Head of Applied Research & Technology Market Segment Decorative Coatings - AMR

4142 Evonik Corporation_4142; Allentown (Lehigh County); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Evonik in the Americas is seeking a Head of Applied Research & Technology for Decorative Coatings to lead market-driven innovation and coordinate the ART portfolio across the region.

You will manage the regional ART team, drive technical customer support, and align projects with the Decorative Coatings strategy while collaborating with commercial and technical teams.

The role requires strong leadership, deep coatings knowledge, and travel about 25% to engage key accounts and markets.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or PhD in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering.
• 10+ years of experience in coatings industry preferred.
• Strong technical knowledge of coatings applications.
• Experience working directly with customers and translating needs into projects.
• Strong leadership and cross-functional collaboration.
• Willingness to travel approximately 25%.

Responsibilities

• Lead market-oriented innovation and ART activities for Decorative Coatings across the Americas.
• Lead and develop the regional ART team, including career development and budget management.
• Provide high-level technical support to key accounts and distribution partners.
• Represent Decorative Coatings at conferences, exhibitions, and customer events.
• Maintain safety and compliance for ART activities in the region.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Technical expertise

Customer interaction

Cross-functional collaboration

Presentation skills

Education

Master’s degree or PhD in Chemistry/Chemical Engineering

Job description

What we offer

At Evonik, you’re part of a global chemical company working in many sectors that go beyond chemistry. From lipids for tomorrow’s medicines, biosurfactants for green detergents, additives for plastics recycling or membranes to help drive forward the energy transition, you’ll play an essential part in helping the world’s most essential industries succeed. Our success hinges on a diversity of ideas powered by people, not egos. Whether you’re a scientist or engineer, new to the team or established, in business, production, or anything in between – we cheer each other on. Because we believe we can do anything. Explore everything. And Be Part of Something Special! Find out more about the many benefits we offer: https://www.evonik.com/en/careers/why.html Meet the team and get to know the people behind Evonik: https://www.evonik.com/en/news/meet-the-team.html

The Head of Applied Research & Technology for Decorative Coatings - Americas

The Head of Applied Research & Technology for Decorative Coatings - Americas leads market-oriented innovation and application technology activities for the Decorative Coatings market segment across the region. This role is responsible for the regional ART team, innovation portfolio, technical customer support, and coordination of ART resources across the Americas. The position works closely with commercial and technical teams to identify customer opportunities, translate market needs into projects, and support execution of the Decorative Coatings and Business Line Coating Additives strategy.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead market-oriented innovation and Applied Research & Technology activities for Decorative Coatings across the Americas.
• Lead and develop the regional ART team, including career development, succession planning, technical capability building, and resource coordination.
• Manage the regional ART budget and support effective allocation of resources across technical managers, team members, and regional laboratories.
• Oversee efficient networking and operation of regional laboratories, including collaboration across market segments.
• Develop and manage the regional Decorative Coatings innovation portfolio while advancing product knowledge, technical competence, and application expertise.
• Provide high-level technical support to key accounts, coordinated accounts, regional champions, essential local accounts, and distribution partners.
• Identify and realize customer projects, Technical Service Requests, and new opportunities in close partnership with commercial teams.
• Support execution of the Business Line Coating Additives and Decorative Coatings strategy across the Americas.
• Maintain responsibility for applicable laboratory safety and compliance requirements for Decorative Coatings ART activities in the region.
• Represent Decorative Coatings at conferences, exhibitions, seminars, trainings, and other key technical or customer events, while promoting regional and international knowledge sharing.

REQUIREMENTS

• Master’s degree or PhD in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in the coatings industry highly preferred.
• Strong technical knowledge of coatings applications and application technology.
• Experience working directly with customers, including customer visits, technical discussions, and identifying technical or business needs.
• Experience translating customer and market needs into innovation projects, technical priorities, or development opportunities.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple technical, customer, and innovation activities.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate, develop, and provide direction to a technical team.
• Sufficient technical experience and credibility to serve as a resource for experienced technical colleagues and team members.
• Strong communication and presentation skills for both internal and external technical audiences.
• Ability to work effectively across functions, regions, market segments, and multicultural teams.
• Willingness to travel a minimum of approximately 25%, with additional travel possible based on customer and business needs.

The Evonik Group adopts an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) approach.

Candidates are assessed based on their educational qualifications, experience, job competencies and potential and shall not be discriminated against on the basis of race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, nationality, disability or sexual orientation or other classifications protected by local, state, or provincial regulations.

This is your opportunity to join a thriving global organization that combines cutting-edge science, technology and engineering with world-class business services to create solutions that answer real-world problems. If you join us, we’ll expect you to take ownership of your work, team up with other great minds, and add your name to creations that make a positive difference for generations. As one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals operating in more than 100 countries with over 32,000 employees, we need your diversity of thought to make us better. In return for your passion, initiative and creativity, you’ll enjoy opportunities to improve and to be respected for your contribution.