Senior Director 3M Element

3M; Maplewood (MN); On-site; USD 287,281 - 351,122; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental & Vision

Health Savings Accounts

Retirement Benefits

Job summary

3M is seeking a Senior Director to spearhead Class 5 commercialization efforts in Maplewood, MN. You'll lead the team in identifying market needs and developing strategic plans to fulfill them, supervising execution across several programs.

The ideal candidate will possess a Bachelor’s degree, significant experience in business development or commercialization, and a track record of leading innovation. This on-site role requires collaboration in a dynamic environment.

Compensation ranges from $287,281 to $351,122 based on skills and experience, along with various benefits.

Qualifications

• Minimum of ten years of experience in commercialization or business development.
• Experience in leading innovation and strategy programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Class 5 commercialization team.
• Set strategy for commercialization aligning with growth objectives.
• Manage budgets and team resources across multiple programs.

Skills

Leadership

Commercialization

Business Development

Strategic Planning

Market Development

Innovation

Customer Validation

Analytical Skills

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree (MBA or related)

Job description

Job Title

Senior Director 3M Element

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 experience to a 3M career.

The Impact You’ll Make in this Role

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Class 5 commercialization team across customer discovery, commercialization planning, technical application development, and business case formation.
• Set strategy and priorities for Class 5 commercialization in alignment with enterprise growth objectives and priority verticals.
• Identify high‑value unmet customer needs and market spaces where 3M can uniquely win.
• Partner with internal technology, R&D, and business teams to identify technologies and capabilities with strong commercial potential.
• Direct external customer, market, and channel assessment activities to evaluate problem‑solution fit and commercial attractiveness.
• Guide technical scoping, application development, quality considerations, prototyping, and customer validation activities needed to de‑risk opportunities.
• Build and manage external collaborations and partnerships, including ventures, licensing relationships, and joint development agreements, to accelerate commercialization.
• Lead business development and commercial assessment activities, including market sizing, competitive analysis, partnership models, and business case development.
• Oversee governance and stage‑gate processes for the Class 5 pipeline, including investment recommendations, portfolio reviews, and transition planning.
• Present portfolio progress, opportunity insights, investment cases, and commercialization recommendations to senior and executive leaders.
• Partner with C‑suite sponsors, division leaders, and cross‑functional stakeholders to align pipeline priorities and resource needs.
• Manage budgets, team resources, and operating mechanisms to support execution across multiple Class 5 programs.
• Continuously improve commercialization methods, metrics, and decision frameworks to increase speed, quality, and risk‑adjusted value creation.

Your Skills and Expertise

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited institution.
• Ten (10) or more years of experience in commercialization, business development, innovation, strategy, market development, or new venture leadership.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree (MBA, technical, or related).
• Experience leading front‑end innovation, venture development, incubation, or new business creation programs.
• Experience leading cross‑functional teams to advance early‑stage growth opportunities from concept through business evaluation.
• Experience in market assessment, customer validation, and commercialization planning.
• Experience working across technical, business and operational functions to de‑risk and mature new opportunities.
• Strong ability to translate customer needs, technologies, and market signals into actionable commercialization strategies.
• Demonstrated success building business cases and influencing senior and executive stakeholders.
• Experience with external partnerships, licensing, ventures, or joint development models.
• Strong understanding of stage‑gate governance, portfolio management, and new product introduction processes.
• Experience in technical application development, prototyping, customer validation, or adjacent commercialization functions.
• Strong analytical, strategic, and communication skills; comfort operating in ambiguous environments with evolving opportunity definitions.

Work location

• This role follows an on‑site working model, requiring the employee to work at least four days a week at the 3M Center in Maplewood, MN.
• Travel may include up to 25% (domestic/international).
• Relocation may be authorized.

Must be legally authorized to work in the country of employment without sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H1B status).

Pay & Benefits Overview

The expected compensation range for this position is $287,281 - $351,122, 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, such as 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. For additional information, visit https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/careers-us/working-at-3m/benefits/.

Legal & EEO Statement

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.