JOB TITLE: R&D Lead ANZ
REPORTS TO: Regional R&D Head AMEA
GRADE: L3-1 (Permanent Contract)
Location -Sydney or Brisbane, Australia

You’ve built experience, now use it where bold ideas meet real impact. At Opella, we’re challenging how self-care works for millions of people and need leaders and experts ready to shape what’s next. As an experienced R&D Lead, you’ll bring your skill, your curiosity and your drive to make health simpler, smarter and more human.

Job Purpose.

The Research and Development Lead will be accountable for the end-to-end ideation to launch of innovation projects on the local VMS brands Cenovis, and localization of innovation projects of global brands Telfast/Buscopan/Bisolvon in close collaboration with ANZ Brand & Innovation Heads/Leads. The incumbent will act as the R&D representative of science team within ANZ and support the strategic direction of the brand & innovation team & allocate resources in ANZ to prioritized innovation opportunities.

Key Results/Accountabilities.

Accountable to ideate, develop and deliver R&D pipeline for local brands to meet agreed innovation sales targets in line with brand strat plan.
Accountable to deliver portfolio for brands balancing short-, medium- & long-term R&D. projects that utilize claims, NPD, clinicals and packaging innovation with sustainability.
Accountable to ensure delivery of fewer, bigger innovation projects partnering with Brand and Innovation team to strengthen our projects through consumer-based insights.
Design and Deliver pipeline for local brands based on differentiated science.
Localize the global brand innovation projects to enable the delivery with agility, and connectivity.
Strong partnership with IPM to ensure execution on time and in budget.
Strong partnership with science team in ANZ to ensure regulatory and medical strategies and directions be fully aligned and validated.
Strong partnership with development centers and CDMO to ensure the early engagement and contribution of development teams to the product design and product prototyping, and product development for launch.
Strong cross functional team work to ensure that innovation pipeline is delivered.
Accountable to ensure that all base business protection projects for local brands are identified and prioritized based on risk.
Ensure that a strong external technology network is being used to deliver & accelerate differentiated technology opportunities.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS.

Science Head for AMEA/China Regions; ANZ Brand and Innovation Heads/Leads; New Product Development (NPD) centers; Portfolio & PM, M&S including EM; Packaging Innovation, Science Hub Head ANZ, Medical, Regulatory, legal/IP, Regional R&D Leads

Education

SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS.

Degree in Science or Higher degree (Ph.D.) in pharmaceutical science or relevant Academic qualification is desirable.

Required Knowledge And/or Experience

R&D or science innovation experience (at least 10 years) in pharmaceutical, FMCG, consumer healthcare and/or Nutritional industry is required.
Experience in complimentary medicine and health food innovation and new product development (at least 5 years) for the ANZ market is a significant plus.
Experience with OTC product development and innovation is a plus.
Strong science leader who can translate consumer insights into brand led pipelines.
Experience of R&D with proven track record delivering innovation to brands.
Experience in risk discussions and risk mitigation plans
Experience in developing integrated plans & budget for all innovation programs in the region (for all projects in his/her scope)
Experience in identifying and leveraging external partnerships, suppliers, providers, key opinion leaders, etc., to influence innovation for the ANZ local brands.
Experience in influencing and advising key stakeholders & the leadership team on industry trends and new opportunities for local brands.
Experience in E2E innovation, together with Project Managers, from ideation to launch of the innovation pipeline
Familiar with the scope of innovations: BD opportunities, NPD, claims with significant impact that need clinicals, novel ingredients & formulation technologies, sustainable solutions.
Knowledge and experience of understanding brand strategy, consumer insights, and translating consumer needs/problems into science solutions to build sustainable pipelines.
Knowledge of drug, complimentary medicine, health Food regulations
Ability to partner and influence across a matrix environment with strong communication skills.

Language Skills

Fluent spoken and written English

Cultural traits / Challenger Mindset

Push to go beyond the level we have operated until now: constantly challenge the status quo focusing on the priorities that will deliver the best outcomes and letting go what won’t: be intolerant to mediocracy, believe we can and must do better and aim at higher but never at the expenses of our values and judgment.
Put the interest of the organization ahead of own of those of his/her team: consider both short- and long-term impact of decisions; puts collective and global goals above individual or local goals; share resources and capabilities with those with the greatest need and impact; enable decision making at appropriate level.
Act in the interest of our patients and customers and consumers: actively engage with customers and consumers to know their current and future needs; brings an external perspective into decisions.
Take action and don’t wait to be told what to do: take smart and informed best bets with the information at hand and anticipate the consequences of her/his actions; use personal judgement and others’ advice to make bold and impactful decisions which move us forward.
Role models our 4 values: All in together, Courageous, Outcome-obsessed, and Radically Simple.

Required Leadership Competencies

Business Acumen – Ability to effectively use economic, financial, market, stakeholder, and industry-specific indicators to fully understand and improve business results.
Judgement- The ability to draw logical conclusions based on acquired information and analytical rigor in problem-solving, the ability to make effective decisions even when information is ambiguous or incomplete.
Interpersonal relationships - treating others with courtesy, sensitivity, and respect.
Personal Leadership - Personal leadership translates into courage, choice, and commitment through the pursuit of excellence, trust, and accountability. Ability to put patient, stakeholder, and organizational interests above personal interests.
Drive -Takes the lead and initiates activities with a high degree of passion and commitment as well as the drive, desire and need to achieve challenging goals, to improve performance or to meet personal standards of excellence.
Learning Agility – Ability to navigate first time/unfamiliar situations effectively by extrapolating from other areas of expertise and knowledge. Ability to continuously improve and develop self.

This is more than the next step in your career, it’s a chance to lead change and help reinvent self-care for the world. If you’re ready to challenge, inspire and deliver impact that matters, we’re ready for you. We are challengers. We are Opella.

About Us

Opella is the self-care challenger with the purest and third-largest portfolio in the Over The Counter (OTC) & Vitamins, Minerals & Supplements (VMS) market globally.  

Our mission is to bring health in people’s hands by making self-care as simple as it should be. For half a billion consumers worldwide – and counting.

At the core of this mission is our 100 loved brands, our 11,000-strong global team, our 13 best-in-class manufacturing sites and 4 specialized science and innovation development centers. Headquartered in France, Opella is the proud maker of many of the world’s most loved brands, including Allegra, Buscopan, Doliprane,Dulcolax, Enterogermina, Essentiale and Mucosolvan.

As a globally certified B Corp company, we are active players in the journey towards healthier people and planet. Find out more about our mission at www.opella.com.

Opella

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