Job Description

Director of Research & Development

Location :

Western suburb of Chicago, IL

Compensation :

The compensation will be consist of a competitive base salary commensurate with experience plus bonus potential.

Opportunity Summary :

We are excited to be partnering with a high integrity, global specialty chemical company located in a western suburb of Chicago, IL who is committed to providing high quality and innovative products to their customers. Due to a retirement we are engaged in a search for a Director of Research & Development. This key member of the Company's Leadership Team is responsible for driving innovation and delivering technical solutions that support the company’s long- term growth, profitability, and competitiveness. This role leads the R&D organization across new product development, cost savings, and manufacturing support. Operating within a global matrix environment, the Director ensures strong alignment with international technology strategies, collaborates closely with global technical leaders and product managers, and serves as a vital link between corporate objectives and local execution. The Director is also a visible leader across internal and external stakeholder groups, fostering a culture of innovation and strategic thinking.

Job Duties :

• Provide strategic and technical leadership for all R&D functions, including new product development, lab operations, and plant/product support.
• Define and implement the company’s technical roadmap, aligning with global innovation strategies, customer needs, and commercial objectives
• Evaluate emerging technologies and conduct competitive benchmarking to inform innovation priorities and maintain technical leadership in the industry.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Sales, Marketing, Operations, and Global counterparts to translate customer and market insights into differentiated technical solutions.
• Represent company's technical capabilities externally, engaging with key customers and industry organizations to build trust and visibility.
• Serve as the primary technical liaison to the global parent company, facilitating knowledge transfer, best practices, and joint development efforts.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing technical team in the technical aspects of product development through investigation, planning, pipeline development, execution, evaluating and reporting on new product development, product, and process improvements, troubleshooting projects and cost savings.
• Contribute to company’s thought leadership through technical publications, presentations, and industry engagement to maintain corporate reputation and market presence.
• Maintain a forward-looking perspective on market and technology trends, providing insight to the business on strategic growth opportunities.
• Champion a culture of innovation, ensuring the R&D function delivers value through robust pipelines, disciplined execution, and measurable business impact
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements :

• Master’s Degree (M.A., M.S.) or higher in Organic or Polymer Chemistry. PhD preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience managing technical teams.
• Minimum of 10 years of related R&D experience, specific to the foundry or chemical industry,
  similar or same products, or chemistry.
• Experience managing complex projects from ideation to launch.
• Proven track record of successful product launches.
• Experience with data mining and artificial intelligence tools.
• Ability to perform the essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability to travel to domestic and international destinations. Valid passport and driver’s license required. This position requires up to 10% travel to domestic and international destinations, including overnight stays.

Keywords: Director of R&D, Research & Development, Organic Chemistry, Polymer Chemistry, Specialty Chemicals, Chemical Industry, Foundry Industry

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