Ford & Stanley – The Rail Recruitment Experts are working with a business that are at the forefront of the digitalisation of the rail sector. We are supporting hem to recruit a forward thinking, strategic focused, Head of Research and Development as it enters a new phase of growth in the areas of Traffic Management Systems and Information Communication Technologies.

The opportunity will be focused on leading our clients R&D division, across it’s multiple UK sites, in the development of new strategies to capture new business and ensure internal development is geared towards meeting strategic aims, in terms of timescales and costs.

The successful candidate will have an opportunity to work across our clients Group, Academia and other industry partners to position them to grow their current product portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Leading of the Research & Development department
• Provide vision and plan for shaping the company to delivering future pipeline growth
• Ensuring that work is done in line with company processes and industry standards.
• Ensuring resource levels, competencies, skills and knowledge are in place and balanced to support achievement of R&D targets across Research, Development, supporting of Bids & Proposals workstreams
• Accountable for budget, schedule, scope, quality and delivery of all R&D projects.
• Building the delivery structure for R&D project
• Leading the R&D team to meet the company strategy through ‘business as usual’ tasks and project delivery.
• Development and management of the R&D Governance and Plans
• Driving continuous improvements to R&D processes both internally to the department and pan business
• Line management and career development responsibilities
• Ensuring the department is using industry best practice in the delivery of projects and products.

Qualifications & Experience

• Understanding the broader business drivers, with the ability to work collaboratively with key functional areas both inside and outside of the company
• Highly integrated leader with ability to inspire change throughout the company
• Big picture thinker
• Experience of prototype development and early lifecycle software systems engineering
• Experience in capture planning and management
• Experience of developing research strategies
• Experience of Enterprise Architecture development
• Experience of Digital Railways concepts and principals
• Provides vision and inspiration on product and architecture development
• Technical background in software development.
• Experience of line management and management of cross-site teams
• Understanding cost control and measurement metrics.
• Knowledge of Railway Signalling and Control Systems is desirable

Possible job titles

R&D Manager, Software Development Manager, Head of R&D, Product Development Manager. Head of Product Development