Senior Director NA Brand R&D Lead
Opella
Summary
Lead the end-to-end R&D strategy, innovation pipeline, and execution for North America Allergy and Sleep brands by translating science and technology into consumer-focused products, partnering with Marketing, Sales, Regulatory, and Medical to deliver business growth and successful product launches.
Job description
Main Responsibilities
- Be an innovative & creative R&D leader that inspires marketing & commercial with ideas that can be executed. Define R&D strategy for our brands.
- Lead the R&D innovation pipeline for key growth brands, delivering new products and innovations that meet growth and sales objectives while ensuring consistent execution across the portfolio.
- Drive short-, medium-, and long-term product development projects, including new formulations, claims, clinical studies, packaging innovations, and sustainability initiatives.
- Partner closely with Marketing, Sales, Consumer Science, and Project Management to develop larger, consumer-driven innovation projects and ensure successful, on-time product launches.
- Develop and execute patent strategies and leverage external technology partnerships to create differentiated products and strengthen the long-term innovation pipeline.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with Development, Packaging, Finance, Regulatory, and other key stakeholders to build strong business cases, manage project risks, and deliver high-impact innovation.
- Prioritize and lead base business protection projects to maintain product quality, compliance, and supply continuity while balancing business risk.
- Inspire and lead cross-functional teams by fostering innovation, encouraging bold decision-making, and driving accountability to achieve business and R&D objectives.
About You
- Bachelor's degree in a scientific discipline required; Master's or Ph.D. preferred, with 10+ years of R&D experience leading innovation pipelines and delivering successful product development for consumer health brands.
- Proven experience developing OTC and NDA products, supporting FDA submissions, and managing multiple brands across various regulatory pathways while driving innovation and business growth.
- Strong ability to translate consumer insights into brand strategies, communicate complex science to diverse stakeholders, and influence business decisions through effective storytelling.
- Demonstrated leadership in building and coaching cross-functional technical teams, allocating resources, managing budgets, identifying risks, and driving innovation projects from concept through commercial launch.
- Experience establishing external partnerships with suppliers, research organizations, and key opinion leaders while staying ahead of industry trends to identify new technologies, ingredients, formulations, claims, and sustainable product opportunities.
- Proven ability to lead a diverse innovation portfolio, including business development opportunities, new product development, clinical programs, novel formulation technologies, and sustainability initiatives.
- Strong strategic mindset with experience partnering across R&D, Regulatory, Marketing, Project Management, and Commercial teams to deliver high-impact innovation and long-term portfolio growth.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in a scientific discipline required
- Master's or Ph.D. preferred
- 10+ years of R&D experience leading innovation pipelines
- Experience developing OTC and NDA products
- Experience supporting FDA submissions
- Experience managing multiple brands across regulatory pathways
- Ability to translate consumer insights into brand strategies
- Demonstrated leadership in building and coaching cross-functional technical teams
- Experience managing budgets and allocating resources
- Experience establishing external partnerships with suppliers and research organizations
- Strong strategic mindset partnering across R&D, Regulatory, Marketing, Project Management, and Commercial teams
Company overview
Opella is a consumer healthcare company specializing in retail health and personal care products. The company focuses on developing and distributing accessible healthcare solutions for everyday wellness needs. Operating in the retail health sector, Opella likely offers a range of over-the-counter products, personal care items, and health maintenance solutions designed for consumer use. While specific product details are not available, companies in this sector typically provide items such as vitamins, supplements, first aid products, personal hygiene items, and other health-related consumer goods. Opella appears to serve the growing market of consumers seeking convenient, retail-based healthcare options that bridge the gap between traditional medical products and everyday wellness. The company's positioning in retail health suggests a focus on making essential healthcare products more accessible to the general public through various retail channels, potentially including pharmacies, supermarkets, and online platforms.