Senior R&D Manager - North America

Join Our Team at Nokian Tyres!

Nokian Tyres, a pioneering Finnish company that invented the winter tire in 1934, operates in over 60 countries worldwide. We are seeking experienced professionals and emerging talent to join our team.

Position: Senior R&D Manager - North America

Location: Dayton, Tennessee

Summary

Lead research and development activities for Passenger Car Tires (PCT) in North America, in alignment with Nokian Tyres’ global R&D strategy. This role operates in close collaboration with the North America Product Program Leader and is responsible for managing all regional R&D activities, including supervising the local R&D team. The position promotes strong collaboration between North America and global R&D, Dayton production, and the North America Business Area.

Principal Accountabilities

• Ownership of North America R&D activities in close collaboration with internal stakeholders.
• Operate in close partnership with the North America Product Program Leader.
• Support market-leading product performance, with a particular focus on LT (Light Truck) products.
• Ensure strong collaboration with Dayton and global production teams, maintaining a design-to-quality mindset.
• Provide support in industrialization activities and focus on product lifetime development.
• Act as team leader for the North America R&D team.
• Drive continuous improvement in product and process quality.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• Minimum 5 years of experience in tire R&D; 10+ years of total R&D experience preferred.
• Experience in LT product development is considered an asset.
• Proven experience working at the intersection of production and R&D.
• Previous supervisory experience is an advantage.
• Minimum Master’s degree in a relevant field.
• Excellent leadership, motivation, and innovation skills.
• Experience working in an international environment is essential.

Key Challenges

• Operating in a fast-paced environment with conflicting deadlines.
• Collaborating effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Building trust and motivating teams to work together toward common goals.

Key Decisions

• Daily leadership and management of the local R&D team.
• North America product-related decisions with a focus on profitability, including quality, cost, and production efficiency.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance day one
• 401(k) eligible after one month
• 401(k) matching 100% on first 6%
• Short-term incentive plan 
• Paid time off
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discounts
• Life insurance
• Disability insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Tuition reimbursement 
• Onsite fitness facility 
• Wellness benefits

You will be based at our US production facility in Dayton, Tennessee, with some international travel expected. This position reports to the VP of Innovation & Development based in Nokia, Finland.

Our Way of Working: At Nokian Tyres, our talented people, collaborative spirit, and agile work environment drive our success. We believe in active involvement and ownership, empowering everyone to influence our direction. We support your professional growth and value diverse experiences and skills, which are crucial to our innovation and development.

Nokian Renkaat Oyj develops, manufactures, and markets summer and winter tires for cars, bicycles, and heavy machineries. The Company primarily operates in the tire replacement market. Nokian also owns retail outlets in Scandinavia and the Baltic states. The Company produces in Europe, the United States, and Asia.