[Hiring] Head of Emerging Technology Scouting & Incubation @The businesses of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany

Role Description

As Head of Emerging Technology Scouting & Incubation (ETSI), you will expand Electronics‘ innovation space by understanding emerging technology needs, identifying high-potential opportunity areas, and incubating them into validated business cases ready for Business Unit transition. You will lead frontier technology scouting across materials and beyond-materials domains, manage internal and external proof-of-concepts (POCs), and own technical due diligence for strategic M&A targets. Your leadership will drive impactful external partnerships/research collaborations (JDAs), incubators that translate into new product introductions (NPI), and a strong early-stage pipeline. You will architect technology roadmaps, drive the Frontier Technology Board, and partner with internal stakeholders to translate emerging technology insights into new revenue streams and competitive advantage. You will use a clear process with defined priorities, milestones, and responsibilities to move ideas from technology scouting and POCs to validated business cases and successful handover to the relevant Business Units.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify emerging opportunity areas in industry technology roadmaps.
• Validate opportunity areas through best-fit external/internal proof-of-concepts (e.g. JDAs, incubators).
• Identify frontier tech M&A targets & own technical due diligence.
• Tech steering for Electronics BU Business Development teams.
• Drive Business Development for emerging technology that goes beyond Business Unit horizons/scope.
• Drive operations and impact of the Frontier Technology Board.
• Foster ecosystem building by liaising with internal groups and external partners.
• Assess R&D capabilities, identify gaps, and define actions to realize EL’s long-term technology vision.

Qualifications

• Master degree in Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science or similar discipline with 8+ years of experience in technology scouting, R&D leadership, and/or corporate development.
• Or PhD in Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science or similar discipline with 6+ years of experience in technology scouting, R&D leadership, and/or corporate development.
• Deep understanding of electronics, optoelectronics, packaging, advanced materials, semiconductor processes, or related frontier technologies.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to translate insights into tangible business value and clear ROI.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, influence at the executive level, and manage complex programs with multiple stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in technology scouting, R&D leadership, in the electronics industry.
• Track record of conducting rigorous technical assessments of emerging technologies.
• Experience designing and managing early-stage technology incubation programs.
• Proven experience leading technical due diligence for corporate acquisitions or partnerships.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams spanning technical, business development, and strategic functions.
• Comfort using market data, technical metrics, and portfolio analytics to prioritize opportunity areas.
• Strong understanding of how emerging technologies translate to business value, market opportunity, and revenue potential.

Requirements

• This role does not offer sponsorship for work authorization.
• External applicants must be eligible to work in the US.
• Domestic and international travel is required to meet business needs.

Benefits

• Health insurance.
• Paid time off (PTO).
• Retirement contributions.
• Other perquisites.

Pay Range

Pay Range for this position: $240,600 - $361,000. The actual compensation offered will be determined by factors such as location, level of experience, education, skills, and other job-related factors. Position may be eligible for sales or performance-based bonuses.