POSITION OVERVIEWMilliken's Chief Technology Officer will be a strategic enterprise leader who translates science, technology, and innovation into differentiated growth, stronger competitive advantage, and long-term value creation. Reporting to the CEO, and based in the Spartanburg, SC area, the Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) will partner with business leaders to lead and manage Research and Development talent and programs across the global enterprise.
As a member of the Milliken Leadership Team, this leader will shape the company's technology strategy, strengthen culture, and accelerate growth in alignment with Milliken's values. This leader will be expected to navigate change and complexity, execute with excellence, and build enterprise alignment around the technologies, capabilities, and partnerships that support Milliken's future. Milliken's Chief Technology Officer will bring the strategic judgment, technical depth, and enterprise leadership needed to convert emerging science and technology into meaningful growth.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES- Enterprise innovation strategy: Create and communicate a long-term technology and innovation agenda that aligns with Milliken's 2032 vision, Strategic Business Unit priorities, customer needs, and shareholder value creation.
- AI-enabled innovation leadership: Understand and responsibly apply artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, machine learning, and digital tools to accelerate discovery, formulation, experimentation, scale-up, decision quality, and R&D productivity.
- Data-driven decision making: Use internal and external data, market insight, customer intelligence, technical evidence, and financial analysis to make timely decisions, evaluate trade-offs, and prioritize the highest-value opportunities.
- Portfolio and pipeline discipline: Lead disciplined portfolio management across the innovation lifecycle, including opportunity identification, project prioritization, stage-gate rigor, resource allocation, go/no-go decision support, and measurable innovation outcomes.
- External technology ecosystem development: Build productive relationships with universities, start-ups, suppliers, customers, technical partners, venture networks, and acquisition targets to expand Milliken's access to emerging technologies and growth platforms.
- Sustainability-centered innovation: Integrate economic, environmental, and societal considerations into product and process innovation, using sustainability as a source of differentiation, customer value, and long-term competitive advantage.
- Intellectual property and technical risk management: Strengthen Milliken's approach to intellectual property strategy, patent landscape analysis, freedom-to-operate assessment, technical diligence, product stewardship, and responsible risk-taking.
- Cross-functional commercial partnership: Partner effectively with Strategic Business Units (SBUs), Customer Experience, Operations, Sustainability, Finance, Digital/IT, and other Milliken Business Enablement functions to translate technical capability into market-relevant growth.
- Operational and manufacturing translation: Ensure that new technologies can move from concept to commercialization with appropriate attention to manufacturability, quality, safety, cost, supply chain readiness, and scalable execution.
- Global leadership and talent development: Attract, develop, and retain high-performing technical talent by building a strong, diverse pipeline and delivering an exceptional associate experience. Reinforce a high-performing, values-based culture through clear expectations, differentiated performance management, and accountability, while enabling collaboration and knowledge sharing. Embed development planning, succession, and career pathing to build sustainable bench strength and leadership readiness.
- Change leadership and communication: Navigate complexity with clarity and courage; communicate priorities, decisions, and the "why" behind change in a way that builds trust, alignment, and momentum.
- Values-based executive presence: Model Milliken's values of Integrity, Excellence, Innovation, Sustainability, and People while acting with humility, transparency, respect, and sound judgment in all stakeholder interactions.
QUALIFICATIONS - REQUIRED- Ph.D. in Chemistry, Materials Science, or related field
- 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in R&D, technology, innovation, or business leadership roles within a global enterprise
- Proven ability to translate scientific innovation into commercial and financial results
- Experience leading large, matrixed organizations through influence and collaboration
- Strong strategic, financial, and operational acumen
- Executive presence with exceptional communication and stakeholder management capabilities.
- Ability to travel globally up to 25%
QUALIFICATIONS - PREFERRED- MBA or other advanced business degrees
- Prior CTO, Chief Innovation Officer, or senior R&D executive experience
- M&A, integration, and technology acquisition experience
- Experience in diversified global manufacturing, materials science, or specialty chemical environments
- Expertise in innovation portfolio management, intellectual property strategy, and commercialization
