Head of R&D and Product Design

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This is an excellent opportunity to join a young technology company and help them achieve significant growth!

The Company

They have an innovative range of products relating to energy use and storage, with a flexible product for different applications with a unique offer enabling scaling of the technology, with recycling and reuse an important aspect as environmental concerns become increasingly critical throughout the world.

The Role

The Chief Operating Officer position is a key one in the growth of the company - supporting the CEO and rest of the board from a strategic perspective whilst also ensuring operational deliverables with manufacturing partners, NPD, supply chain, customers and installers are met.

The Individual

• Successful track record in a similar COO/Operations Director roles helping manufacturing/technology/engineering companies scale with outsourced overseas manufacturing supply chains and international sales/distribution
• Knowledge of world class processes & systems and the ability to adapt those to this size and type of business
• Ability to deliver and prioritise accordingly, fulfilling on commitments in a timely fashion
• Solutions orientated – able to find a way to resolve problems
• Creative and full of ideas and energy to help take the business forward
• Given the size and stage of the business a hands-on, getting things done attitude is required, whilst at the same time supporting the CEO and the rest of the board with strategic initiatives
• A positive, inclusive approach, embracing the culture and helping further enhance this

Reasons to join

• Be part of a fantastic journey as this business grows and delivers a sustainable energy solution across multiple applications
• Succession planning opportunity

Opportunities like this don't come around very often - it's going to be an exciting few years - plus you'll make a positive impact from an environmental perspective!! 

 To apply send your CV to neil@wilsonbrook.com or call 07796 542641 for a confidential discussion  

This is an excellent opportunity to grow a key product category for a leading company in this sector. They already have an excellent reputation for their product range in this category, but see significant scope for growth.  The business are long established with a loyal customer base including national house builders, local developers, general contractors, public sector organisations and home improvers - in fact, all users of building materials, however large or small.

They have traded relatively successfully through the Covid-19 crisis. Their branches were closed for a brief period until safe operating procedures were implemented enabling them to offer a click and collect/click and deliver service. They are now fully operational and benefiting from the surge taking place within the building industry – in fact 2020 could end up actually ahead of budget!

The Opportunity

Although already providing a comprehensive range of heavyside products: bricks, blocks, aggregates and landscaping products; they feel there is a big opportunity to increase the breadth and depth, in order to even better service their existing customers whilst also winning new business.

The Individual

They would like recruit someone who can operate at a higher level in an enlarged role and proactively drive growth for these product groups taking some of the workload away from the Director who currently oversees this.

Potential candidates should have 

• Specific product knowledge of bricks & blocks and other heavyside products. This is essential. This could be from working for a builders merchant, a DIY retailer, a specialist distributor or a manufacturer
• Experience in a similar role is naturally beneficial, however this is a broad, end-to-end role so we’re open to individuals who might need to develop some of the capabilities
• Can successfully operate in such an environment without the support structures of a larger corporate and can cope with the pressure of needing to achieve results
• A proactive, inquisitive approach with an entrepreneurial spirit – always looking for ways to improve the business
• Naturally strong communication skills – across all levels of the business.
• Willingness to roll sleeves up and get stuck in
• To be customer facing and enjoy doing this. Knowledge of the local customer base is an advantage, but not a prerequisite
• Fit in with and positively develop the culture within the organisation, ensuring respect for all
• A self-starter and can operate at pace – no procrastination here please!
• Energetic and creative, resilient and tenacious
• Work closely with suppliers, stores, sales teams and customers
• Can deliver the right level of information up and down the structure as required
• Be commercially and financially aware
• Living with commutable distance of the Hampshire Head Office, though there is some flexibility with remote working

Reasons to join

• The business is well-established and has a good reputation
• Well placed for growth with investment having been made over recent years
• The business is happy to invest further – both in the stores and their people
• An opportunity to really drive growth in these product categories and make the business the go-to company for such

 To apply send your CV to matt@wilsonbrook.com or call 07517 470025 for a confidential discussion    

 This is an excellent opportunity to join a well-established builders merchant branch and help propel them through the next stage of their growth.  

Trading from a large site in an affluent area they have a great reputation for customer service, a modern fleet of vehicles and a committed and experienced team.

With the right leader this branch could double in size, adding new product categories and services.  There will be freedom to trade in an autonomous environment with no bureaucracy and the support of an experienced senior leadership (if required!).

