R&D Applications Director — Innovation Leader

Rust-Oleum; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K plan

Retirement pension plan

Competitive benefits package

Job summary

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

This influential leadership role aligns technical resources, research initiatives, and corporate priorities to drive growth and deliver market-leading solutions. The ideal candidate has a strong R&D track record, 10+ years in research and 5+ years in supervisory roles, and proven ability to guide cross-functional teams;

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Chemistry or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 10 years of R&D experience and 5 years of supervisory/management experience.
• Proven ability to lead technical teams, drive cross-functional collaboration, and manage complex product development initiatives. Jaeger Eye Test required.

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 and priorities with corporate objectives and market needs.
• Participates in the Stage Gate Process and oversees project execution to ensure timely delivery of high-impact initiatives.
• Coordinates and resolves product-related issues across all relevant business units.
• Partners with VP Global R&D to set laboratory goals and budget planning.
• Provides input for departmental budgeting and resource planning.
• Delivers progress updates and milestone reviews to stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

R&D management

Jaeger Eye Test

Education

Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Chemistry

Job description

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

This influential leadership role aligns technical resources, research initiatives, and corporate priorities to drive growth and deliver market-leading solutions. The ideal candidate has a strong R&D track record, 10+ years in research and 5+ years in supervisory roles, and proven ability to guide cross-functional teams;