Vice President, New Product Development

JAC Recruitment Pte Ltd; Singapore; On-site; SGD 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading advanced materials company is seeking a Vice President of New Product Development to oversee global innovation initiatives. Located in Singapore, this role requires extensive experience in R&D, strong leadership capabilities, and proficiency in driving product strategies. The ideal candidate will possess a MS or PhD in relevant fields, and fluency in English is essential, while Mandarin is preferred. This position is vital for transforming R&D capabilities across diverse international teams.

Qualifications

• At least 20 years of experience in R&D or new product development within advanced materials or electronics industries.
• Proven success leading global or multi-regional R&D teams, preferably in APAC.
• Fluency in English required; fluency in Mandarin preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the ramp-up of R&D team in Singapore.
• Develop long-term product strategies focused on high-margin platforms.
• Collaborate with Operations for smooth product industrialization.

Skills

Leadership

Product Development

Materials Science

Innovation Management

Cross-functional Collaboration

Education

MS or PhD in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering

Job description

Company and Job Overview

It’s a leading advanced material company with a long-standing focus on surface treatment for the electronics and semiconductor industries.

As part of their global expansion and the establishment of an innovation center in APAC, they are seeking a Vice President of New Product Development to lead a worldwide team, including APAC, Europe, and North America.

The role

The Vice President of New Product Development will oversee global product innovation, starting with expanding the R&D team in Singapore. They will define the long-term innovation roadmap, ensuring new products balance manufacturing, performance, and cost efficiency. This role is vital for transforming R&D capabilities, driving execution, and fostering long-term value through innovation. The ideal candidate will have strong hands-on leadership, experience in materials science or electronics industries, and a proven track record in leading R&D transitions or establishing new innovation centers.

Responsibilities

• Lead the ramp-up of R&D team in Singapore, including infrastructure, talent, and knowledge transfer.
• Develop and execute long-term product strategies focused on high-margin, customer-relevant, and manufacturable platforms.
• Build an agile, innovative R&D team, fostering a culture of speed and cross-functional collaboration.
• Work directly with global customers and sales teams to identify needs and translate them into prototypes and roadmaps.
• Collaborate with Operations and Supply Chain to ensure smooth product industrialization and scalable launches.
• Drive an innovation pipeline, balancing incremental and breakthrough technologies, and safeguard IP.
• Maintain high standards in technical rigor, reliability, testing, and regulatory compliance, leading milestone reviews.

Qualifications

• At least 20 years of experience in R&D, innovation, or new product development within high-reliability sectors such as advanced materials, semiconductors, or electronics.
• MS or PhD in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• Proven success leading global or multi-regional R&D teams, with experience establishing or scaling R&D operations, preferably in APAC.
• A strong track record of launching products that deliver measurable commercial impact and competitive advantage.
• Skilled at leading change in complex environments with legacy systems or in North America–APAC integration.
• Demonstrates strong technical leadership, business acumen, and the ability to inspire teams.
• Collaborative, decisive, and able to influence across functions and regions.
• Hands-on, talent-focused, with high cultural agility—especially in U.S.–Asia dynamics.
• Must hold a passport allowing flexible travel at short notice.
• Fluency in Mandarin preferred; fluency in English required.

Additional Notes:

This is a global hiring initiative. Candidates must be willing and able to live and work full-time in Singapore and lead international teams across multiple time zones and cultures.

This is a confidential search for a succession role. Only shortlisted candidates will be shared with the company information before the first-round interview.