Head of Science and Innovation

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WHO ARE WE?

Iconic British brand ghd is a global leader in high end professional hair styling tools and the UK's number one recommended styling brand. Loved by stylists and consumers, loved by press, and loved by the people that work for the brand!

Merging science and innovation, with luxury beauty and style; ghd combines cutting edge technologies and beautiful designs to create the most technically advanced hair tools in the world.

Developed by leading scientists and engineers in the dedicated ghd R&D laboratories in Cambridge, ghd tools deliver "safer for hair" heat styling that have become an essential part of the daily lives of professional hair stylists and consumers globally.

Renowned for game changing innovation and superior performance, at ghd we are on a mission to transform lives with the power of a good hair day!

LOCATION

This role will be based in our Cambridge office.

ABOUT THIS ROLE

The Head of Science and Innovation leads a research group comprising of scientists, insights researchers and engineers - working with the marketing insights team, product owners, project managers, engineers, attorneys and external consultants to push forward our understanding of hair science and use this to identify new product concepts.

To lead and manage our team of scientists and engineers to:

• Deliver a research programme to build our understanding of hair science
• Use our hair science insights to research technologies for handling and styling hair
• Define technology development projects that deliver new technologies into the NPD team to satisfy a launch rate of to three products per year
• Define and execute a wetline strategy that doubles our wetline revenue within 3 years
• Execute the intellectual property strategy ensuring that ghd's innovations and future markets are protected with strong intellectual property
• Drive new product claims to differentiate our products in market
• Create and manage a network of world class partners to ensure we have the right expertise to lead science and innovation in the hair tool market

JOB ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Research & Development:

• Generate understanding and build knowledge of hair science, providing insight and input to innovative new product development
• Deliver published scientific papers from the ongoing quantitative and qualitative research into hair and organic materials
• Communicate understanding and knowledge in hair science across ghd business competences
• Co-develop product claims with the ghd marketing team, based on hair science understanding to build the product value proposition
• Review product claims with the ghd legal team, as risk assessment
• Support the transfer of hair science methodologies to repeatable engineering design and production process methods

Innovation:

• Working with product owners and NPD engineers, manage the innovation team to provide a constant stream of innovative product concepts and technologies addressing market need compatible with initial business cases
• Identify potential patents and work with CTO to implement the patent strategy
• Develop new technology subsystems to the level of maturity needed for them to be rapidly integrated into products

New Product Development Process:

• Provide product user insights into all parts of the development process to ensure we are always making the best products for our users
• Align with Project Managers on project status, development and deliverables
• Lead the scientific claims feasibility and substantiation testing of products to meet Marketing requirements
• Provide product claims support for the continuous improvement of current ghd products as part of product lifecycle management

Test Method Design & Support:

• Manage the design, selection and application of lab equipment for hair science and proof of concept testing
• Develop methods for product testing and analysis to support market claims and quality control

Line Management:

• To line manage, lead and work alongside a team of scientists and engineers
• To lead and work alongside external partners

REQUIREMENTS

• A true innovator with an approach underpinned by a deep understanding of science
• Excellent communication skills conveying complex technical concepts to exec level stakeholders
• Energy and enthusiasm for product development embracing dynamic and stressful environments
• Minimum 2:1 degree educated in science, physics, material science or engineering with good scientific method and preferably a PhD
• Leading teams
• Previous experience with product testing and statistical analysis (desirable)
• Previous experience working on hair care products (desirable)
• Exceptional planning and organising skills working within exacting timescales
• Actively seeks to build and develop relationships both internally and externally

VALUES

We at ghd are proudly committed to our Company Values and aim to attract and retain employees who live our Values.

• Collaborative - We work together to create the extraordinary.
• Creative - We foster creativity & excellence to create value for our brands and business.
• Courageous - We are agile, entrepreneurial & we own our future.
• Connected - We stay connected and ensure we are always consumer first.
• Committed - We are responsible for our impact on other & the planet.

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