Carlisle Construction Materials is a leader in the building materials industry and has a long-tenured business that supports innovation and growth. The Research and Development team supports a large part of the business and the chemists, scientist and engineers that join all support a deeper research and innovative environment that produces leading and original products to the markets.

Job Summary:

Provide leadership to the specialty polyurethane R&D team to enhance organic growth. Collaborate with cross functional teams to establish strategic plans and objectives to achieve product growth.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide local leadership (mentoring + coaching) to the group of senior scientists and engineers between 2 R&D Centers to help enhance organic growth. Sustain and develop talent and position people for success.
• Collaborate with multiple functional areas (including manufacturing, purchasing and sales) to establish strategic plans and objectives for responsible materials.
• Provide guidance to chemists and technicians on formulation development and product troubleshooting.
• Solve problems of diverse scope, including product/process development, product/process improvement, field issue resolution, manufacturing efficiencies, and outsourcing support.
• Deliver design advances for product and process development.
• 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.
• Collaborate and lead cross-functionally to ensure that all facets of product development are accomplished smoothly.
• 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.
• Gaining proficiencies in the company’s scale-up process from formulation development on to commercialization.
• Utilize Phase-Gate process to manage R&D portfolio and mentor the use of appropriate project management tools to his team.
• Implement a Technology Roadmap for the laboratory that aligns longer-term development efforts with business goals
• 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.)

Required Skills/Abilities/Knowledge:

• Provides leadership to establish laboratory direction and plans.
• 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 – 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 to subordinates.
• Provides leadership by example regarding safe work practices.
• Completes assignments in a timely manner.

Education and Experience:

• A Bachelor’s degree in material science, mechanical engineering, chemistry, or chemical engineering; Masters or PhD preferred.
• 5 or more years of leadership experience in an R&D capacity of formulation chemistry specific to Specialty Polyurethane products.
• Demonstrated ability to build a high-performance technical team.
• At least 5 years of hands-on experience with formulation development in the field of Specialty Polyurethanes / Coatings, Adhesives, Sealants and Elastomers.
• 2 years of experience in technical management, experience in multiple industries and materials preferred.
• A proven track record in initiating and managing innovation, and use of design to achieve results.
• Expertise with maintenance, development, and project management techniques.
• Demonstrated history of successful product designs and the use of design thinking.
• Budgetary experience in order to develop and aggressively manage the spending plan for the group.

Benefits and Compensation:

Carlisle provides competitive salaries, bonus eligibility, time-off, multiple and competitive healthcare options, 401K, tuition reimbursement and continuing training and support.