Job Description
The Global R&D Technical Director for Fire Protection is a member of the Global Protective & Marine R&D Technology Leadership Team. This role is responsible for leading sales support, as well as product and platform development, for intumescent coating systems within Sherwin Williams' Protective & Marine global business.
This role will be located at Sherwin-Williams Morikis Global Technology Center located at 6745 Miller Road, Brecksville, OH 44141.
Responsibilities
1. Product Development & Execution
o Lead the full lifecycle of product development for intumescent coatings, ensuring timely and successful delivery from concept to commercialization.
o Drive executional excellence across global R&D teams, ensuring alignment with business cases and market strategies.
o Champion innovation and continuous improvement in product performance, application, and system integration.
2. Regulatory Standards & Third-Party Testing
o Provides organizational leadership and accountability for regulatory standards and third party testing, serving as the technical authority for global fire protection standards including UL, EN, ASTM, and ISO.
o Through direct and indirect teams, establishes governance and oversight to ensure products meet or exceed regulatory and certification requirements.
o Owns the strategy and execution model for third party testing and certification.
o Ensures the organization proactively adapts to evolving global regulatory requirements to maintain compliance, manage risk, and protect market access.
3. Physical Property & Compatibility Testing
o Oversee rigorous testing of product physical properties including adhesion, durability, thermal expansion, and fire resistance.
o Ensure environmental and physical compatibility across substrates, surface preparation methods, primers, and topcoats.
o Lead system-level validation to ensure product performance in real-world applications.
4. Strategic Collaboration & Leadership
o Partner closely with the Global Fire Portfolio Marketing Director to align technical development with customer needs, market trends, and strategic priorities.
o Translate business cases into clear, actionable R&D plans with defined deliverables and success metrics.
o Provide technical leadership across cross-functional teams, fostering collaboration between R&D, marketing, regulatory, and operations.
o Key Stakeholder in the delivery of the Fire Center of Excellence (FCOE) Approval and Completion
Qualifications
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
• Must be legally authorized to work in the country of employment without needing sponsorship for employment work visa status now or in the future (e.g., OPT, CPT, H1B, EB-1,etc.)
• Bachelor's Degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Math field.
• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Minimum of 10 years of leadership experience in coatings or specialty chemicals R&D, with a strong emphasis on regulatory compliance and product delivery.
• Deep expertise in global fire protection standards and certification processes, including successful engagement with third-party testing agencies.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
• Advanced degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Math field.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams, manage complex technical programs, and deliver results aligned with strategic business goals.
• Strong background in physical property testing and system compatibility, especially in multi-layer coating systems.
• Skilled in technical decision-making, risk management, and resource prioritization across global teams.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence across technical and commercial domains.
Travel Requirements: 40% Domestic and International
This position is not eligible for sponsorship for work authorization now or in the future, including conversion to H-1B visa.
Successful candidate will be required to sign an Employee Restrictive Covenant Agreement where permitted by law.
