Job Category: Sr Director
Requisition Number: SRDIR
Locations
Belleville, MI 48111, USA
Description
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Strategic Leadership
- Define and execute the company’s electrochemistry R&D strategy in alignment with the company strategy
- Anticipate industry trends, emerging technologies, and competitive developments to maintain innovation leadership
- Lead the development of intellectual property (IP) portfolios, patents, and trade secrets in battery chemistry
- Develop strategic relationships with key material suppliers to understand what raw materials are available and how they can be integrated or adapted into our products
- Work with suppliers to understand their development and industrialization plans
Technical Program Oversight
- Direct research on electrode, electrolyte, and separator chemistries for high-performance, cost-effective, and safe energy storage solutions (lithium-ion, solid-state, advanced chemistries)
- Oversee advanced materials characterization, electrochemical testing, and performance modeling
- Ensure successful scale-up of new chemistries from lab prototypes to pilot production and mass manufacturing
- Execute root-cause analysis of failures and corrective actions for issues occurring during development and launch
Organizational Leadership
- Build, develop, and mentor a high-performing electrochemistry R&D organization, including senior scientists, engineers, and technicians
- Develops best practices, characterization plans, design and group standards
- Foster a culture of technical excellence, collaboration, and innovation
- Manage R&D budgets, resources, and external research partnerships
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with cell design, manufacturing engineering, supply chain, and quality teams to ensure smooth technology transfer from R&D to production
- Collaborate with external partners, suppliers, universities, and research institutions on joint development programs
- Communicate technical strategy and progress to executive leadership, investors, and stakeholders
Qualifications
Experience
Preferred
Proven success in developing and commercializing electrochemical systems in an energy storage manufacturing environment
Demonstrated experience in scaling technologies from lab to production
Track record of securing and managing large-scale R&D programs, both internal and externally funded
Demonstrated understanding of battery electrochemistry, failure mechanisms, and performance optimization
Experience leading and managing people, building high-performing teams
Experience demonstrating competency in the DFMEA process. Working experience with Quality & Reliability disciplines (APQP, 8D, …)
Experience demonstrating excellent communication skills, including presenting complex concepts to non-technical audiences
Equal Opportunity Employer
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