Job Description

The Consumer & Product Insights (CPI) group drives the technical foundation of Duracell’s global business. As Associate Director, CPI, you are a senior R&D leader shaping consumer-led innovation, product strategy, and claims excellence across Europe & Africa and Asia.

You act as regional CPI leader and strategic integrator, connecting consumer insights, technical expertise, and business priorities to deliver impactful innovations and strong product platforms.

As part of the extended R&D leadership team, you influence innovation roadmaps and global platform decisions, ensuring regional relevance and execution. In close partnership with Commercial Leadership, Global R&D, Manufacturing, Supply, and PS, you help bring differentiated innovations to market—strengthening Duracell’s brand and driving growth.

This role combines people leadership, strategic influence, and technical credibility, positioning you as the senior R&D voice across E&A and Asia.

Strategic & Regional Leadership

• Lead CPI across Europe & Africa and Asia, with full accountability for consumer-led product strategy, insights, and innovation delivery
• Translate global innovation and technology strategies into regionally relevant product roadmaps, aligned with consumer needs, market dynamics, regulatory requirements, and business priorities
• Act as a trusted R&D thought partner to Regional Commercial Leadership, shaping portfolio direction, innovation priorities, and go-to-market strategies
• Drive strong alignment and knowledge sharing across global CPI teams, while representing and advocating for regional perspectives in global governance forums

Consumer & Product Insights

• Ensure consumer insights are deeply embedded in product design, performance targets, and communication development
• Continuously monitor external trends, competitive activity, and regulatory developments, translating them into impactful short- and long-term innovation strategies

Innovation & Claims Excellence

• Own and elevate the regional claims strategy, ensuring rigor, compliance, and strong consumer relevance
• Translate technical product strengths into clear, compelling stories that reinforce brand superiority

Cross‑Functional Integration

• Act as the key connector between Global Technical teams and Regional Commercial teams, enabling alignment and speed
• Turn complex technical and consumer data into clear, actionable insights that support decision-making
• Proactively anticipate risks, trade-offs, and interdependencies across markets and product platforms

People Leadership & Capability Building

• Lead, coach, and develop high-performing CPI teams across regions
• Foster a culture of ownership, curiosity, collaboration, and accountability
• Drive strong performance management, talent development, and succession planning

• You hold a Master’s degree in Chemical, Electrical, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical discipline
• You bring 10+ years of experience in Product Management, Consumer & Product Insights, R&D, or Innovation within CPG
• You have experience leading complex, multi-market innovation programs
• You have proven people leadership experience, including coaching managers and leading geographically dispersed teams
• You communicate complex ideas with clarity, build alignment across stakeholders, and make confident decisions in dynamic environments
• You are fluent in English and preferably in Dutch (written and spoken)
• You are based in Aarschot, Belgium, and are willing to travel internationally (up to ~25%)

What we have to offer:

• An opportunity to join an iconic global brand with strong visibility and impact
• An attractive and competitive total rewards package, aligned with your experience and responsibilities
• A hybrid way of working that supports autonomy, flexibility, and work-life balance

Duracell is the world’s leading manufacturer and marketer of high-performance alkaline batteries, complemented by a portfolio of high quality, market leading specialty, rechargeable and professional batteries. Duracell’s products power numerous critical professional devices across the globe such as heart rate monitors, defibrillators, telemetry devices, smoke detectors, fire alarms, automated valves and security systems. As the leader in the professional power category, Duracell has a rich history of innovation, continuously introducing batteries that are smaller, thinner, with more energy and longer lasting than competitive brands. Since March 2016, Duracell has found its permanent home within Berkshire Hathaway (ranked #4 World's Most Admired Companies by Fortune Magazine and #3 in the Fortune 500), and will continue to focus on sustainable growth, industry-leading innovation while creating long-term value for our customers and consumers. At Duracell, integrity, end-to-end accountability across all levels, fast decision-making and a “can do” attitude is highly valued.