R&D Manager, AXIS Portugal
Description
Why Ansell?
At Ansell, by staying two steps ahead of workplace risk we aim to deliver innovative safety solutions that enhance people's quality of life. As a global leader in protection solutions, we design and develop a wide range of products including gloves, clothing, and other protective gear, to keep workers safe and productive in industrial, medical, and consumer applications.
Discover more about our company, our team, and our values by visiting us at https\://www.ansell.com
Ansell is looking for a Manager, AXIS Portugal & Innovation Intelligence to join our team in Portugal!
“The R&D Manager, AXIS Portugal & Innovation Intelligence is responsible for the day-to-day leadership, operations, and successful execution of customer engagements at the AXIS Portugal site.
Reporting directly to the Director, R&D, and working within global AXIS program standards and governance, the R&D Manager leads the local AXIS team and coordinates cross-functional resources to deliver high-quality customer experiences, technical demonstrations, workshops, and educational programs that support Ansell’s commercial and innovation objectives.
The role ensures that AXIS Portugal operates both as a high-impact customer engagement center and as a scalable innovation intelligence engine.
What benefits and opportunities does Ansell offer?
- Competitive compensation plan, including a performance-based annual incentive.
- A culture of belonging and inclusion where collaboration thrives and everyone feels seen, heard, and empowered across our global community.
- Ansell University, LinkedIn Learning, and mentorship programs to develop professional and interpersonal skills.
- Opportunities to advance and grow within the company.
- Health benefits, including Life and Health Insurance.
- Regional Belonging & Inclusion Networks.
What your role will be?
Lead the day-to-day operations of the AXIS Portugal site, ensuring a safe, professional, and high-quality environment for customer, employee, and stakeholder engagements.
Plan and deliver AXIS customer engagements, technical demonstrations, workshops, and educational programs.
Ensure operational readiness, effective resource coordination, and seamless onsite delivery in partnership with Commercial, Facilities, and other supporting functions.
Manage the AXIS Portugal demonstration laboratory, demo environments, equipment, and experiential capabilities.
Ensure that demonstrations, equipment, and customer engagement experiences remain reliable, relevant, and aligned with customer and business needs.
Manage AXIS Portugal personnel and technical resources, including laboratory operations, equipment maintenance, capability development, and employee coaching.
Partner with Commercial teams to ensure the operational feasibility, site readiness, and quality of customer engagements.
Capture, document, and communicate customer feedback, Voice of Customer insights, and engagement outcomes using established AXIS processes and tools.
Support innovation, product, and commercial initiatives by ensuring that relevant customer insights are effectively shared with the appropriate stakeholders.
Drive continuous improvement across AXIS Portugal operations, demonstrations, engagement formats, and customer experiences.
Ensure compliance with company policies, confidentiality requirements, safety standards, and global AXIS governance.
KEY POSITION REQUIREMENTS
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science, Chemistry, Engineering, or another relevant technical field; or
- At least 10 years of experience managing a testing laboratory
Job Experience
- At least five years of experience in customer engagement, product management, marketing, or R&D roles, ideally within industrial, manufacturing, or healthcare environments.
- Experience interacting directly with customers.
- Experience teaching or presenting PPE technologies, testing methods, or comparable technical information.
- Experience coordinating customer engagements, technical demonstrations, workshops, or educational programs.
- Experience working with multidisciplinary and cross-functional teams
Knowledge and Skills
- Strong understanding of the PPE market, safety products and services, and relevant customer dynamics.
- Proven ability to gather, document, and use customer insights to support business and innovation decisions.
- Knowledge of relevant analytical and physical testing concepts, equipment, and instrumentation.
- Strong organizational and leadership skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, resources, and teams effectively.
- Ability to lead and develop employees through coaching and capability-building activities.
- Strong computer, organizational, and planning skills.
- Confidence working with digital platforms, structured information, and data-quality processes.
- Ability to collaborate effectively in a global, cross-functional, and matrix environment.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong presentation and facilitation skills.
- Fluency in English, both spoken and written.
- Ability to work autonomously while remaining aligned with global governance and functional direction.
- Strong attention to detail, problem-solving ability, and results orientation.
Strong alignment with Ansell Values\: Whatever you do, take PRIDE\:
Passion
Reliable
Integrity
Deliver
Empowerment
Additional Requirements\:
Business travel up to 25%.
Join us to lead the world to a safer future, apply today!
- Please submit your résumé in English.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Ansell commits to securing an equal opportunity recruitment and selection process. All interested candidates are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment regardless of age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, ethnic origin, religion, disability, genetic information, or any other factors that could be deemed discriminatory.
Our Commitment to Diversity Equity and Inclusion
Ansell’s vision is about creating safe spaces where diverse perspectives are valued alongside individual contributions. It is our view that togetherness prevails over individuality.
When we say that everyone deserves to belong, feel included and empowered at work, it's not just words. Rather, it’s what drives Ansell as an organization towards a workforce that reflects the diversity of our community, it’s what drives us to serve our customers and stakeholders with pride, and it’s also what differentiates Ansell. We believe everyone, no matter how that person self-identifies, deserves an opportunity to achieve success.
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Facebook