Research & Development Manager, Grease & OGL

Colonial Group; United States; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Colonial Group seeks an experienced R&D Manager to lead grease and open gear lubricant (OGL) development across industrial sectors, aligning with growth objectives.

You will mentor R&D chemists, manage projects from concept to commercialization, ensure OEM approvals, and collaborate with suppliers to deliver differentiated products for mining and food-grade markets. This role emphasizes leadership, safety and quality.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or related scientific field; MS or PhD preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of research experience in formulating greases, open gear lubricants, and/or finished lubricants.
• Hands-on experience with grease manufacturing processes including thickener saponification, kettle operations, milling, and homogenization.
• Knowledge of major thickener systems (lithium, lithium complex, calcium sulfonate, polyurea, clay, and aluminum complex).
• Experience with ASTM, DIN, ISO methods and using analytical equipment (penetration, dropping point, roll stability, water washout, bearing life).
• Experience in lubricants industry, OEMs, additive and base oil companies; proven leadership of technical staff.

Responsibilities

• Lead grease, open gear lubricant (OGL) and semi-solid lubricant development across multiple applications.
• Develop formulations with measurable performance advantages and secure OEM/industry approvals.
• Collaborate with suppliers and industry experts to evaluate base oils, thickeners and additives.
• Design and execute test programs benchmarking against standards and OEM specs.
• Guide scale-up from bench to pilot to full-scale production with manufacturing.
• Maintain knowledge of industry standards (NLGI, ELGI, ASTM, ISO, DIN, STLE).
• Provide technical support to customers and cross-functional teams; mentor R&D staff.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Communication

Problem solving

Mentoring

Collaboration

Technical writing

Attention to detail

Strategic thinking

Networking

Education

BS in Chemical Engineering or related field

MS or PhD preferred

Job description

PURPOSE:

R&D Managers are integral members of the Product Management / Research and Development Team, reporting to the Director of Product Management / R&D, and are responsible for designing and delivering premium products that support business growth objectives. This role spans the full product development lifecycle—from initial concept through commercialization and includes continuous improvement of existing grease and open gear lubricant (OGL) formulations to meet evolving industry, OEM, and customer requirements. This role is critical in ensuring our BEL-RAY grease and OGL portfolio remains technically differentiated, market-relevant, and aligned with the strategic direction of the business which is focusing on growth in mining and food-grade - both require this area of expertise.

KEY OBJECTIVES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead grease, open gear lubricant (OGL), and semi-solid lubricant product development projects across industrial, automotive, mining, and specialty applications.
• Develop greases and OGLs that demonstrate measurable performance advantages.
• Secure relevant OEM and industry approvals and NLGI certifications.
• Collaborate closely with key suppliers and industry experts to assess base oil, thickener, and additive technologies.
• Design and execute test programs to benchmark performance against industry standards and OEM specifications.
• Work with Cross-functional teams to develop company products that support brand strategy by collaborating with suppliers and OEMs to deliver innovative products.
• Evaluate function and performance of raw materials—including base oils, thickener systems, and additive packages—in grease and OGL formulations.
• Provide expert technical support and problem‑solving solutions to external customers and internal cross‑functional teams such as quality‑control, production, sales, marketing teams and customers.
• Design and execute test programs to demonstrate and validate product technology, claims, and benefits.
• Support scale‑up of grease and OGL formulations from bench batch through pilot kettle and full‑scale plant production, partnering with manufacturing to ensure consistency and yield.
• Maintain knowledge of industry and specifications, OEMs, NLGI, ELGI, ASTM, ISO, DIN, STLE and other test standards applicable to greases and open gear lubricants.
• Develop and maintain product development processes.
• Collaborate with, direct the work for and manage R&D Chemists.
• Mentor, coach, and train R&D Chemists and laboratory technicians, and deliver product support training to internal and external customers.
• Other duties as required.

REQUIRED EDUCATION/EXPERIENCES:

• Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or related scientific field. MS or PhD preferred.
• Minimum 10 years research experience in formulating greases, open gear lubricants, and/or finished lubricants.
• Hands‑on experience with grease manufacturing processes, including thickener saponification, kettle operations, milling, and homogenization.
• Working knowledge of major thickener systems (lithium, lithium complex, calcium sulfonate, polyurea, clay, and aluminum complex).
• Established laboratory safety, technical competency with strong lubricant and grease principles background.
• Experience using analytical equipment according to ASTM, DIN and ISO methods, including penetration, dropping point, roll stability, water washout, and bearing life testing.
• Experience in the lubricants industry and working with OEMs, additive companies, and base oil companies.
• Demonstrated experience leading, developing, and supervising technical staff.
• Strong attention to detail, problem solving, and organizational skills.
• Effective writing and oral presentation skills to clearly communicate ideas, data, recommendations, and conclusions.
• Effective project management skills with the ability to work on multiple projects and other technical tasks simultaneously and deliver results in a timely manner.
• Strong interpersonal, networking and communication skills to work with suppliers, OEMs, customers, and at industry meetings such as NLGI, ELGI, and STLE.

COMPETENCIES:

• Business Acumen & Partnership – Demonstrated ability to understand the business and align activity to meet business needs at both strategic and operational levels.
• Delivers Results – Attentive to detail and demonstrated ability to deliver on accountabilities to help the business and the team be successful. Track record of high-performance.
• Drive– Positive energy, ambitious, courageous, flexible but decisive, with the ability to take on continuous and complex business challenges in a fast‑paced environment. Persistence to drive to solutions despite obstacles and/or competing priorities.
• Emotional Maturity – Ability to withstand pressure and manage emotions effectively to create the right effect on people and organization.
• Ethics & Integrity – High degree of personal integrity in all business dealings.
• Functional Skill – General awareness, exposure, and understanding across product development, research and innovation.
• Judgment/Decision‑Making – Smart, with the ability to think through issues and make wise decisions, often without all facts and information or high levels of direction.
• Leadership & Development of Others – Enjoys mentoring, coaching, and educating; builds technical capability in others and develops high‑performing teams.
• Problem‑Solving & Opportunity Identification – Ability to frame clear problem statements and use objective information and data to help solve complex business challenges and generate options and solutions for business leaders. Identify opportunities for continuous improvement to contribute value to the business.
• Teamwork/Collaboration – An effective team player with a positive attitude, strong customer service orientation, and focused on delivering outstanding results to clients and the business.
• Demonstration of Calumet Values – Safety, Environment & Social Responsibility, Teamwork, Ownership, Passion for Customers, and Excellence