DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT - EMEA REGION : ELECTRONIC FIRE SAFETY SYSTEMS & COMPONENTS

South East UK

To 100,000 base, plus bonus opportunity of between £35,000 and £70,000, plus car allowance, stock options, benefits and relocation assistance

Our client is part of a global group supplying electronic products to over 200 countries. Products include systems and components used for fire detection, security, access control and intrusion purposes. In 2007 the Group will generate revenues of $18 billion and employ over 140,000 people. The business is committed to continued growth through innovation, R&D and acquisition.

The company subdivides into strong businesses with recognised global brands. An important division is the Fire Safety business which provides solutions for over 100 countries. This business is organised into front office (sales and contracting) and back office (production) strategic business units (SBUs).

The back office SBU for fire safety products has a turnover of some £300 Million and employs around 750 people in various centres spread across the world. It consists of R&D, production, logistics etc. R&D designs and manufactures the detectors, panels, intelligences, graphical head ends, plus all other component parts of fire safety systems, which are then supplied to the front office Fire Safety SBU. These products may form stand-alone fire safety systems, or, be incorporated into more complex and fully integrated large systems.

The front office SBU is a global sales and contracting organisation focused on Government, Commercial, Aviation, Transportation, Residential, Marine and Fire vertical market sectors. This SBU generates revenues from external customers for the design, installation, service, maintenance and monitoring of fire and security safety systems.

Some projects in which the front office is involved are vast undertakings. A new airport in the Far East is one of the largest civil engineering projects in history. Our client has the contract to provide a fully integrated access control system serving 40,000 cardholders. The system has some 2,300 card readers and 160,000 alarm points and also contains an integrated fire and security solution.

Although it satisfies mainly an internal market, the back office Fire Safety SBU is an independent P&L in the group, and is a vertically integrated entity, involving internal sales and marketing, R&D, Manufacturing and Logistics. The Senior Leadership Team is currently being restructured after which R&D will be managed by two new Director positions : one for EMEA and the other for the rest of the world : with both reporting to the SBU General Manager. The EMEA role will be recruited from outside the group.

The new R&D Director for EMEA will work closely with the front office sales businesses to take advantage of local opportunities. The position will direct the R&D groups, and their teams (130 people in four locations) in EMEA, providing a focal point for all R&D pertinent to the Region, and, work as part of the global R&D team driving global initiatives.

Candidates will be developed team managers, technically proficient as well as commercially aware, and have experience of working with international companies in R&D roles demanding knowledge of up to date processes and techniques.

For any further information concerning any aspect of this vacancy please call or send your CV ASAP.

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