R&D- Global Fire Protection Portfolio Technical Director

Sherwin-Williams; Brecksville (OH); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Sherwin-Williams is seeking a Global R&D Technical Director for Fire Protection to lead intumescent coating development and global product strategy at the Morikis Global Technology Center in Brecksville, OH. You will drive cross‑functional teams, ensure regulatory compliance, and advance innovative coating solutions across markets.

In this high‑impact role you will partner with marketing, regulatory, and operations to deliver robust products, meet standards, and support global growth with

Qualifications

• US work authorization without sponsorship now or in the future.
• Bachelor's Degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Math.
• Minimum of 10 years of leadership in coatings or specialty chemicals R&D with regulatory focus.
• Deep expertise in global fire protection standards and certification processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the full lifecycle of product development for intumescent coatings from concept to commercialization.
• Drive executional excellence across global R&D teams aligned with business cases and market strategies.
• Champion innovation and continuous improvement in product performance and system integration.
• Oversee regulatory standards and third-party testing; act as technical authority for UL, EN, ASTM, ISO.
• Ensure compliance with evolving global regulatory requirements and risk management.
• Collaborate with Marketing Director to align development with customer needs and strategic priorities.
• Translate business cases into actionable R&D plans with defined deliverables.
• Provide technical leadership across cross-functional teams.

Skills

Leadership

Regulatory compliance

Global fire protection standards

Cross-functional leadership

Coatings R&D

Product delivery

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Science/Technology/Engineering/Math

Advanced degree (preferred)

Job description

Job Description

The Global R&D Technical Director for Fire Protection is a member of the Global Protective & Marine R&D Technology Leadership Team. This role is responsible for leading sales support, as well as product and platform development, for intumescent coating systems within Sherwin Williams' Protective & Marine global business.

Job Description

The Global R&D Technical Director for Fire Protection is a member of the Global Protective & Marine R&D Technology Leadership Team. This role is responsible for leading sales support, as well as product and platform development, for intumescent coating systems within Sherwin Williams' Protective & Marine global business. Job duties include contact with other employees and access confidential and proprietary information and/or other items of value, and such access may be supervised or unsupervised. The Company therefore has determined that a review of criminal history is necessary to protect the business and its operations and reputation and is necessary to protect the safety of the Company's staff, employees, and business relationships.

This role will be located at Sherwin-Williams Morikis Global Technology Center located at 6745 Miller Road, Brecksville, OH 44141.

Responsibilities

• Product Development & Execution
• Lead the full lifecycle of product development for intumescent coatings, ensuring timely and successful delivery from concept to commercialization.
• Drive executional excellence across global R&D teams, ensuring alignment with business cases and market strategies.
• Champion innovation and continuous improvement in product performance, application, and system integration.
• Regulatory Standards & Third-Party Testing
• Provides organizational leadership and accountability for regulatory standards and third party testing, serving as the technical authority for global fire protection standards including UL, EN, ASTM, and ISO.
• Through direct and indirect teams, establishes governance and oversight to ensure products meet or exceed regulatory and certification requirements.
• Owns the strategy and execution model for third party testing and certification.
• Ensures the organization proactively adapts to evolving global regulatory requirements to maintain compliance, manage risk, and protect market access.
• Physical Property & Compatibility Testing
• Oversee rigorous testing of product physical properties including adhesion, durability, thermal expansion, and fire resistance.
• Ensure environmental and physical compatibility across substrates, surface preparation methods, primers, and topcoats.
• Lead system-level validation to ensure product performance in real-world applications.
• Strategic Collaboration & Leadership
• Partner closely with the Global Fire Portfolio Marketing Director to align technical development with customer needs, market trends, and strategic priorities.
• Translate business cases into clear, actionable R&D plans with defined deliverables and success metrics.
• Provide technical leadership across cross-functional teams, fostering collaboration between R&D, marketing, regulatory, and operations.
• Key Stakeholder in the delivery of the Fire Center of Excellence (FCOE) Approval and Completion

Qualifications

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Must be legally authorized to work in the country of employment without needing sponsorship for employment work visa status now or in the future (e.g., OPT, CPT, H1B, EB-1,etc.)
• Bachelor's Degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Math field.
• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Minimum of 10 years of leadership experience in coatings or specialty chemicals R&D, with a strong emphasis on regulatory compliance and product delivery.
• Deep expertise in global fire protection standards and certification processes, including successful engagement with third-party testing agencies.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Math field.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams, manage complex technical programs, and deliver results aligned with strategic business goals.
• Strong background in physical property testing and system compatibility, especially in multi-layer coating systems.
• Skilled in technical decision-making, risk management, and resource prioritization across global teams.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence across technical and commercial domains.

Travel Requirements: 40% Domestic and International

This position is not eligible for sponsorship for work authorization now or in the future, including conversion to H-1B visa.

Successful candidate will be required to sign an Employee Restrictive Covenant Agreement where permitted by law.

About Us

At Sherwin-Williams, our purpose is to inspire and improve the world by coloring and protecting what matters. Our paints, coatings and innovative solutions make the places and spaces in our world brighter and stronger. Your skills, talent and passion make it possible to live this purpose, and for customers and our business to achieve great results. Sherwin-Williams is a place that takes its stability, growth and momentum and translates it to possibility for our people. Our people are behind the strength of our success, and we invest and support you in:

• Life … with rewards, benefits and the flexibility to enhance your health and well-being
• Career … with opportunities to learn, develop new skills and grow your contribution
• Connection … with an inclusive team and commitment to our own and broader communities

It's all here for you... let's Create Your Possible

At Sherwin-Williams, part of our mission is to help our employees and their families live healthier, save smarter and feel better. This starts with a wide range of world-class benefits designed for you. From retirement to health care, from total well-being to your daily commute-it matters to us. A general description of benefits offered can be found at http://www.myswbenefits.com/ . Click on "Candidates" to view benefit offerings that you may be eligible for if you are hired as a Sherwin-Williams employee.

Compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case and will impact where actual compensation may fall within the stated wage range. The wage range listed for this role takes into account the wide range of factors considered in making compensation decisions including skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs. The disclosed range estimate has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled. The wage range, other compensation, and benefits information listed is accurate as of the date of this posting. The Company reserves the right to modify this information at any time, with or without notice, subject to applicable law.

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws including with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act where applicable.

Sherwin-Williams is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, age, pregnancy, genetic information, creed, marital status or any other consideration prohibited by law or by contract.

As a VEVRAA Federal Contractor, Sherwin-Williams requests state and local employment services delivery systems to provide priority referral of Protected Veterans.