RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Lead and develop a global R&D organization, providing technical direction, prioritization, and execution oversight.
- Drive consistent R&D operating processes across the organization, including project management, documentation, and governance.
- Ensure R&D efforts align with business priorities, customer requirements, and regulatory standards.
- Develop and maintain technology roadmaps that connect current capabilities with future market and customer needs.
- Guide R&D project selection and prioritization to support new product development, application expansion, and system-level solutions.
- Support new product introduction (NPI) processes in partnership with Manufacturing and Operations
- Partner with Marketing and Sales to translate customer needs and market insights into differentiated technical solutions.
- Collaborate with Manufacturing to ensure solutions are scalable, cost-effective, and production-ready.
- Support customer engagement activities by providing technical expertise and solution development leadership.
- Manage and develop R&D leaders and technical staff, fostering accountability, continuous improvement, and professional growth.
- Build technical depth and bench strength across the organization to support future growth.
- Improve R&D efficiency, time-to-market, and project outcomes through structured processes and performance tracking.
- Contribute to integration and standardization efforts related to business growth and acquisitions.
BACKGROUND PROFILE:
- Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related technical discipline (advanced degree preferred).
- Minimum of 10 years experience in electronic materials, thermal management, or closely related technologies.
- Demonstrated experience leading R&D or technical teams within a manufacturing or industrial environment, with accountability for execution and outcomes.
- Proven experience developing new or enhanced products and application-level solutions from concept through commercialization, using structured product development processes (e.g., stage-gate).
- Demonstrated ability to improve R&D effectiveness, execution discipline, and predictability through systems, processes, and prioritization.
- Strong cross-functional collaboration skills, with experience partnering across R&D, Marketing, Operations, Manufacturing, and Commercial teams.
- Commercially aware technical leader able to balance technical depth with business and customer priorities and translate technical concepts into business-relevant terms.
- Results-oriented, hands-on leadership style with a track record of building, developing, and retaining high-performing technical teams in fast-paced or change-oriented environments.
- Willingness to travel domestically and internationally (up to approximately 50%).