Director – Head of Technology Research & Innovation

1001 LEGO System A/S; Billund; Hybrid; DKK 1,400,000 - 2,100,000; Full time

Job summary

LEGO Group in Denmark is seeking a senior leader to drive early-stage technology exploration within R&D Processing. You will lead industrialization-ready concepts, prototype new manufacturing technologies, and shape long-term capability roadmaps in collaboration with Product Design and Engineering.

You will build a high-potential pipeline, deliver PoCs, partner with senior leaders across markets, and foster an inclusive culture.

Qualifications

• Significant experience from industries with high-paced product innovation.
• Proven track record leading technology and manufacturing process innovation.
• Strong R&D background focused on production equipment and processes.
• Senior leadership in technology-driven, international organizations.
• Excellent leadership, collaboration and communication across multicultural teams.
• Strategic mindset to drive organizational transformation and new capabilities.
• Deep expertise in early-stage innovation and operating models.
• Inclusive leadership fostering diverse teams.

Responsibilities

• Identify emerging tech opportunities to strengthen future plastic component processing.
• Drive a pipeline of innovations via automation, digitalization, and productivity gains.
• Lead PoCs for high-priority initiatives with measurable outcomes.
• Collaborate with Product Design and Engineering to shape priorities and roadmaps.
• Represent R&D Processing in portfolio gate approvals with technical input.
• Support handovers to Technology Transfer and scale new technologies.
• Foster culture of innovation, inclusion, and continuous improvement.
• Align with LEGO Operations Supply Chain goals.

Skills

Technology leadership

Manufacturing systems

Process innovation

R&D leadership

Strategic thinking

Cross-cultural collaboration

Early-stage innovation

Diversity and inclusion

Job description

Job Description To strengthen our focus on early-stage technology innovation, we have recently established a new team to focus on Research and Innovation dedicated to Technology Scouting and exploring emerging technologies and future manufacturing opportunities within the domain of processing and value adding of the moulded plastic components. Here is a phenomenal opportunity to lead the organization’s efforts within early technology exploration, industry and market scouting, concept development, prototyping, and validation of new manufacturing technologies!

Core Responsibilities

Stay at the forefront of market and industry trends in technologies related to valuable processing of plastic components, identifying emerging opportunities that can strengthen the future.

Drive a strong pipeline of technology and process innovations with the potential to create meaningful business impact through product newness, automation, digitalization, and productivity improvements.

Lead and deliver Proof of Concepts (PoCs) for high-priority critical initiatives and committed business plan projects, ensuring timely execution and measurable outcomes.

Partner closely with senior leaders across Product Design and Engineering to shape innovation priorities, strategic investments, long-term capability roadmaps, and future technology positioning.

Build trusted and collaborative relationships with key partners across the Market & Channels Leadership Team, Product Development Leadership Team, and broader R&D organization, fostering an inclusive and diverse environment where different perspectives are valued and long term roadmaps are aligned and committed.

Represent R&D Processing in Product portfolio gate approvals, providing clear recommendations, technical insights, and strategic input while ensuring alignment at Engineering SVP level.

Enable smooth transitions from innovation to industrialization by supporting effective handovers to the Technology Transfer Team and contributing to compelling arguments for scaling new technologies and capabilities.

Foster and build a culture of innovation, collaboration, inclusion, and continuous improvement by empowering teams, encouraging knowledge sharing, and supporting professional growth across functions and regions.

Play your part in our team succeeding R&D Processing is responsible for one of the core production technologies within the LEGO Operations Supply Chain.

Our mission is to develop and secure the processing production capabilities, technologies, and processes needed to bring new LEGO products to life while continuously improving operational efficiency, quality, and scalability across manufacturing.

A key success factor for this role will be building a pipeline of high-potential innovations that can either enable breakthrough product experiences for consumers or fundamentally transform and improve future processing and production capabilities.

This role requires close strategic collaboration with the Product Development and Market & Channels organizations as key internal partners and team members.

In parallel, the team will drive innovation within manufacturing systems, production technologies, and operational processes that can shape the future of factory operations. This will happen in close partnership with other R&D Processing functions and multi-functional teams across the organization.

Do you have what it takes?

• Significant experience from industries is characterized by a high pace of product innovation and technology development.
• Proven track record of leading technology innovation, manufacturing systems, and process innovation within a functional leadership role.
• Extensive theoretical and hands‑on experience within Research & Development, with a strong focus on production equipment, manufacturing technologies, and process optimization.
• Solid senior leadership experience managing technology-driven functional areas in complex, international organizations.
• Strong leadership, collaborator, and communication skills, with demonstrated success working across multicultural and global environments.
• Strategic approach with a proven track record to drive organizational transformation, build new capabilities, and implement new ways of working.
• Deep expertise in early-stage innovation, including a solid understanding of the required operating models, innovation methodologies, systems, tools, and collaborative ways of working needed to bring new technologies from concept to implementation.
• Inclusive and collaborative leadership style with the ability to inspire, develop, and empower diverse teams.

What’s in it for you?

• Family Care Leave - We offer enhanced paid leave options for those important times.
• Insurances – All colleagues are covered by our life and disability insurance which provides protection and peace of mind.
• Wellbeing - We want our people to feel well and thrive. We offer resources and benefits to nurture physical and mental wellbeing along with opportunities to build community and inspire creativity.
• Colleague Discount – We know you'll love to build, so from day 1 you will qualify for our generous colleague discount.
• Bonus - We do our best work to succeed together. When goals are reached and if eligible, you'll be rewarded through our bonus scheme.

Your workplace:

Your workplace will be the office, store or factory specified in this advert.

Hybrid Working:

Our hybrid work model, Best of Both offers you the option of flexibility to work from home up to two days per week. Your People Leader will discuss the principles of the model, including how this option applies to your role and team.

Learn more about our benefits, culture and workplace experience here

Children are our role models.

Their curiosity, creativity and imagination inspire everything we do. We strive to create a diverse, dynamic and inclusive culture of play at the LEGO Group, where everyone feels safe, valued and they belong.

The LEGO Group is highly committed to equal employment opportunity and equal pay and seeks to encourage applicants from all backgrounds (eg. sex, gender identity or expression, race/ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, age and religion) to apply for roles in our team.

The LEGO Group is fully committed to Children’s Rights and Child Wellbeing across the globe. Candidates offered positions with high engagement with children are required to take part in Child Safeguarding Background Screening, as a condition of the offer.

Thank you for sharing our global commitment to Children’s Rights.

Just imagine building your dream career. Then make it real. Join the LEGO® team today.

We are aware of reports of fraudulent emails and social media messages from individuals falsely claiming to represent the LEGO Group recruitment teams. Please check that recruitment communications are from an official LEGO® email address before responding.

Children are our role models. Their curiosity, creativity and imagination inspire everything we do.

Our founder Ole Kirk Kristiansen made his first wooden toy in 1932. He persevered against the odds until his business was a success. Constantly innovating, never compromising. Building, rebuilding, and striving for the best. It is this resilience and permanent sense of renewal that drives us forward.

We are never still. We will always be creating, inventing, and having fun. Build your career brick by brick and play your part in continuing our mission to “inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow”.