Director, Innovation

Job Description:At Pentair, you will work along-side passionate problem-solvers who are committed to the future of our planet. We put our purpose into practice, helping people sustainably move, improve and enjoy water, life's most essential resource. From our residential and commercial water solutions to industrial water management and everything in between, our 9,750 global employees serve customers in more than 150 countries, working to help improve lives and the environment around the world.We have an opportunity for a Director, Innovation to join our Apex, NC team. We are seeking an experienced and results-driven Director of Innovation to lead the development, integration, and validation of cutting-edge technologies for pool applications. This role demands a strategic thinker who can bridge internal and external technology advancements, drive innovation from concept to prototype, and align with business objectives. The Director will manage cross-functional teams in Apex and coordinate resources in India.You will: * Develop and execute a comprehensive technology roadmap aligned with the company’s strategic objectives.* Collaborate closely with Product Management to ensure that the technology roadmap supports and enables the product roadmap and business goals.* Lead and mentor cross-functional innovation teams in the US and India, fostering a collaborative, high-performance culture that encourages collaboration and continuous improvement.* Champion and facilitate the use of design thinking methodologies to drive user-centric innovation, ensuring that new technologies and capabilities are developed with a deep understanding of customer needs and pain points.* Identify, evaluate, and prioritize new technology trends, market opportunities, and technical challenges that can be leveraged for future product development.* Manage the end-to-end lifecycle of innovation initiatives, including concept development, prototyping, testing, validation, and transfer to product development teams for commercialization.* Integrate application-level understanding of pool chemistry into prototype design and testing protocols to ensure optimal performance and safety.* Oversee resource allocation, project management processes, and budget adherence for all innovation projects.* Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness and ROI of innovation efforts, and report progress to senior leadership.* Build strong partnerships with internal stakeholders and external technology to expand the company’s innovative ecosystem leveraging solutions from other industries to pool.Key Qualifications: * Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Chemistry, or a related technical field; Advanced degree preferred.* 15+ years of experience in innovation management, R&D, technology strategy, or related fields, with at least 10 years in a leadership role managing global or distributed teams. Preferably in consumer products, water technologies, or related industries.* Proven track record of delivering successful technology-driven solutions, ideally in IoT, sensors and automation, or chemical applications.* Demonstrated expertise in leading design thinking initiatives and embedding user-centered design practices within teams.* Strong project and people management skills.* Excellent analytical, strategic thinking, and problem-solving abilities.* Outstanding communication, stakeholder management, and presentation skills, with the ability to inspire and influence at all organizational levels.* Experience working with multicultural, geographically dispersed teams and a demonstrated ability to bridge cultural and operational differences.* Familiarity with phase gate processes for innovation and technology development.Compensation:For this full-time position working at this location, the anticipated annualized base pay range will be from $149000 - $276700 / year. At Pentair, it is not typical for an individual to be hired near the bottom or top of the pay range. Pentair considers various factors in determining actual compensation for this position at the expected location. Actual compensation will be commensurate with demonstratable level of experience and training, pertinent education including licensure and certifications, work location, and other relevant business or organizational needs. This position may be eligible for other forms of compensation such as, annual incentive bonus and/or long-term incentives.Benefits:As a Pentair employee, you would enjoy a wide array of benefit options to help keep you and your family healthy and protected, health benefits, a generous 401(k), employee stock purchase program, disability benefits, life insurance, critical illness insurance, accident insurance, parental leave, caregiver leave, tuition reimbursement, plus paid time off and wellness programs to encourage a healthy work/life balance.Equal Opportunity EmployerPentair is an Equal Opportunity Employer. With our expanding global presence, cross-cultural insight and competence are essential for our ongoing success. We believe that a diverse workforce contributes different perspectives and creative ideas that enable us to continue to improve every day.