The primary components for which this role is accountable include:• Develop recommendations and gain alignment to set the overall product strategy based on company, consumer, competitive and marketplace dynamics• Guide the development and execution of the 3-year innovation cycle plan serving as the primary liaison to R&D to ensure alignment, technical capabilities, consumer claims development, and substantiation• Lead product initiations from initial scoping phase through the entire stage gate process until final implementation and delivery - includes cross-functional team leadership, project management, financial reviews, key milestones, and critical issues identification• Serve as key knowledge expert and resource for Energizer Specialty and Rechargeable batteries and associated projects• Demonstrate an ongoing understanding of battery business via analysis through key tools and data• Understand competitive intelligence and changing marketing dynamics for input into global strategies

My key responsibility is to drive research and development projects to meet area marketing needs.• Analyze new products in order to deliver news and claims opportunities and selling stories• Communicate market requirements, portfolio management recommendations, and product life cycle plans to stakeholders, product teams, and supplier partners• Manage product launches and participate in business case assessments• Preparation of support materials for external sales

I was responsible for leading cross-functional teams of engineers and suppliers commissioned to improve product performance, design, build, validate and implement manufacturing processes.• Developed project plans incorporating experiment design, statistical analysis, determination of capital expenditure budgets, product cost boundaries and interaction with new suppliers• Managed and executed projects with significant impact on the specialty battery business including cost reductions of over $1.0M annually, battery service improvements, manufacturing process improvements, environmentally-friendly material replacement and surety of supply• Earned “Energizer Certified Project Manager” designation by completing project management training and demonstrating the ability to achieve project duration, cost and performance objectives • Presented capital budget proposals to senior management and received approval for capital budgets • Managed and coached direct reports including administration of periodic performance reviews and constructing individual skill development plans• Communicated experimental results, financial information and project recommendations through written technical publications and oral presentations to management, quality and plant personnel • Collaborated with suppliers to evaluate alternative materials, ensure compliance with Energizer’s material specifications and resolve supply issues at the plant level• Received extensive statistical training as a Design for Six Sigma Green Belt• Led teams participating in plant-sponsored Lean Six Sigma and Kaizen events focused on improving product performance, reducing output variability, simplifying manufacturing process flow, designing equipment and determining the root cause of recurring product defects

Main areas of focus included the effect of space radiation on polymers, coordination of ion engine systems testing, and development of fuel cells. I had responsibility for conducting fundamental research and performance improvement-oriented experiments as a private contractor serving the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).• Performed fundamental research on the discharge characteristics, ion current density and temperature characteristics of ion thrusters using Langmuir and Faraday probe arrays• Inspected, analyzed and reported wear-tested hollow cathode assembly components using laser profilometry and scanning electron microscopy• Designed and executed experiments to characterize material properties and quantify the effects of design changes and new processing techniques on the conductivity, porosity, mechanical durability and overall performance of solid oxide fuel cells• Proposed and implemented improved processing techniques for tape-casted electrodes by engineering characteristics such as microstructure and dopant distribution• Analyzed electrode microstructure with scanning electron microscopy and related observations to issues such as conductivity, mechanical durability and overall cell performance• Contributed to initial and periodic progress meetings comprised of internal project teams and client representatives to provide creative direction for proposed project work, detailed planning of experimental methods and results of project activities