Potential candidates should have:

• A successful track record of profitably running and growing an B2B trade distribution business as Branch/General Manager. Potentially a strong assistant Branch Manager looking for that next step.  This could be from within the builders merchant industry or something comparable with transferable skills
• Can successfully operate in such an environment without the support structures of a larger corporate and can cope with the pressure of needing to achieve results
• A proactive, inquisitive, common sense approach
• Strong, positive communication skills.  Able to have difficult conversations when required
• Willingness to roll sleeves up and always looking for opportunities to improve the business
• To be customer facing and enjoy doing this.  Knowledge of the local customer base is an advantage, but not a prerequisite
• Based within a commutable distance of Hemel Hempstead
• Fit in with and positively develop the culture within the organisation, ensuring respect for all within the business
• A self-starter and can operate at pace, making decisions in a confident manner – no procrastination here please!
• Energetic and creative, resilient and tenacious.  Willing to embrace the challenge
• Can deliver the right level of information up and down the structure as required
• Leadership of the highest calibre: inspire, lead, motivate, engage with people throughout the business
• Commercially and financially aware

Objectives:

• Increase turnover in a profitable manner
• Improve customer service, especially with delivered business.  Give customers a reason to use the business
• Improve engagement throughout the team and create a positive, winning culture
• Develop potential successors, with a view to future career progression
• Identify opportunities for investment
• Identify opportunities for growth in associated product/service areas: more timber, lightside and plumbing & heating
• Fully utilise the facilities/capabilities of the branch: buildings, vehicles and small service mill
• Naturally ensure the branch is trading legally with health and safety paramount at all times

The future is bright for this business.  Come and be a part of it. 

 To apply send your CV to matt@wilsonbrook.com or call 07517 470025 for a confidential discussion    

This is an excellent opportunity to join a well-established and category leading manufacturer of specialist small domestic electro-mechanical and electronic devices. This category is growing at over 25% per annum! They have a great reputation and global distribution channels via Amazon and other specialist retailers.

They are now embarking on a period of exciting growth under a new MD and ownership with investments being made into the business to facilitate such growth. The business has a successful history with a good track record of profitability, is highly cash generative and has a long serving employee base.

There are several key strategies which will enable them to grow:

1.Enhance existing products – via incremental value-added enhancements requiring engineering changes and changes in the bill of materials – quite simple but can add a lot of value.

2.New Product Introduction: 1. New mechanical products & 2. IoT/app controlled/web enabled products – so instead of having a product mounted electronic control and display the products will link via wifi to an app on the users smartphone – allowing remote control wherever the user may be

3.Raise the bar in terms of how the business operates – historically it’s been quite centralised around the previous MD and paper based. The new MD wants to engage with and empower the workforce, getting them to think for themselves, coming forward with new ideas and at the same working smarter via better utilisation of technology and world class manufacturing and engineering systems and standards

There are 3 new key roles the business is looking to recruit to help deliver this strategy:

• Senior Design/NPI Engineer or Design & Development Leader (depending on experience)
• Continuous Improvement Engineer
• Quality Assurance Manager

Naturally we're looking for people with experience in similar roles in a similar environment.  Ideally degree qualified, experienced with mechanical and electrical/electronic consumer products.  Any experience with web-enabled/smart/app controlled products would be a distinct advantage.

Reasons to join:

• The business has a successful history with exciting plans for further growth combined with significant investment being applied across the business: facilities, people, products and brand!
• Operating in high growth product categories with the introduction of new technologies
• Potential career development opportunities in the medium term with a several management team members nearing retirement age combined with the growth aspirations of the company
• A new culture of being innovative and proactive – with people empowered and encouraged to contribute and challenge
• Freedom and autonomy, no micro-management here
• Security of a successful, profitable, cash-rich business
• Highly successful new MD who’s worked in world class, industry leading engineering and manufacturing businesses

The business has a strong position in a sustainable market operating in high growth product categories. The business plan represents a continuation of its successful strategy, enhanced by investment, new product development and a step-change in how the business operates, supported by better management. It’s a fantastically exciting time to join the company!

The company are based in the South East, on the South West outskirts of London, so naturally prospective candidates should live within a commutable distance.  There is flexibility over start & finish times.  There may be some limited oversees travel to China to liaise with their manufacturing partners.  

There are competitive salaries,  pension and other benefits.

To apply send your CV to matt@wilsonbrook.com or call 07517 470025 for a confidential discussion