Trane Technologies

Director of Strategic R&D Initiatives

Trane Technologies$198K — $268K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science, or related technical field; advanced degree preferred.
  • 7+ years of experience in business development or research program management, ideally in HVAC or advanced tech sectors.
  • Proven track record in building and managing strategic partnerships with industry, universities, and national laboratories.
  • Familiarity with operational processes for partnerships and technology commercialization.
  • Strong leadership skills with experience in mentoring and developing teams.
  • Excellent communication and project management skills, with capability to engage executive stakeholders.

Responsibilities

  • Develop strategies to establish and expand global research and business partnerships in advanced technologies.
  • Build and maintain relationships with key universities, industry partners, and thought leaders.
  • Manage and mentor a high-performing interdisciplinary team to foster collaboration.
  • Secure funding opportunities for R&D supporting sustainability and new product targets.
  • Create governance structures and operational processes for partnership assessment and implementation.
  • Define metrics, track project progress, and communicate results to leadership.
  • Collaborate with legal teams to negotiate agreements related to partnerships and funding.

Benefits

  • Health insurance and wellness programs starting on day one.
  • Family building benefits, including fertility and adoption assistance.
  • Generous paid time off, including vacation days and sick leave.
  • 401K matching and educational/training opportunities with tuition assistance.
  • Support for student debt relief programs.
Full Job Description
Where is the work:
Monday to Thursday, work onsite with your colleagues. Fridays, choose your work location, balancing what your work requires.

What's in it for you:
Trane Technologies is seeking a Director of Strategic R&D Initiatives to join our Advanced Concepts and Capabilities. This pivotal position will drive visionary strategies and operational actions to build global research and business partnerships, secure external grant funding, and support Trane Technologies' sustainability and advanced technology goals. This leader will be empowered to cultivate aligned research and development partnerships, accelerate commercialization, and enable our continued leadership in climate innovation.

What you will do:
  • Develop and execute strategies to establish and expand global research, academic, and executive-level business partnerships in advanced technologies aligned with company objectives.
  • Build and maintain long-term relationships with key universities, laboratories, industry partners, and thought leaders.
  • Manage, develop, and mentor a high-performing interdisciplinary team, fostering enterprise wide collaboration.
  • Identify, pursue, and secure collaborative research and technology demonstration opportunities supporting sustainability and new product development targets.
  • Lead efforts to secure external funding-including government grants, cooperative agreements, and sponsorships-for collaborative R&D initiatives.
  • Create and maintain governance structures, operational processes, and standard work leveraging best practices for partnership assessment, selection, implementation, alignment, and feedback.
  • Define meaningful metrics, track progress against goals, and communicate results and program status to executive and business leadership.
  • Collaborate with Trane Technologies' Legal team to create, maintain, and negotiate Cooperation Agreements, Letters of Intent, Grant Agreements, IP protection, and NDAs.
  • Represent Trane Technologies externally with professionalism and integrity to enhance company visibility and advocacy in the research community.


What you will bring:
  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science, or related techincal field; advanced degree strongly preferred.
  • 7+ years of progressive experience in business development, research program management, or a related technical leadership role-preferably within HVAC, climate solutions, or advanced technology sectors.
  • Demonstrated success building and managing strategic partnerships with industry partners, universities, national laboratories and start-ups.
  • Experience developing operational processes and best practices for partnerships and technology commercialization.
  • Strong leadership and team management skills, including mentoring and talent development.
  • Excellent communication, project management and presentation abilities with experience interacting with executive stakeholders and technical audiences.


Annual Base Salary Range or Hourly Base Pay Range:
$198,993.33 - $268,730.00
Compensation Type:
Salary
Incentive Eligible:
Yes
Sales Commission Eligible:
No

Disclaimer: We strive to provide competitive compensation for this position, tailored to a variety of factors. The actual compensation will depend on elements such as seniority, merit, geographic location, education, experience, travel requirements, and union designation. Our compensation range is generally based on the national average for the country. Additionally, benefits may vary depending on the region, business alignment, union involvement, and employee status.

Thrive at work and at home:

  • Benefits kick in on DAY ONE for you and your family, including health insurance and holistic wellness programs that include generous incentives - WE DARE TO CARE!
  • Family building benefits include fertility coverage and adoption/surrogacy assistance.
  • Paid time off includes up to 15 vacation days, paid holidays, sick leave, and additional options to support volunteer and parental leave.
  • 401K match up, educational and training opportunities through company programs along with tuition assistance and student debt support.


Disclaimer: Benefit offerings may vary by site as well as Collective Bargaining Agreements and local/state regulations

Safety Sensitive Role:
No
The company designates certain roles as Safety Sensitive. Safety Sensitive roles may require that you pass additional drug screening.

We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits and programs.

About Trane Technologies

Trane Technologies is a global climate innovator. Through our strategic brands Trane and Thermo King, and our portfolio of environmentally responsible products and services, we bring efficient and sustainable climate solutions to buildings, homes and transportation. Our innovative solutions have helped make buildings and homes comfortable, while more energy efficient and environmentally friendly. We also provide transport temperature control solutions that are used in the food, beverage and pharmaceutical sectors. Trane Technologies is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2030 and has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for the tenth consecutive year.
Learn more about Trane Technologies
Size
37,000 employees
Market Cap
$39 billion
Industry
Net Income
$854.8 million
5 Year Trend
+0.9%
Revenue
$12.4 billion
NASDAQ

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