPD, in the electronics, testing & measurement, safety or instrumentation product sectors. You will also be degree qualified in an appropriate discipline.
Key Selection Criteria:
- Familiarity with platform-based product architectures.
- Strong track record of delivering complex engineering projects on time and to quality targets.
- Experience in multidisciplinary engineering (hardware, embedded software, systems).
- Experience managing product compliance, certification, or regulatory activities.
- Experience working across multiple locations or distributed teams.
- Experience working with external development partners or outsourced engineering models.
- Strong execution focus with ability to deliver results through teams.
- Structured, data-driven approach to problem solving.
- Ability to manage complexity and competing priorities.
- Clear and effective communication across technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Pragmatic, delivery-oriented mindset with high accountability.
- Collaborative leadership style with ability to influence across locations.
Locations
Head of R&D in Durham, North East employer: Catalyst
As a leading international technology manufacturer based in County Durham, our company is committed to fostering a dynamic and inclusive work environment where innovation thrives. We offer competitive benefits, a strong focus on employee development, and the opportunity to lead talented teams in delivering cutting-edge products. Join us to be part of a culture that values accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement, ensuring your contributions make a meaningful impact in the technology sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of R&D in Durham, North East
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and engage with professionals on platforms like LinkedIn. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that dream job.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its products thoroughly. Understand their values and recent projects, especially in R&D. We want you to show them that you’re not just another candidate, but someone who genuinely cares about their mission and can contribute to their success.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to articulate your experience and how it aligns with the role of Head of R&D. We suggest you highlight your hands-on approach and ability to lead teams effectively, as this is key for the position.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to connect directly with us. Let’s make it happen!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of R&D in Durham, North East
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the job description. Highlight your experience in leading engineering teams and delivering complex projects, especially in the electronics or instrumentation sectors. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for the Head of R&D role. Share specific examples of your past successes in product lifecycle management and compliance to grab our attention.
Showcase Your Leadership Style:We’re looking for someone who can lead and inspire teams. In your application, give us a glimpse of your collaborative leadership style and how you've built accountability and continuous improvement in your previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at Catalyst
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the specifics of product lifecycle management and compliance standards relevant to the role. Brush up on your knowledge of IEC, ISO, and any other regulations that might come up during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your experience in leading engineering teams and driving project delivery. Be ready to discuss how you've built a culture of accountability and continuous improvement in your previous roles.
✨Demonstrate Cross-Site Collaboration
Since this role involves working closely with European R&D leadership, think of instances where you successfully collaborated across different locations. Share how you aligned priorities and ensured coordinated execution in past projects.
✨Be Data-Driven
Emphasise your structured, data-driven approach to problem-solving. Prepare to discuss how you’ve used KPIs to track project performance and improve engineering efficiency in your previous roles.
