Head of Science and Innovation, North America

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We are proud to be a member of the Rentokil family of companies, the global leader in Pest Control and other services across more than 90 countries. We pride ourselves on being a trusted partner to many of the world's leading brands and serve consumer and business customers across multiple industries. We are extremely proud of our legacy of excellence and constantly work to fulfill our mission to "protect people, enhance lives, and preserve the planet."

Overview

The Director of Science & Innovation provides strategic leadership for the regional research teams, focusing on urban entomology and technical brilliance to drive growth in the NA Pest business. This role exists to bridge the gap between scientific discovery and commercial application, delivering the technical insight necessary to develop best in class proprietary innovations in Termite, Vector and Residential pest solutions. Key stakeholders expect this leader to provide a scientific foundation for new products, translating customer problems into science-led innovative solutions. Ultimately, this role ensures that Rentokil Initial retains a market-leading position through a high-performing innovation ecosystem and a robust pipeline of "Proof of Concept" solutions.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead the North American Science & Innovation research team, providing strategic direction and technical expertise to drive regional and global growth.

• Identifying customer-relevant "problems" and formulate new product requirements in collaboration with US and UK-based cross functional teams

• Execute the early innovation funnel by sourcing, exploring, and developing proprietary ideas to the Proof of Concept stage.

• Manage the NA Innovation Center budget, planning process, and return on investment while ensuring the facility meets the highest scientific and safety standards.

• Establish and maintain a best-in-class network of external partners, including inventors, academia, and industry bodies, to source exclusive intellectual property.

• Partner with marketing and commercial colleagues to provide novel scientific claims support and technical insight for international key account bids.

• Monitor the global market for emerging pest trends and competitor products, conducting rigorous testing to assess claims and inform group strategy.

• Oversee the project management process within the science team to ensure high-pace delivery and alignment with the wider business priorities.

Candidate Requirements

Education

• Bachelor's degree in a scientific discipline (e.g., Entomology, Biology, Chemistry) or related field required.

• Post-graduate qualification (Masters or PhD) in a related scientific field is highly preferred.

Experience

• Minimum 10 years of experience in the Pest Control or a directly related industry within the US market.

• Proven track record of progressive leadership, with at least 7 years of experience managing specialist technical teams or high-performing research functions.

• Significant experience leading innovation across both hardware and chemical/consumable product areas.

• Demonstrated experience managing complex budgets and operating within a global, multi-national matrix organization.

Skills & Competencies

• Visionary Leadership: A "people first" leader with the ability to develop and communicate short and long-term scientific goals and innovation strategies.

• Strategic Execution: Proven ability to translate complex scientific data into actionable commercial strategies and compelling narratives for stakeholders.

• Innovation & Risk Management: Skilled at championing new techniques while anticipating and mitigating technical or regulatory disruptions.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Expert at building relationships across borders and cultures to influence outcomes at the Senior Management and CEO level.

• Technical Mastery: Deep knowledge of urban entomology, biocides, and pesticides, with the ability to solve complex technical challenges.

• Corporate Competencies by Work Level

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential function to this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Incumbent must be prepared to:

• Move up to 10 pounds occasionally, by lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, or otherwise repositioning objects.

• Sitting for long periods of time while using office equipment such as computers, phones and etc.

• Performing repetitive motions involving the wrists, hands, and fingers, such as typing, picking, and pinching, within your regular work environment.

• Express or exchange ideas with others through the use of spoken word, quickly, accurately, and at an easily audible volume, and receive detailed information through oral communication at usual speaking levels without correction, and/or make fine discriminations in the nature of sounds in the environment.

Incumbent is required to have:

• Near-range visual acuity for detailed tasks and ability to perform activities with precision such as analyzing data, viewing computer screens or reading extensively.

Incumbent will be subject to:

• Inside working conditions: The change of building environment such as with or without air conditioning and heating.

Pay Transparency

• Base Pay Range $150,200 - $198,900 / year

• While starting pay falls within the given range, it can vary based on factors like geographic location, skills, education, and experience. Total earnings may also be affected by overtime, incentives, commissions, performance, and route assignment (where applicable).

Our companies are proud to be Affirmative Action (AA) and Equal Opportunity Employers (EOE) inclusive of veterans and those with disabilities.

Disclaimer

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by colleagues assigned to this position. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of colleagues so classified. All colleagues may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.

Why Choose Us?

A career with the Rentokil family of companies can be a professional trajectory filled with opportunity. We pride ourselves on being a world-class team that rewards high performance, and we love to promote from within. We offer competitive pay and many of our roles offer performance incentives.

Below you'll find information about some of what we have to offer. All Full-Time Colleagues qualify for the following and Part-Time Colleagues qualify for most benefits after they meet certain criteria.

Click here to read more about our Total Rewards Program which includes:

Professional and Personal Growth

• Multiple avenues to grow your career

• Training and development programs available

• Tuition Reimbursement benefits (for FT Colleagues)

Health and Wellness

• Full-time colleagues are eligible to begin enrollment immediately upon hire with benefits starting on day 1

• Health benefits including Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, and Life Insurance plus much more

Savings and Retirement

• 401(k) retirement plan with company-matching contributions

Work-Life Balance

• Vacation days & sick days

• Company-paid holidays & floating holidays

• A company mindset that prioritizes health, safety, and flexibility

We are looking for individuals who want to make a difference where our customers live and work. Is that you?

This company is a Drug Free workplace.

Rentokil is committed to complying with all Federal, State, and local laws related to the employment of qualified individuals with disabilities.

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It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

By applying to this job, you agree to receive initial texts from systems used on behalf of Rentokil North America, Inc., possibly including Workday, Loop, and HireVue. These systems utilize text messages to communicate with you throughout the application, interview, and pre-hire processes. You can set your communication preferences or opt out of text messages from each system at any time following the initial message. Message and data rates may apply.