About Us
Kleenex®. Cottonelle®. Scott®. Huggies®. Kotex®. Poise®. Depend®. Kimberly-Clark Professional®. You already know our legendary brands—and so does the rest of the world. In fact, millions of people use Kimberly-Clark products every day. We know these amazing Kimberly-Clark products wouldn’t exist without talented professionals, like you.
At Kimberly-Clark, you’ll be part of the best team committed to driving innovation, growth and impact. We’re founded on more than 150 years of market leadership, and we’re always looking for new and better ways to perform – so there’s your open door of opportunity. It’s all here for you at Kimberly-Clark.
Led by Purpose. Driven by You.
We’re out to create Better Care for a Better World, and that takes leaders and teams who care about making a difference. In the VP, R&D North America Family Care & Innovation Capabilities role, you’ll apply your professional expertise, talent, and drive to building and managing our portfolio of iconic, ground-breaking brands to help us deliver better care for billions of people around the world. It starts with YOU.
In Family Care, we invented many of the categories. Facial Tissue. Toilette Tissue on a roll and we continue to generate dozens of inventions every year.
What You’ll Do (Role Purpose)
The VP, R&D North America Family Care & Innovation Capabilities (VP, R&D NA FC) provides the leadership and vision to drive consumer and customer-centered innovation strategy across the Family Care consumer sector within Kimberly-Clark North America. This leader will provide strategic R&D direction for the Business Units within the Region and is responsible for driving improvements in capability, talent, culture and structure to drive business growth.
VP, R&D NA FC will provide technical leadership for the development and execution of new and improved materials, products, processes, equipment and technologies. This includes front-end-innovation through development and commercialization, quality, asset strategy, and life-cycle-maximization efforts, across all product lines. This role plays a key role on the North American Leadership Team and Global R&D Leadership Team, contributing to key strategy and business decisions beyond R&D.
This role leads a large, diverse group of R&D professionals across design, development, and commercialization as well oversees our experimental mill, labs and pilot facilities with teams across Roswell, GA and Neenah, WI. The role is critical to fueling our innovation pipeline and driving innovative product solutions for our consumers and customers.
The Impact You Can Make
Define the long-term vision and strategic direction for the function supporting two major business units that is insight led and grounded in customer and consumer needs.
Work closely with the cross-functional organization to drive effective pipeline commercialization by building and leveraging crisply defined innovation and value propositions.
Partner closely with Manufacturing and Supply Chain to ensure effective delivery of the innovation plans across design, development, and commercialization stages.
Establish best practices and processes related to innovation, product development, and consumer insights.
Work with Global team members to facilitate implementation and rapid scale up of disruptive innovation that spans across categories.
Establish strong, actionable Design Control Systems to support the innovation and development plans of R&D for new products.
Build technology roadmaps focused on breakthroughs for consumers and customers.
Build a substantial external network and use it to deepen relationships and amplify focus on key initiatives.
Build capabilities team organization to support innovation pipeline, improve connectivity to global capabilities and maintain safe and efficient operations across labs and pilot areas.
Oversee all talent aspects of the organization including performance management, workforce planning, talent management, succession planning and coaching across all team members while building a thriving innovation culture.
About You
You’re driven to perform at the highest level possible, and you appreciate a performance culture fueled by authentic caring. You want to be part of a company actively dedicated to sustainability, inclusion, wellbeing, and career development.
Experiences We’re Looking For
The ideal candidate will have demonstrated the following key skills:
15+ years’ experience with Research and Development
Proven R&D leadership experience within large scale global companies; ideally within Personal Care & Consumer Product Manufacturing; Food & Beverages; Paper & Forest Products; and/or Chemicals industries
Forward-thinking leader with experience commercializing new products through purpose driven, consumer-led innovation
Demonstrated ability to prioritize innovative ideas resulting in viable solutions
R&D business partner to peers and leadership across business units globally; ability to maximize the efficiency of a matrix environment
Effective communicator and collaborative leader with a proven ability to unlock the power and creativity of a highly credentialed and knowledgeable research & engineering team
Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Life Sciences or related field
Advanced Master’s or PhD degree is an added benefit
Location
Neenah, Wisconsin
Ways of Working and Leadership Competencies We Value
Focus on Consumers. We keep the needs of customers and consumers at the center of our work. Building strong customer relationships and delivering consumer-centric solutions. Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies that delight our consumers.
Play to Win. We aim high, measure our results, and live our values because winning with integrity matters. Setting aggressive goals and consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstances. Pushing past status quo to create new and better ways to solve problems and win.
Move Fast. We turn decisions into action, remove barriers and seek progress over perfection. Stepping up to champion ideas, address difficult issues and say what needs to be said. Tackling challenges with a sense of urgency, seizing new opportunities and scaling winning solutions.
Grow our People. We champion inclusion and encourage our people to ideate, innovate and contribute to their growth. Encouraging diverse perspectives, experiences and backgrounds that enable our winning culture. Placing a high priority on developing self and others to meet career goals and the organization’s goals.
Total Benefits
Here are a few of the benefits you’d enjoy. For a complete overview, see www.mykcbenefits.com.
Great support for good health with medical, dental, and vision coverage options. No waiting periods or pre-existing condition restrictions. Access to an on-site fitness center, occupational health nurse, and allowances for high-quality safety equipment.
Flexible Savings and spending accounts to maximize health care options and stretch dollars when caring for yourself or dependents.
Diverse income protection insurance options to protect yourself and your family in case of illness, injury, or other unexpected events.
Additional programs and support to continue your education, adopt a child, relocate, or even find temporary childcare.
And finally, the fine print…
For Kimberly-Clark to grow and prosper, we must be an inclusive organization that applies the diverse experiences and passions of its team members to brands that make life better for people all around the world. We actively seek to build a workforce that reflects the experiences of our consumers. When you bring your original thinking to Kimberly-Clark, you fuel the continued success of our enterprise. We are a committed equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, pregnancy, genetic information, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
The statements above are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this classification. Statements are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and skills required for this position.
Employment is subject to verification of pre-screening tests, which may include drug screening, background check, and DMV check.
Veterans and members of the Reserve and Guard are highly encouraged to apply.
Kimberly-Clark will support in-country relocation for the chosen candidate. The benefits provided will be per the terms of Kimberly-Clark’s applicable mobility policies. The benefits/policy provided will decided in Kimberly-Clark’s sole discretion.
Salary Range: 272,820 – 352,660 USDAt Kimberly-Clark, pay is just one aspect of our total rewards package, which also includes a variety of benefits and opportunities to achieve, thrive and grow. Along with base pay, this position offers eligibility for a target bonus and a comprehensive benefits suite, including our 401(k) and Profit Sharing plan. The anticipated base pay range for this role is provided above for a fully qualified hire. Actual pay will depend on several factors, such as location, role, skills, performance, and experience. Please note that the stated pay range applies to US locations only.