Head of Research And Development

Roberts & Ryan; Kentucky; On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A global manufacturing firm in Kentucky is seeking a Director of R&D to lead innovation and product development in a $180M division. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in chemical engineering and proven leadership skills, as well as the ability to foster collaboration and drive business solutions. This full-time position combines strategic planning and hands-on leadership to ensure the successful launch of new products.

Qualifications

• 15 years of business experience leading technical and non-technical teams.
• 5 years of experience managing professional managers in organizations over $100M.

Responsibilities

• Support strategic planning including analysis, testing, and market recommendations.
• Lead R&D activities including technology development and product differentiation.
• Foster a collaborative and accountable culture.

Skills

Leadership

Chemical engineering knowledge

Innovation

Collaboration

Education

MS degree in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering

PhD in Chemistry or related field

Job description

Direct message the job poster from Roberts & Ryan

Our client is a $15B global manufacturer whose products and brands are highly diversified and are used in a variety of end markets. This role is the Head of R&D for a $180M+ division located in Ohio that makes premium chemical products used both professionally and by the consumer.

Position Summary

The Director of R&D serves as the senior innovation thought leader for the division. This individual is responsible for creating differentiated technology platforms and identifying emerging opportunities that can be transformed into business solutions. As a key member of the Leadership Team, this role partners cross-functionally to identify, evaluate, develop, and commercialize new products and technologies that drive organic growth.

Responsibilities

• Support the strategic planning process, including competitive analysis, product testing and claim development, market sizing, trend assessment, and recommending business strategies and tactics.
• Provide leadership and oversight of R&D activities, including new technology development, testing and qualification, manufacturing scale-up of product formulas, and ongoing product differentiation and process improvement.
• Foster a collaborative, learning-oriented, and accountable culture; work closely with customers; and deliver speed, quality, and value consistently.

Chemical Engineering Expertise

• Ensure the R&D team maintains strong chemical engineering knowledge and effectively applies it to deliver impactful business solutions.
• Ensure deep understanding of aqueous, anaerobic, and silicone chemistries and how they can be used to create new performance attributes.
• Manage product testing, validation/qualification, and competitive benchmarking.
• Coordinate product development efforts with related business groups as appropriate.
• Build and manage a robust pipeline of differentiated new products.
• Partner closely with Marketing on market insights, customer & consumer behavior, industry trends, and technology advancements; translate these inputs into actionable solutions.
• Direct research and product development activities to ensure milestones, timelines, and budgets are met.
• Develop and align business cases with cross-functional leaders to meet revenue and margin goals.
• Prioritize initiatives using established internal tools and methodologies.

Qualifications and Attributes

• 15 years professional business experience leading both technical and non-technical teams
• Must have at least 5 years experience directly managing professional managers & leaders within an organization size of $100M+
• MS degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or applicable field. Familiarity with silicone, anaerobic and aqueous Chemistries and performance properties
• PhD in similar fields and/or advanced Chemistry is a plus
• Outstanding leadership skills, with demonstrated success in fostering a collaborative, accountable and solution-oriented environment
• Must be innovative, flexible, curious and have exhibited success by identifying and successfully translating market ideas into tangible business solutions
• Must have demonstrated success in understanding and prioritizing speed and urgency based on changing market conditions
• Must have proven new product launch experience, including familiarity with innovation funnel, stage gate product development processes, strong supplier relationships and effective product lifecycle planning

Preferred Experience

• Design, testing, validation process expertise
• Proven portfolio management and project/process management experience
• Strong business acumen and outstanding presentation skills
• Must have a solid strategic view that positions the business to win in markets
• Results orientation—understands the importance of tangible results and embraces accountability
• Develops and manages talent, including mentoring & collaborating
• Leads effectively—understands how to use personal influence in building great teams, leading example, establishing cross functional reporting and consensus and collaboration
• Balances data, logic and intuition in decision-making

Seniority Level

Director

Employment Type

Full-time

Job Function

Research and Product Management

Manufacturing

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