Manager, Innovation & Technology

Suominen Corporation; Windsor Locks (CT); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health savings benefit

Career growth opportunities

Job summary

Suominen Corporation is seeking a dynamic Manager, Innovation & Technology to lead R&D activities, maintain mature technology, and develop new products and know-how. You will support research, build competencies, and drive components, systems, and processes across diverse teams.

The role emphasizes safety, quality, and strategic alignment, with travel to plants and interaction across cultures. Senior technical leadership is required, supported by a strong educational background in nonwovens or

Qualifications

• Degree(s) in nonwovens, chemistry, chemical engineering, fiber & polymer science, pulp and paper, or textile engineering.
• Experience in spunlace, pulp and paper, nonwovens or related industries.
• Ability to interact with all organizational levels and cultures.
• Strong communication, listening and collaboration skills.
• Analytical mindset with problem-solving capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Adhere to safety, quality practices, and organizational policies across tasks.
• Manage the product line project portfolio and resource prioritization.
• Align project objectives with the business strategic plan.
• Help establish department objectives and strategic plans.
• Ensure on-time and on-budget product development.
• Identify new or improved products to meet customer needs and differentiate from competitors.
• Provide technical expertise to customers.
• Conduct patent searches and support patent development when needed.
• Engage with management to report results; travel to plants as needed.

Skills

Spunlace knowledge

Nonwovens industry knowledge

Manufacturing process knowledge

Interpersonal skills

Analytical thinking

Cross-cultural communication

Problem-solving

Proactive, high-energy mindset

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

MS/PhD with 2+ years industrial experience

Job description

Are you passionate about working within a fast-paced manufacturing environment? Are you driven by a strong safety and quality culture? Do you have excellent research & development skills and enjoy working within a diverse team?

You may be our next Manager, Innovation & Technology

Suominen is looking to hire a dynamic, technically-oriented Manager, Innovation & Technology to join our Innovation & Technology group to maintain key mature technology and develop new products and technologies. In this position, you will support research and development activities, develop competencies and generate new products, components, systems, processes and know-how.

Your Main Responsibilities Will Be

• Adhere to all safety and quality practices and organizational policies and procedures in all tasks and job functions. Recognize safety and quality as Core Operating Principles that are permanently at the top of priorities.
• Manages project portfolio for the product line and provides adequate support to strategic projects through prioritization of resources.
• Matches the business’s strategic plan with project objectives.
• Actively participates in establishing the strategic plan and department objectives.
• Ensures product development on time and on budget.
• Identifies new or improved products to satisfy customer requirements in specific business areas and to create differentiation from competition.
• Provides technical expertise to customers.
• Generates solutions to complex technical problems, through independent application of technical expertise and through efficient use of the efforts of technical support personnel.
• Maintains surveillance of technical journals and other sources of technical information. Conducts patent searches and develops patents as needed.
• Participates in establishing new technology needs and future design activities.
• Interfaces with all levels of management to report results.
• Travel and spend time in different Plants according to needs.

What We Expect From You

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent with five (5) years of industrial experience or M.S.; M.Sc. or Ph.D. with two (2) years of industrial experience. Educational degrees preferably in: nonwovens, chemistry, chemical engineering, fiber & polymer science, pulp and paper science or textile engineering.
• Spunlace, pulp and paper, nonwovens or related industry knowledge.
• Knowledge of manufacturing process.
• Capable of interacting on all levels of the organization in various different cultures
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and listening skills.
• Highly analytical, strong problem-solving skills.
• High energy, proactive, positive mindset.
• Represents the company in a professional, ethical and moral manner at all times.

You will report to our Vice President, Innovation & Technology.

Candidates must reside within a reasonable commuting distance of our Green Bay, WI or Windsor Locks, CT locations.