Division Operations Leader, R&D

3M; Maplewood (MN); On-site; USD 222,000 - 271,000; Full time

Job summary

3M is seeking an experienced Division Operations Leader, R&D, to translate strategy into disciplined execution across the R&D function. Reporting to the VP of R&D, you will align priorities with functional heads, HR, Finance, and PMO to optimize performance, resources, and risk across programs.

You will drive strategy deployment, operating rhythm, and KPI governance while guiding organizational evolution and portfolio insights.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in science, engineering, business or operations.
• 5 years of commercialization, product development, program management, operations, or related experience, including experience with a stage‑gate development process.
• 3 years of leadership or management experience in a cross‑functional environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead R&D strategy deployment with functional heads to translate priorities into objectives and roadmaps.
• Drive operating discipline by establishing standard work and addressing gaps.
• Strengthen resource planning and connect resource information to portfolio and capacity planning.
• Lead the R&D operating rhythm with leadership meeting cadences and action ownership.
• Define KPIs, governance, and cadence for performance reviews and escalation.
• Guide organization evolution by coordinating operating-model changes and adoption plans.
• Improve portfolio insight with models and decision-support for leadership.
• Enable leadership effectiveness by surfacing cross‑functional risks and options.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Cross-functional leadership

Program management

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher in science/engineering/business/operations

Job description

Job Description: Division Operations Leader, R&D

Collaborate with Innovative 3Mers Around the World Choosing where to start and grow your career has a major impact on your professional and personal life, so it’s equally important you know that the company that you choose to work at, and its leaders, will support and guide you. With a wide variety of people, global locations, technologies and products, 3M is a place where you can collaborate with other curious, creative 3Mers. This position provides an opportunity to transition from other private, public, government or military environments to a 3M career.

The Impact You’ll Make in this Role

As the R&D Division Operations Leader, you will help translate strategy into disciplined execution across the function. Reporting to the Vice President of R&D, you will partner with R&D functional leaders, business leaders, Human Resources, Finance, Communications, and the Division PMO to align priorities, strengthen operating practices, guide organization evolution, and improve visibility to performance, resources, and risks. Here, you will make an impact by:

• Lead R&D strategy deployment: Partner with the R&D leader and functional heads to synthesize business and technology priorities, facilitate strategic choices, and translate direction into clear functional objectives, roadmaps, measures, and actions.
• Drive operating discipline: Establish and reinforce agreed functional standard work, review adoption with functional leaders, identify gaps, and coordinate corrective actions.
• Strengthen resource planning: Maintain current functional resource plans, improve resource-planning practices, and connect R&D resource information to division portfolio and capacity-planning processes.
• Lead the R&D operating rhythm: Facilitate leadership and organization meeting cadences, including priorities, agendas, decisions, action ownership, communications, closure, and escalation.
• Develop and execute performance measures: Work with functional owners to define KPIs, targets, governance, and review cadences; monitor performance and drive agreed actions to closure or escalation.
• Guide organization evolution: Coordinate operating-model, capability, role, and organizational changes with the R&D leader, functional heads, and Human Resources; translate decisions into implementation plans and monitor adoption.
• Improve portfolio insight: Develop models and decision-support approaches that improve program and project portfolio performance, scenario planning, and leadership decision‑making.
• Enable leadership effectiveness: Surface cross‑functional risks, dependencies, and decisions early; provide clear options and recommendations; and maintain follow‑through on leadership commitments.

Your Skills and Expertise

To set you up for success in this role from day one, 3M requires (at a minimum) the following qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in science, engineering, business or operations (completed and verified prior to start)
• Five (5) years of commercialization, product development, program management, operations, or related experience, including experience with a stage‑gate development process.
• Three (3) years of leadership or management experience in a cross‑functional environment.

Additional qualifications that could help you succeed even further in this role include:

• Demonstrated ability to translate strategy into priorities, operating plans, measures, and sustained execution.
• Strong business acumen and experience working across R&D, commercial, manufacturing, finance, and human resources organizations.
• Experience leading organizational change, operating‑model improvement, or capability‑building initiatives.
• Strong facilitation, communication, analytical, and executive‑influence skills.
• Ability to work through ambiguity, frame trade‑offs, resolve dependencies, and drive accountability without relying solely on direct authority.
• Experience developing KPIs, resource models, portfolio views, and decision‑support materials for senior leaders.

Work location: This role follows an on‑site working model, requiring the employee to work at least four days a week in Maplewood, MN Travel: May include up to 20% domestic/international Relocation: May be authorized Must be legally authorized to work in country of employment without sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H1B status).

Supporting Your Well‑being

3M offers many programs to help you live your best life – both physically and financially. To ensure competitive pay and benefits, 3M regularly benchmarks with other companies that are comparable in size and scope. Chat with Max For assistance with searching through our current job openings or for more information about all things 3M, visit Max, our virtual recruiting assistant on 3M.com/careers.

Applicable to US Applicants Only

The expected compensation range for this position is $221,591 - $270,834, which includes base pay plus variable incentive pay, if eligible. This range represents a good faith estimate for this position. The specific compensation offered to a candidate may vary based on factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s relevant knowledge, training, skills, work location, and/or experience.

In addition, this position may be eligible for a range of benefits (e.g., Medical, Dental & Vision, Health Savings Accounts, Health Care & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, Disability Benefits, Life Insurance, Voluntary Benefits, Paid Absences and Retirement Benefits, etc.).

Additional information is available at: https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/careers-us/working-at-3m/benefits/.

All US-based 3M full time employees will need to sign an employee agreement as a condition of employment with 3M. This agreement lays out key terms on using 3M Confidential Information and Trade Secrets. It also has provisions discussing conflicts of interest and how inventions are assigned. Employees that are Job Grade 7 or equivalent and above may also have obligations to not compete against 3M or solicit its employees or customers, both during their employment, and for a period after they leave 3M.

Responsibilities of this position include that corporate policies, procedures and security standards are complied with while performing assigned duties. Safety is a core value at 3M. All employees are expected to contribute to a strong Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) culture by following safety policies, identifying hazards, and engaging in continuous improvement.

Pay & Benefits Overview: https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/careers-us/working-at-3m/benefits/

3M does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Please note: your application may not be considered if you do not provide your education and work history, either by: 1) uploading a resume, or 2) entering the information into the application fields directly.

At 3M we apply science in collaborative ways to improve lives daily as our employees connect with customers all around the world.

Learn more about 3M’s creative solutions to global challenges at www.3M.com or on Twitter @3M or @3MNews.