R&D Manager - Specialty Polyurethanes at Carlisle Construction Materials in St. Louis, Missouri

Job Description:

Carlisle Weatherproofing Technologies (CWT) is a leading supplier of building envelope solutions that effectively drive energy efficiency and sustainability in commercial and residential applications. We are looking for an R&D Manager to lead our Specialty Polyurethanes team in St. Louis, MO.


Job Summary:


Provide technical leadership to the specialty polyurethane R&D team to enhance organic growth. Collaborate with cross functional teams to establish strategic plans and support the growth of the Specialty Polyurethane business. Interface directly with customers to collect technical information on manufacturing processes, conduct in-field product demonstrations, and optimize production lines.


Duties and Responsibilities:


* Provide leadership, mentoring, and coaching to the group of senior scientists and engineers between 2 R&D Centers to help enhance organic growth. Manages, sustains, and develops talent and positions people for success.
* Collaborates with multiple functional areas including manufacturing, purchasing, product management, and sales to establish and execute strategic growth plans.
* Provide guidance to chemists and technicians on formulation development and product troubleshooting.
* Solve problems of diverse scope, including product and process development, product and process improvement, field issue resolution, manufacturing efficiencies, and outsourcing support.
* Actively supports the sales team through onsite customer visits.
* Function as the subject matter expert translating customer needs to quantifiable project deliverables.
* Network internally and externally, to acquire information for projects and identify future opportunities.
* Develop short-term and long-term plans related to staffing, and overall project planning.
* Identify new opportunities to provide the basis for technical projects; includes transformational and incremental advances.
* Partner with operations to assist them in both understanding and ultimately embracing new approaches to existing products and processes as well as totally new ones.
* Develop project schedules, incorporating key tactical items for other functional areas. Plans out in detail technical portions of all projects including operational pieces.
* Present technical information to a non-technical audience, and effectively present complex or conflicting information.
* Champion and manage the company's scale-up process from formulation development to commercialization.
* Utilize Phase-Gate process to manage R&D portfolio and mentor the use of appropriate project management tools to his team.
* Conduct review meetings as is necessary to ensure that the product and process development priorities are aligned with those of management of the functional areas (Administration, Sales and Marketing, Operations, Logistics, Quality, EH&S, etc.)
* Other responsibilities as assigned by the R&D Director.


Required Skills/Abilities/Knowledge:


* Provides leadership to establish laboratory direction and plans.
* Prioritize and focus on safety.
* Proactive approach to project management and employee development.
* Work at a high conceptual level providing novel approaches, but can also dive into details to mentor staff/teams.
* Encourages a logical scientific approach to identify and initiate development projects.
* Approaches problems in an analytical way.
* Works well with others and utilizes all resources available to the fullest.
* Able to establish professional working networks both within the company and with outside entities.
* Ensures the accurate and timely documentation of all work.
* Communicates clearly to both senior management and team members.
* Provides leadership by example in all core competencies
* Completes assignments in a timely manner.


Equipment Used:


* All polyurethane product development equipment including but not limited to balances, titrators, GC, mechanical testers, viscometers, spray machines, mixers, pump saws, dry timers etc.


Working Conditions:


* The basic work environment is an office, R&D laboratory or customer site with an average of 1-2 weeks of travel per month (although more travel may be required on occasion). The environment demands that multiple projects be worked on at the same time. Product evaluations will require time to be spent at customer construction sites. Ability to wear a full face respirator and pass a pulmonary function test is required for this role.


Travel Requirement:


* Travel is required for this position; on average 1-2 weeks per month is expected.


Education and Experience:


* A Bachelor's degree in material science, mechanical engineering, chemistry, chemical engineering or related field; Masters or PhD preferred.
* At least 5 years of hands-on experience with formulation development in the field of specialty polyurethanes, coatings, adhesives, sealants, foams and/or elastomers.
* 2 or more years of people management responsibility.
* Demonstrated experience as a customer facing technical expert.
* Ability to build and maintain a high-performance technical team.
* A proven track record in initiating and managing innovation, and use of design to achieve results.
* Expertise with maintenance, development, and project management techniques.
* The basic work environment is an office, R&D laboratory or customer site with an average of 1-2 weeks of travel per month (although more travel may be required on occasion). The environment demands that multiple projects be worked on at the same time. Product evaluations will require time to be spent at customer construction sites. Ability to wear a full face respirator and pass a pulmonary function test is required for this role.


Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Protected Veterans/Disabled