Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovation in R&D, driving faster product development and embedding data-driven decision-making.
- Company: Join a leading industrial machinery manufacturer in Europe with a focus on excellence.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, opportunities for professional growth, and a dynamic work environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by transforming processes and delivering measurable business value.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in R&D or Product Development with Lean Six Sigma expertise.
- Other info: Diversity and inclusion are core values; all backgrounds encouraged to apply.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 ÂŁ per year.
Pacific International has been retained by a leading industrial machinery manufacturer in Europe. This business is looking to bring aboard an experienced Director of Business Process Excellence Innovation to work in the organisation's centre of excellence. Based in Europe, the successful candidate will bring a strong track record in transforming R&D and innovation processes, driving faster and more predictable product development outcomes, and embedding Lean, data‑driven ways of working. Operating at both strategic and hands‑on levels, this individual will play a key role in accelerating time‑to‑market, improving product quality, and delivering measurable commercial value across global product portfolios.
Key Responsibilities
- Drive faster, more predictable innovation outcomes across R&D
- Embed data‑driven decision‑making within product development
- Deliver measurable business value (cost, speed, quality, revenue)
- Develop a multi‑generation product roadmap spanning 10–15 years
- Lead transformation of the end‑to‑end NPD lifecycle
- Align NPD processes with business strategy, customer needs, and market dynamics
- Lead Lean Six Sigma deployment within R&D and Innovation functions
- Identify and eliminate inefficiencies across development, design, testing, and validation
- Optimise time‑to‑market, development cost, and product success rates
Candidate Profile
- Minimum 10+ years’ experience in R&D, Innovation, or Product Development
- Proven track record in R&D process improvement and transformation
- Extensive experience leading Lean Six Sigma initiatives (Black Belt / Master Black Belt)
- Strong expertise in: New Product Development (NPD), Design for Six Sigma (DfSS) and Stage‑Gate and/or Agile frameworks
- Experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment (preferred)
- Structured, innovation‑driven mindset with strong problem‑solving skills
- Ability to translate customer needs into engineering requirements
- Strong analytical, systems thinking, and stakeholder influencing skills
- Comfortable operating both strategically and hands‑on
- Proven ability to coach and develop technical teams
- High resilience and capability to drive change in complex organisations
Qualifications & Skills
- Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt
- Design for Six Sigma (DfSS)
- Experience with Innovation and Stage‑Gate frameworks
- English (full professional proficiency)
Director Business Excellence Innovation in Reading employer: Pacific International Executive Search
Contact Detail:
Pacific International Executive Search Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Director Business Excellence Innovation in Reading
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts, attend relevant events, and engage 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 role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. We recommend practising common interview questions and tailoring your answers to highlight your experience in R&D and innovation processes. Show them you’re the perfect fit!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t forget to showcase your achievements! When discussing your past roles, focus on measurable outcomes and how you’ve driven change. We want to see those numbers that prove your impact in previous positions.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply directly through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to connect with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Director Business Excellence Innovation in Reading
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in R&D and innovation processes. We want to see how your skills align with the role of Director of Business Excellence Innovation, so don’t hold back on showcasing your achievements!
Showcase Your Lean Six Sigma Expertise: Since this role heavily involves Lean Six Sigma, be sure to detail your certifications and any relevant projects you've led. We love seeing concrete examples of how you've driven process improvements and transformed teams.
Be Data-Driven: Emphasise your ability to embed data-driven decision-making in product development. We’re looking for candidates who can demonstrate how they’ve used analytics to improve outcomes, so share those success stories!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. It’s the best way for us to review your qualifications and get you one step closer to joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Pacific International Executive Search
✨Know Your Lean Six Sigma Inside Out
As a candidate for the Director of Business Excellence Innovation, you need to showcase your expertise in Lean Six Sigma. Brush up on your Black Belt or Master Black Belt knowledge and be ready to discuss specific projects where you've successfully implemented these methodologies to drive process improvements.
✨Demonstrate Strategic Thinking
This role requires a blend of strategic and hands-on skills. Prepare examples that illustrate how you've aligned product development processes with business strategy and customer needs. Think about how you can articulate your vision for a multi-generation product roadmap and how it ties into market dynamics.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Be ready to tackle hypothetical scenarios during the interview. Practice articulating your structured, innovation-driven mindset by discussing past challenges you've faced in R&D or product development and how you overcame them. Highlight your analytical and systems thinking abilities.
✨Prepare for Stakeholder Engagement
Since this position involves influencing various stakeholders, think about how you've successfully communicated and collaborated with different teams in the past. Prepare to share examples of how you've coached and developed technical teams, ensuring everyone is aligned towards common goals.