Project Manager Europe R&D

Welcome to Nippon Gases | NIPPON GASES

Nippon

• Sanso is one of the leading companies in the industrial and medical gases
• business in Europe. Serving over 150,000 customers and 350,000 patients across
• 14 countries, we offer a comprehensive range of gas-based solutions tailored to
• sectors including healthcare, food, electronics, manufacturing, chemicals,
• electronics, and energy among many others.

The Project

• Manager Europe R&D will be based in our headquarters in Madrid, reporting to Chief R&D
• and Governement Affairs Officer Europe, and is
• responsible for leading research and development projects from concept through
• execution, ensuring that innovation initiatives are delivered on time, within
• budget, and in line with strategic business objectives. The role connects
• technical expertise, structured project management, stakeholder alignment, and
• commercial awareness to accelerate the development of new technologies,
• products, applications, and process improvements.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and manage R&D projects across the full project lifecycle,
• from ideation, feasibility assessment, planning, development, testing,
• validation, and implementation to handover or commercialization.
• Define project scope, objectives, deliverables, milestones,
• resource needs, risks, and success criteria in alignment with business
• strategy and technical priorities.
• Develop and maintain realistic project plans, schedules, budgets,
• and stage-gate documentation.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary project teams including R&D,
• engineering, operations, product management, procurement, quality,
• regulatory, sales, and external partners.
• Ensure effective stakeholder communication through structured
• project updates, decision papers, risk reviews, and executive reporting.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate technical, commercial, operational,
• safety, regulatory, and resource-related project risks.
• Drive disciplined decision-making by preparing business cases,
• technical feasibility assessments, cost estimates, and benefit
• evaluations.
• Monitor project performance against agreed targets, initiate
• corrective actions where needed, and escalate key issues in a timely
• manner.
• Support innovation portfolio management by providing input on
• project prioritization, resource allocation, strategic fit, and expected
• value creation.
• Promote best practices in project management, documentation,
• knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement across the R&D
• organization.

Job requirements

Background

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in engineering, chemistry, physics,
• materials science, industrial technology, or a related technical
• discipline.
• Several years of experience in R&D, technology development,
• engineering, product development, application development, or technical
• project execution.
• Proven experience managing complex projects with technical
• uncertainty, cross-functional dependencies, and multiple internal or
• external stakeholders.
• Experience with structured project management methodologies,
• stage-gate processes, agile/adaptive planning, or innovation portfolio
• management.
• At least 12 years’ experience in
• industrial, manufacturing, energy, environmental, chemical, life science,
• or technology-driven business environments would be a plus.
• Experience working with external partners such as universities,
• suppliers, customers, research institutes, start-ups, or industry
• consortia is beneficial.

Required Skills

• Strong project management skills, including planning, scheduling,
• budgeting, resource coordination, risk management, and performance
• tracking.
• Solid technical understanding with the ability to challenge
• assumptions, understand development risks, and translate complex technical
• topics into clear business language.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills,
• including the ability to engage technical experts, senior leaders,
• commercial teams, and external partners.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, with a
• structured approach to decision-making under uncertainty.
• Leadership skills to motivate cross-functional teams, build
• accountability, resolve conflicts, and maintain momentum in complex
• projects.
• Commercial awareness and the ability to connect R&D outcomes
• with customer needs, market opportunities, profitability, and strategic
• value.
• High level of ownership, reliability, and attention to detail in
• project governance, documentation, reporting, and follow-up.
• Ability to work in an international and multicultural environment,
• including remote collaboration across regions and functions.
• Fluent written
• and spoken English; additional languages are an advantage depending on the
• regional scope of the role.

Others

Regular

• travel across Europe is required (25%)
• Why join Nippon Sanso?
• At Nippon Sanso, we’re a reliable partner for key
• industries, combining global expertise with a local touch to make a real
• difference. Guided by our commitment to sustainability, we drive innovation
• through cutting-edge technology and a strong R&D network. Here, you’ll have
• the autonomy to own your career, with the chance to work on projects that
• impact communities and shape a carbon-neutral future.
• Discover a place where you’ll play a key role in solutions that power
• major industries and make a difference in everyday life. At Nippon Sanso, our
• technologies support countless essential processes — often behind the scenes —
• that keep food fresh, enhance electronic chip production, purify water, and
• provide critical respiratory treatments. With a solid, diversified presence
• across Europe, we’re a reliable and stable company dedicated to constant
• innovation and to creating a healthier, more sustainable future.

What we offer

• Remuneration and Benefits 💰: We offer a
• range of bonuses, long-term incentives, competitive salaries, which we
• review each year to remain competitive in the market. In
• addition, we have a wide range of benefits as a company, you can choose
• what suits you best: childcare, transport card, pension plan, sports
• package, health insurance, etc.
• Worklife balance 🏖: We have 29
• days off a year! Plus, the 24th and 31st of December.
• Flexible schedule 🕓: You'll have
• the freedom to adjust your work hours to accommodate your personal needs
• and responsibilities.
• Home Office Policy 💻: With our
• hybrid work plan, you can enjoy working from the comfort of your home.
• Diversity and inclusion 😊: Be part of
• an inclusive, diverse culture, where everyone’s contribution is respected.
• A place where individual talent is recognised and nurtured.
• Sustainability 🍀: We enable a
• carbon neutral world. Nippon Gases spearheads the efforts to achieving
• zero CO2 emissions by helping industries in transitioning from fossil
• fuels to renewable energy sources.
• Safety first 🦺: We create a
• safe environment where our employees can thrive. In the past two decades,
• we have been honored 17 times as the safest company in Europe by the
• Industrial Gases Association (EIGA).

About Us

Nippon Gases is one of the leading companies in the industrial and medical gases business in Europe. We service more than 150,000 customers and have a diversified involvement in broad industries such as healthcare, food, manufacturing, metallurgy, chemical products, electronics and energy. We aim to create social value through innovative gas solutions that increase industrial productivity, enhance human well-being and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Making life better through gas technology.

What can you expect from us?

We are an industrial company in which safety and integrity come first, as it could not be otherwise. We bet on the talent of each of our employees, creating opportunities for development and learning, as well as offering an environment of personal conciliation. Our employees are the key to achieve high customer satisfaction and be, day by day, your choice. We have a high commitment to society and respect for the environment. These values make us a great company with solid and continuous financial results.

Equal Opportunity Employment Policy

Nippon Gases is a company committed to equality and promotes an inclusive work environment free of any type of discrimination and harassment. We believe that the diversity of talent strengthens and increases our success. We have equality policies that guarantee employability and increase opportunities for all candidates.