Research and Development Manager

SherwinWilliamsUk; Greater Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative leader in the protective coatings industry is seeking an R&D Manager to drive large-scale projects and development. This role offers a unique opportunity to leverage your expertise in fire protection and coatings while managing teams and implementing strategies for continuous improvement. With hybrid working options and a focus on career growth, this position is perfect for those looking to make a significant impact in a dynamic environment. Join a company that values work-life balance and offers comprehensive training programs to foster your professional development.

Benefits

Work life balance

Attractive compensation programme

Bonus plan

Private medical insurance

Career growth opportunities

Continuous training programmes

Wellbeing and mental health programmes

Inclusion and diversity programmes

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in people management and industry roles.
• Proven track record in product development and project management.
• Strong technical expertise in protective coatings and fire protection.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement strategies to meet departmental objectives.
• Analyze performance data and monitor results for continuous improvement.
• Lead process simplification efforts to support the management team.

Skills

People Management

Product Development

Communication Skills

Technical Expertise in Protective Coatings

Regulatory Standards Knowledge

Project Management

Mentoring and Coaching

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemistry

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemical Engineering

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Polymer/Materials Science

Tools

Stage-Gated Project Plans

Continuous Improvement Tools

Job description

As the R&D Manager within Fire Protection, you will be an expert in your field with experience in managing and leading teams, projects, and R&D functions. Ideally, you will have some experience in fire protection or coatings.

This position offers an exciting and unique opportunity to showcase your expertise and be involved in large-scale projects and development.

In this role you will be responsible for...

• Develop and implement strategies and action plans to ensure the department meets its core objectives efficiently.
• Regularly analyze performance data, implement improvement measures, and monitor results to ensure corrective actions are effective.
• Lead process simplification efforts to support the management team and staff.
• Report on departmental metrics agreed upon with the R&D Director, using performance measures to drive continuous improvement.
• Promote technical excellence and enhance company knowledge of application techniques, market developments, and evolving customer requirements through direct communication and business planning.
• Represent the company at customer facilities, industry committees, and relevant conferences as needed.

The skills and experience we are ideally looking for...

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Polymer/Materials Science, or a related field.
• Over 10 years of experience in people management and industry roles.
• Proven track record in product development, utilizing stage-gated project plans.
• Excellent communication skills, capable of presenting clear and structured project plans and complex information to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong technical expertise in protective coatings and fire protection (Cellulosic & Hydrocarbon).
• In-depth knowledge of global regulatory standards and industry testing for intumescent coatings.
• Experience in launching new products within manufacturing environments.
• Familiarity with manufacturing processes and continuous improvement tools, with hands-on project management experience using stage-gated processes.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor, coach, and manage a diverse team.

Location:

• This role is based at our Bolton site in Greater Manchester.
• Hybrid working options are available.
• Some international travel may be required.

Our offer….

• Work life balance
• Attractive compensation programme
• Bonus plan
• Private medical insurance
• Career growth opportunities in a truly international environment
• Innovation leaders in the protective coatings industry
• Sherwin Academy offers continuous training programmes for all seniority levels
• Attractive wellbeing, mental health, women & inclusion and ID&E programmes

Eligibility to Work

You will need to provide proof of right to work. It is a condition of any offer of employment we make to you that you have the permission to work in the country for the role for which you are applying for.

Equal Opportunity Employer

An equal opportunity employer, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against based on race, colour, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnic or national origin, disability, age pregnancy or maternity, marital or civil partner status, or any other protected characteristic prohibited by law.

Please be aware, Sherwin-Williams recruiting team members will never request a candidate to provide a payment, ask for financial information, or sensitive personal information like national identification numbers, date of birth, or bank account numbers during the application process.