Director of Research & Development

The position

The R&D Director Safety Jogger will spearhead the innovation and product development initiatives, ensuring alignment with the strategic goals of operational excellence and sustainability of the Cortina Group. This role demands a visionary leader with a passion for processes and process innovation, product innovation, adept at managing complex product portfolios, and experienced in product lifecycle management. The ideal candidate will foster a culture of continuous improvement, data-driven decision-making, and cross-functional collaboration to propel the fast-growing Safety Jogger brand to new heights.

Key Result Areas

• Strategic Leadership:
• Develop and implement R&D strategies that align with the company’s mission and growth objectives.
• Stay abreast of industry trends, technological advancements, and regulatory changes to inform product development.
• Translate customer needs and market trends into successful product launches.
• Lead the end‑to‑end product development process, from ideation to market launch, ensuring timely delivery of innovative safety footwear and apparel.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement, focusing on enhancing existing products and optimizing SKU management.
• Manage and optimize the route‑to‑market in close collaboration with marketing and operations.
• Operational Excellence:
• Implement best practices and R&D methodologies (such as stage gate process) in process development and integration to streamline R&D operations.
• Collaborate with supply chain, quality assurance and sales teams to ensure seamless product integration and scalability.
• Strive for operational excellence in collaboration with the Group COO.
• Sustainability Initiatives:
• Integrate sustainable practices into product design and development, prioritizing eco‑friendly materials and processes while safeguarding the brand market positioning.
• Set and monitor sustainability goals, ensuring compliance with environmental standards and regulations.
• Manage, mentor, and inspire a diverse team of R&D professionals (including the Technical Director and Product Development Director), fostering a collaborative, and innovative work environment.
• Identify skill gaps and facilitate professional development opportunities to build a high‑performing team.
• Data‑Driven Decision Making:
• Utilize data analytics to drive product development decisions, assess market trends, and measure project performance.
• Implement metrics to evaluate the success of R&D initiatives and inform strategic planning.
• Strong interest in optimizing our processes through AI.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration:
• Work closely with marketing, sales, supply chain, and manufacturing departments to ensure cohesive product strategies and successful market introductions.
• Engage with external partners, suppliers, and industry experts to enhance innovation and stay competitive.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Product Design, or a related field.
• Minimum of 10 years’ experience in R&D operations with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Proven track record in managing complex product portfolios and leading successful product development projects.
• Experience in the footwear and/or workwear sector is a strong asset.
• Strong understanding of product lifecycle management and supply chain processes.
• Commitment to sustainability and experience in implementing eco‑friendly practices in product development.
• Exceptional leadership and team‑building skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate a diverse team.
• Has an excellent customer centricity attitude, is more focused on developing successful products than on fundamental research.
• Excellent analytical, problem‑solving, and decision‑making abilities.
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, with a collaborative mindset.
• Living on an acceptable distance of Oudenaarde, or open to relocate (at least 3 days/week presence at the Cortina HQ is necessary) and flexibility to travel about 20% of total time.
• (People) Leadership: Builds strong teams; sets ambitious goals and supports team members to achieve them; offers opportunities for personal growth and development; creates a work environment and culture that inspires to deliver outstanding results; is an inspiring people leader.
• Long term vision & strategic thinking: Develops a long term (R&D) vision and translates this vision into short term action plans; provides direction and guidance; is innovative, identifies and creates opportunities to further enhance the financial performance.
• Drive for results: Delivers results; is action oriented and takes decisions; switches smoothly between strategic thinking and hands‑on action; goes the extra mile to achieve targets and goals; is persistent and has an entrepreneurial attitude.
• Analytical skills: Has excellent analytical reasoning skills; builds strong business cases based on facts, figures and in depth analyses; has a digital mindset; uses Big Data to take decisions and build strong business cases.
• Embodies Cortina’s Core PECT Values: Passion – Excellence – Commitment – Team Spirit.