Lead Scientist Product

Kimberly-Clark; Neenah (WI); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work model

Benefits package

Job summary

Kimberly-Clark seeks a Lead Product Scientist to join the R&D team focused on developing and commercializing new products and enhancing existing ones in the Family Care tissue business. You will lead in safety, quality, regulatory, and sustainability while collaborating with R&D, pilot plant, mill operations, and cross-functional teams to meet consumer and business needs.

The role emphasizes coaching, mentoring, and driving innovation with strong technical leadership, budgeting, and project

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree is required.
• At least 3 years of product development or related experience.
• Strong communication across R&D and cross-functional teams.
• Experience with scientific methods/analysis and plans.
• Ability to lead and direct team members.
• Travel 15–25% expected.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership by example in safety, ethics, quality, regulatory, and sustainability.
• Coach and mentor team members to improve capabilities.
• Conceive, develop, validate, and share ideas for new or improved products or processes.
• Maintain technical expertise and communicate impact to Kimberly-Clark.
• Prepare and manage unit budgets and schedules; ensure policy compliance.
• Lead protected and documented innovation to defend proprietary technology.
• Communicate with customers and internal/external stakeholders with integrity.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Mentoring

Safety & Ethics

Travel 15–25%

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

PLM systems

Job description

Join the team behind iconic brands like Huggies®, Kleenex®, Cottonelle®, Scott®, Kotex®, Poise®, Depend®, and Kimberly-Clark Professional®. At Kimberly-Clark, it’s all here for you—innovation, growth, and the chance to make a real impact.

You were made to create Better Care for a Better World: exploring uncharted questions, engineering innovative solutions, advancing scientific understanding, and constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. You want to be part ofa performance culture dedicated to solving real-world problems with purpose and precision. You want to work in an environment that promotes sustainability, inclusion, wellbeing, and career development. In this role, you’ll help us shape the future and improve lives for billions of people around the world.

It starts with YOU.

As the Lead Product Scientist you will work on aResearch & Development team todevelopand commercializenew products anddevelopenhancements toexisting products to meet consumer and business needs within the Family Caretissuebusiness.This rolewill provide leadership within a team environment to drive initiatives to support theKleenex Facialtissuebusiness.This role willcollaborate broadly with R&D, pilot plant, mill operations and withcross-functionaldisciplines.

About You

In one of our R&D roles, you’ll focus on winning with consumers and the market, while putting safety, mutual respect, and human dignity at the center. Job responsibilities include:

• Provide leadership by example in safety, ethics, quality, regulatory, and sustainability, and ensure that all elements of the corporate Human Resources Development and Diversity policy are fully supported.

• Manage self in accordance with expected One KC Behaviors.

• Coach and mentor team members to increase technical understanding and ability to execute programs to improve Family Care’s business results.

• Conceive, develop, validate, and share ideas leading to new or improved products, processes, materials, systems or scientific knowledge aligned with business unit objectives.

• Maintain technical and scientific expertise in an area of technology and communicate impact of developments on Kimberly-Clark.

• Prepare and implement unit budgets and schedules. Implement appropriate internal controls and standards to ensure compliance with applicable policies, laws and regulations.

• Drive a culture of protected and documented innovation to protect and defend K-C proprietary technology, products, and business processes through appropriate use of patents and trade secrets.

• Communicate appropriately and effectively with all customers, internal and external, conducting all communications and transactions with the utmost integrity and honestytobuild an unimpeachable business reputation

To succeed in this role, you will need the following qualifications:

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university

• At least3yearsor more ofexperience in product development, technology development, executing consumer and/or technical/scientific studies

• Strong communication skills and ability to influence leadership across all levels of the R&E and cross-functional organization

• Demonstrated strengths insome ofthese areas: scientific experiment methods/analysis, planning/organizing, developing learning plans, comprehension of technical literature and executing consumer research

• Demonstrated abilityto provide work direction to team members not in a direct reporting relationship

• 15-25%travel

Preferred (not essential, but desired):

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Sciencerelated field

• 5 years or more of relevant experience

• Experience in product development, tissue processes, design of experiments, data analysis and safe operation of high-speed manufacturing and/or converting equipment and processes. The focus of this role will be supporting theConsumer Facial Tissuebusiness, leading productdevelopmentinitiatives in collaboration with process development engineers and the overall project manager.

• Stronganalytical skills and ability to work in Quality and Specification Management (PLM) systems while providing clear direction as to opportunity areas for improvement.

• Desire and awareness to seek and understand competitive technologies and innovation.

• Demonstrated ability to be coached and help in coaching less-experiencedscientists/engineers

Led by Purpose. Driven by You.

Total Benefits

We believe that our employees are our greatest asset, and we're committed to providing them with the resources they need to be successful. If you're looking for a rewarding career with a company that cares about its employees, then Kimberly-Clark is the place for you.

Here are just a few of the benefits you’d enjoy working in this role for Kimberly-Clark. For a complete overview, see www.mykcbenefits.com

Flex That Works at Kimberly-Clark

We believe great work happens when people come together with purpose. That’s why we offer a flexible work model that blends remote work with intentional in-person collaboration — helping you connect, grow, and innovate while maintaining the balance you value.

To Be Considered

Click the Apply button and complete the online application process. A member of our recruiting team will review your application and follow up if you seem like a great fit for this role.

In the meantime, please check out the careers website.

And finally, the fine print….

For Kimberly-Clark to grow and prosper, we must be an inclusive organization that applies the diverse experiences and passions of its team members to brands that make life better for people all around the world, which is why we seek to build a workforce that encompassesthe experiences of our consumers.When you bring your original thinking to Kimberly-Clark, you fuel the continued success of our enterprise. We are a committed equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, pregnancy, genetic information, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The statements above are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this classification. Statements are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and skills required for this position.

Employment is subject to verification of local policies.

Employment is subject to verification of pre-screening tests which may include drug screening, background check, and DMV check.

Veterans and members of the Reserve and Guard are highly encouraged to apply.

This role is available for local candidates already authorized to work in the role’s country only. Kimberly-Clark will not provide relocation support for this role.

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