R&D Director, Head of Strategic Innovation (f/m)

Work Your Magic with us!  

Ready to explore, break barriers, and discover more? We know you’ve got big plans – so do we! Our colleagues across the globe love innovating with science and technology to enrich people’s lives with our solutions in Healthcare, Life Science, and Electronics. Together, we dream big and are passionate about caring for our rich mix of people, customers, patients, and planet. That's why we are always looking for curious minds that see themselves imagining the unimaginable with us.  

Your role:

Your role is to lead the Innovation Team within Lab Water, steering the adjacent franchise strategy into a clear, compelling vision. You will partner with the Global Head of Innovation, R&D and Product Marketing to define how the emerging adjacent portfolio complements our core business and customer workflows. You will scout, screen, and select ideas with high potential, translating each into a viable concept aligned with the long-term portfolio. You will assess technical feasibility and oversee early commercial evaluations, including market sizing, pricing, and go-to-market considerations. You will build a disciplined portfolio funnel and ensure rigorous transitions to PDP only when strategic fit, viability, and value are demonstrated.

You will shape the external network and represent Lab Water in BD or M&A discussions, aligning opportunities with the adjacent franchise strategy. You will collaborate across R&D, market insights, strategy, and finance to ensure consistent, rigorous evaluation of ideas. You will provide clear, actionable visions for how each concept integrates into customer workflows and drives long-term growth without overriding PDP execution. You will establish governance, milestones, metrics, and risk management for the portfolio to secure strategic progress. You will communicate portfolio status and strategic rationale to senior leadership, translating market signals into actionable options.

This position is located in our LabWater headquarter in Guyancourt, France (Paris area). Ponctual global travel are expected. Please send your resume in English.

Who you are:

• 10+ years in corporate R&D, Innovation, Business Development &/or Strategy within Life Sciences, Scientific Equipment, Healthcare, or adjacent high-tech fields.


• Proven track record in generating and evaluating new concepts, with experience in market sizing, business modeling, and preliminary commercial assessments.


• Strong ability to connect technical opportunities to real-world workflows and customer needs, with clear articulation of strategic fit.


• Experience leading cross-functional teams and communicating with senior leadership; adept at storytelling, influencing, and decision support.


• Demonstrated capability to develop compelling business cases and high-level economic models for early-stage opportunities.


• MBA or equivalent business background; PhD in a relevant scientific/engineering field is a plus.


• Global mindset with willingness to travel; alignment with safety, integrity, and excellence.


• Excellent collaboration and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to define and communicate a persuasive strategic vision.

What we offer: We are curious minds that come from a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. We believe that this variety drives excellence and innovation, strengthening our ability to lead in science and technology. We are committed to creating access and opportunities for all to develop and grow at your own pace. Join us in building a culture of inclusion and belonging that impacts millions and empowers everyone to work their magic and champion human progress!

Apply now and become a part of a team that is dedicated to Sparking Discovery and Elevating Humanity!