Director of R&D - New Product Development

Who We Are:

Do you want to work for a company named to the Best Places to Work in Rubber and Plastics? Zeon Chemicals is the leading developer and supplier of innovative polymers, including synthetic elastomers and specialty chemicals and other selected products used in countless applications worldwide. We develop superior elastomers for the hottest parts of automotive engines, polymers for longer lasting laser printer rolls, and synthetic rubber to survive oil wells' most aggressive fluids.

Our team is outstanding at what they do, and we enjoy a great company culture and work environment. This combination truly makes us a best place to work!

Purpose:

This position is responsible for the vision and execution of new product development for Zeon Chemicals L.P. (ZCLP). The Director of R&D - New Product Development ensures that research targets, key personnel, and resources are in place and effectively used to achieve ZCLP's goals for commercialization and sales of new products. This role ensures that the new product development project portfolio aligns with ZCLP's overall business strategy, as determined by the EMC, including the VP of R&D. The Director of R&D - New Product Development is responsible for ZCLP's StageGate development process and represents ZCLP's R&D interests to ZEON's Global R&D Team. This is a full-time, in-person, position with office located in Louisville, KY.

Job Functions/Accountabilities:

• Develops and implements an annual FOCUS plan as well as mid and long-range product develop plans that are consistent with ZCLP's overall short and long-range business objectives.
• Develops deep understanding of objectives, programs and goals of ZEON Corp. (ZC) R&D, effectively communicates ZCLP's R&D program to ZC and ensures coordination between the programs. Develops a sufficiently close relationship that the technical information exchange necessary for the commercial success of projects takes place going both ways.
• Independently leads the technology scouting effort externally and incubates the innovation process internally to ensure that all ZCLP product development efforts meet ZCLP's overall short and long-range business objectives
• Collaborates closely with the Sales & Marketing Team to exchange new ideas and to ensure new product development projects align with the goals of the business teams.
• Ensures that all new product developments are in compliance with all local, state, and federal governmental regulations.
• Ensures that the intellectual property of ZCLP is adequately protected and that ZCLP does not violate the intellectual property of others.
• Consults with Operations Team to ensure new products are effectively and efficiently transferred from R&D to commercial production
• Arranges semi-annual ZCLP R&D reviews attended by EMC as well as informal quarterly project reviews with the R&D team to exchange ideas.
• Key metric for success in this position will be commercial sales of new products.
• Performs all other duties as assigned by the VP R&D. (Note: these duties will be deemed essential or marginal based on content.)
• 10-20% Domestic & International Travel required.

Qualifications:

Education and Certifications:

• Doctorate in Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry, or Polymer Science is preferred.
• Master's degree in Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry, or Polymer Science along with additional related experience may be considered.

Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in a related role that includes a deep understanding of emulsion and solution-based elastomer polymerization, as well as a deep understanding of end use applications for elastomers in the automotive, industrial, and lithium-ion battery markets is REQUIRED.

Special Qualifications:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills are required.
• Ability to influence and effectively interact with all levels of the organization is critical.
• A strong leader who is customer-oriented, capable of working effectively in a global business environment, with strong organizational skills, capable of developing new business and be a profit/growth-oriented individual is critical.

Benefits:

Zeon employees enjoy growth opportunities as well as a highly competitive salary and benefits program.

Zeon Chemicals does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, physical or mental disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.