R&D Director, Polyester Films - Strategy & Growth

Mitsubishi Chemical Group

Greer (SC)

On-site

USD 140,000 - 180,000

Full time

7 days ago

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Job summary

Mitsubishi Films America in Greer, SC, seeks a Director of Research & Development to lead the Polyester Films Division's R&D, new product development and Marketing Technical Service activities. You will guide a team of 7–8 professionals, align technical priorities with market needs, and partner with global teams for technology transfer and commercialization.

As a senior leader, you will shape strategic development priorities, manage budgets, and drive manufacturing scale-up while delivering

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Polymer Science, Chemistry, or a related discipline.
Experience leading and developing technical professionals in R&D or Marketing Technical Service.
Proven ability to translate customer needs into technical programs and communicate with cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

Lead, coach, and develop approximately seven to eight R&D and Marketing Technical Service professionals, including recruiting, training, performance management, succession planning, and day-to-day team leadership.
Communicate business priorities and expectations clearly, address employee concerns, and ensure the team’s technical needs and recommendations are represented to senior leadership.
Direct Marketing Technical Service activities, partnering with Sales & Marketing and customers to understand application requirements, resolve technical challenges, and identify opportunities for product development and business growth.
Partner with senior management to improve the new business development process and focus technical capabilities on opportunities with clear customer and commercial value.
Establish technical strategy and development priorities; manage the project portfolio and allocate resources based on strategic importance, customer need, technical feasibility, and commercial potential.
Direct polyester film product development from concept through laboratory and pilot trials, manufacturing scale-up, customer qualification, and commercialization.
Engage with strategic customers, support technical capabilities presentations, and serve as a senior technical resource for significant development opportunities and complex application issues.
Provide technical leadership for manufacturing, product-quality, and customer-application challenges using disciplined experimentation, root-cause analysis, and data-driven problem-solving.
Oversee R&D laboratory and pilot-line activities, including technical capabilities, operating priorities, development trials, and capital requirements.
Prepare and manage the annual R&D Department and Pilot Line budget and provide management reporting on development priorities, project progress, and resource needs.
Manage the site’s intellectual-property portfolio and support coordination of international polyester-film intellectual property.
Collaborate with global R&D and Marketing Technical Service teams to share expertise, coordinate technical programs, and support technology transfer.
Participate in senior management and site leadership activities, contributing technical and customer perspectives to business strategy, operational priorities, and safety discussions.