Head of Application Development & Innovation

RPM SPG; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K match

Retirement pension plan

Affordable benefits

Job summary

Carboline, a St. Louis-based coatings manufacturer and part of RPM International, seeks a Technical Director of Application Development to lead and advance our product innovation strategy at our R&D Lab.

The role aligns technical resources with corporate priorities, guides projects through stage gates, and ensures innovations translate into customer and business value. Collaboration with Marketing, Commercial, and Executive teams is essential for success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Chemistry or related scientific discipline, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 10 years of R&D experience and 5 years of supervisory/management experience.
• Proven ability to lead technical teams and drive cross-functional collaboration.
• Must pass a Jaeger Eye Test.

Responsibilities

• Leads and develops Laboratory Managers, Group Leaders, Supervisors, and technical teams, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.
• Drives product development strategy by aligning resources with objectives and market needs.
• Participates in Stage Gate Process to establish and prioritize corporate projects.
• Oversees project execution and ensures timely delivery of high-impact initiatives.
• Coordinates resolution of product-related issues across business units.
• Partners with Global R&D leadership to set laboratory goals and budgets.
• Assists in evaluating laboratory performance and recommends improvements.
• Delivers technical presentations to customers and industry groups.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Product development

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Chemistry

Job description

Carboline, a St. Louis-based coatings manufacturer and part of RPM International, seeks a Technical Director of Application Development to lead and advance our product innovation strategy at our R&D Lab.

The role aligns technical resources with corporate priorities, guides projects through stage gates, and ensures innovations translate into customer and business value. Collaboration with Marketing, Commercial, and Executive teams is essential for success.