Research & Engineering Manager

Kimberly-Clark USA; Neenah (WI); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work model

Equal opportunity employer

Benefits overview

Job summary

Kimberly-Clark USA is seeking a Research & Engineering Manager to lead a high-performing team in delivering innovative product solutions for consumer brands such as U by Kotex, Huggies, and Kleenex. You will shape product strategy, drive development, lifecycle management, and ensure regulatory compliance.

The role emphasizes safety, quality, and collaboration across functions, with accountability for timelines, budgets, and risk.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related discipline.
• 7+ years of experience developing and executing product development work in Research & Engineering.
• Demonstrated leadership skills providing work direction to a multi-functional team.
• Comfortable navigating through ambiguity and complexity.
• Demonstrated ability to influence people at all organizational levels, drive decision-making and execute complex projects on demanding timelines.
• Ability to operate with a growth mindset and have strong mental fortitude to lead a team through challenges.
• A history of delivering strong results for the business

Responsibilities

• Leading and developing a high-performing team to deliver innovative product solutions that address customer needs and drive U by Kotex® tampon business growth.
• Providing people leadership, including talent development, performance management, succession planning, compensation, and organizational effectiveness.
• Coaching and mentoring team members to successfully execute product development, commercialization, lifecycle management, and cost optimization initiatives.
• Ensuring all work is conducted in compliance with FDA Quality System Regulations, internal quality standards, and product safety requirements for Class II medical devices.
• Establishing project timelines, learning plans, resource allocation, and budgets to deliver initiatives against key milestones and business priorities.
• Driving critical business decisions related to product strategy, project execution, launch readiness, risk management, and success criteria.
• Fostering collaboration, remove barriers, communicate project progress transparently, and elevate issues as needed to ensure successful delivery.
• Championing a culture of safety, quality, regulatory compliance, sustainability, innovation, and protection of intellectual property through patents and trade secrets.

Skills

Leadership

Product development

Influence

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Research & Engineering Manager

Job Description

Join the team behind iconic brands like Huggies®, Kleenex®, Cottonelle®, Scott®, Kotex®, Poise®, Depend®, and Kimberly-Clark Professional®. At Kimberly-Clark, it's all here for you-innovation, growth, and the chance to make a real impact.

You were made to create Better Care for a Better World: exploring uncharted questions, engineering innovative solutions, advancing scientific understanding, and constantly pushing the boundaries of what's possible. You want to be part of a performance culture dedicated to solving real-world problems with purpose and precision. You want to work in an environment that promotes sustainability, inclusion, wellbeing, and career development. In this role, you'll help us shape the future and improve lives for billions of people around the world. It starts with YOU.

About You

In one of our Engineering roles, you'll focus on winning with consumers and the market, while putting safety, mutual respect, and human dignity at the center.

Job responsibilities include:

• Leading and developing a high-performing team to deliver innovative product solutions that address customer needs and drive U by Kotex® tampon business growth.
• Providing people leadership, including talent development, performance management, succession planning, compensation, and organizational effectiveness.
• Coaching and mentoring team members to successfully execute product development, commercialization, lifecycle management, and cost optimization initiatives.
• Ensuring all work is conducted in compliance with FDA Quality System Regulations, internal quality standards, and product safety requirements for Class II medical devices.
• Establishing project timelines, learning plans, resource allocation, and budgets to deliver initiatives against key milestones and business priorities.
• Driving critical business decisions related to product strategy, project execution, launch readiness, risk management, and success criteria.
• Fostering collaboration, remove barriers, communicate project progress transparently, and elevate issues as needed to ensure successful delivery.
• Championing a culture of safety, quality, regulatory compliance, sustainability, innovation, and protection of intellectual property through patents and trade secrets.

To succeed in this role, you will need the following qualifications:

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related discipline.
• 7+ years of experience developing and executing product development work in Research & Engineering.
• Demonstrated leadership skills providing work direction to a multi-functional team.
• Comfortable navigating through ambiguity and complexity.
• Demonstrated ability to influence people at all organizational levels, drive decision‑making and execute complex projects on demanding timelines.
• Ability to operate with a growth mindset and have strong mental fortitude to lead a team through challenges.
• A history of delivering strong results for the business

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience providing coaching and development of team members.
• Proven ability to collaborate across functions/departments to drive balanced business decisions.
• Prior experience working with FDA regulated products or medical devices.
• Prior experience on U by Kotex® or other branded period care products.
• Prior experience as a Research & Engineering project leader.

Led by Purpose. Driven by You.

Total Benefits

We believe that our employees are our greatest asset, and we're committed to providing them with the resources they need to be successful. If you're looking for a rewarding career with a company that cares about its employees, then Kimberly-Clark is the place for you.

Here are just a few of the benefits you'd enjoy working in this role for Kimberly-Clark. For a complete overview, see www.mykcbenefits.com .

Flex That Works at Kimberly-Clark

We believe great work happens when people come together with purpose. That's why we offer a flexible work model that blends remote work with intentional in-person collaboration - helping you connect, grow, and innovate while maintaining the balance you value.

For Kimberly-Clark to grow and prosper, we must be an inclusive organization that applies the diverse experiences and passions of its team members to brands that make life better for people all around the world, which is why we seek to build a workforce that encompasses the experiences of our consumers. When you bring your original thinking to Kimberly-Clark, you fuel the continued success of our enterprise. We are a committed equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, c