Job Description: Head of Research and Development

Company Overview

The Indus Valley is India's No.1 Healthy Cookware Brand. We are on a mission to transform every kitchen into a safe haven of health, trusted by over 10 lakh customers. Our passionate team of 100+ individuals drives our success in promoting wellness and vitality in every home.

Our Mission: Infuse every kitchen with goodness, ensuring the safety and health of our customers and their families.

Our Vision: Transform 100 million Indian households into safe havens of health with our exceptional products.

Join us on our journey to make cooking a healthy and safe experience. At The Indus Valley, we're not just a brand; we're champions of health and wellness in every Indian kitchen.

Role Overview

We are seeking a visionary and hands-on Head of R&D to build and lead our Research and Development function from the ground up. This leader will be responsible for driving product innovation across cookware, tools, and kitchen appliances - guided by consumer needs, material innovation, and data-driven insights. The ideal candidate brings deep domain experience in kitchenware and appliances, understands the evolving Indian kitchen, and has the entrepreneurial spirit to build IP and institutional knowledge.

Key Responsibilities

1. Build and Lead the R&D Function

- Establish and grow a high-performing R&D team with a strong culture of experimentation, speed, and technical rigor.

- Build lab and prototyping capabilities internally and through vendor partnerships.

2. Drive Innovation and Product Development

- Lead development of next-generation cookware and small appliances with a focus on health, safety, and material integrity.

- Translate unmet consumer needs into innovative products using insights, benchmarking, and rapid iteration.

3. Customer and Market Understanding

- Champion consumer-first innovation by blending customer research, user data, and market signals into product decisions.

- Identify whitespace opportunities by analysing customer reviews, market gaps, and evolving health trends.

4. AI and Data-Led Decision Making

- Implement structured frameworks and AI tools for testing, benchmarking, and product forecasting.

- Use data to reduce guesswork in design iterations and go-to-market decisions.

5. Patents, IP & Compliance

- Create IP assets through proprietary materials, designs, or features and file appropriate patents and design registrations.

- Ensure compliance with national and international safety and performance standards.

6. Cross-Functional Collaboration

- Work closely with product, design, marketing, sourcing, and external labs or design firms to bring products from idea to shelf.

- Partner with supply chain to ensure commercial viability and cost-effective scaling of innovations.

Qualifications & Skills

Must-Have

- 20+ years of experience in R&D roles in cookware, kitchen tools, home appliances, or gas stoves.

- Demonstrated success in building new products, filing patents, and leading teams.

- Strong background in material science, industrial engineering, or product design.

- Proven ability to blend science, consumer insight, and commercial constraints into great products.

Preferred

- Experience in both traditional and modern kitchen formats.

- Experience with setting up or transforming R&D functions in fast-growing or startup-like environments.

- Background in Indian and/or international safety certification and compliance processes.

Personal Attributes

- Bias for Action: Moves quickly, takes initiative, and gets things done.

- Hands-on Leader: Gets into the weeds when required and leads by example.

- Eager to Learn: Open to feedback, new technology, and market shifts.

- High Ownership: Takes end-to-end responsibility with pride.

- Collaborative: Brings people together and integrates cross-functional expertise.

- Builder Mindset: Enjoys creating systems, teams, and products from scratch.

What We Offer

- An opportunity to lead R&D at India's most loved healthy cookware brand.

- A purpose-led and high-growth environment where you can make deep impact.

- Freedom to innovate and build long-term product IP and team culture.

- Competitive compensation and long-term leadership opportunity.