SUMMARY OF POSITION - A brief overview of the primary purpose of the position.The R&D Technical Director is responsible for the strategic and operational leadership of global research and development, encompassing product development, laboratory-based technical service, and chemical and process research. The role ensures the delivery of innovative, robust, and commercially viable technologies across three core business areas:
- Coatings & Sealants
- Surface Pretreatment Products and Processes
- Electrochemical Surface Modification Technologies
The position provides scientific leadership, drives innovation aligned with business strategy, and ensures consistent technical excellence across geographically dispersed teams.
- Oversee the end-to-end product development lifecycle, from concept through scale-up, validation, and industrialization.
- Ensure robust formulation, performance, regulatory compliance, and manufacturability of new and existing products.
- Guide complex problem solving in formulation chemistry, surface chemistry, and electrochemical processes.
- Act as final technical authority for major development decisions and escalated technical issues.
2. ACCOUNTABILITIES - List the primary job responsibilities and activities in order of importance. Job Responsibilities/Activities Comments - Strategic Leadership & Innovation
- Define and execute the global R&D and technology strategy in alignment with corporate objectives and market needs.
- Translate business and customer requirements into clear technology roadmaps and development priorities.
- Identify emerging technologies, materials, and processes relevant to formulated chemical products and surface engineering.
- Support long-term innovation, IP creation, and differentiation across all business areas
- Direct applied chemical research and process development activities, including surface pretreatment and electrochemical surface modification technologies.
- Ensure effective transfer of laboratory innovations into scalable, repeatable manufacturing processes.
- Promote strong experimental design, data integrity, and scientific rigor across all research activities.
- Lead laboratory-based technical service activities supporting customers, manufacturing, and commercial teams.
- Ensure rapid, high-quality technical responses to customer challenges, application development, and field issues.
- Provide expert input into key customer engagements, audits, and strategic partnerships when required.
3. POSITION SCOPE - If relevant, provide information on key scope factors such as business/ product line or customer responsibilities, matrix relationships, geographic coverage, customer/site/market complexities, etc. - Lead and develop 7 Technical Managers across 8 technical groups in three countries.
- Build a high-performance, collaborative R&D organization with strong succession planning and capability development.
- Foster a culture of safety, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement
- Ensure consistent technical standards, ways of working, and knowledge sharing across locations.
- Direct applied chemical research and process development activities, including surface pretreatment and electrochemical surface modification technologies.
- Ensure effective transfer of laboratory innovations into scalable, repeatable manufacturing processes.
- Promote strong experimental design, data integrity, and scientific rigor across all research activities.
- undefined• Well versed in key R&D methods and project management (e.g. stage gate process management, six sigma, KPIs)undefined
4. ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS (i.e. who must this job holder interact with on a regular basis to complete key job responsibilities?) A. Internal Contacts B. External to Company Contacts Positions/ Dept. Reason for Contact
Contact Reason for Contact
Environmental Health & Safety (incl. Product Stewardship)
Lead and ensure a culture of safety
Lead compliance with Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) guidelines
Customers
Provide SME knowledge to customers to address customer needs and issues.
Provide insight to customers in how to leverage products and applications more effectively and also to learn about new developments that will impact our customers.
Commercial & Marketing Teams
Work with Corporate Strategy team to identify issues and provide SME knowledge cross-functionally in support of developing solutions
Raw Material Suppliers
Stay up to speed on resource availability and trends.
Be knowledgeable of new technology and application potentials
Executive Leadership Team & Regional Directors
Coordination and exchange on items concerning technology, safety, resources, CSR , test methods, etc.
External Partners
Establish meaningful collaborations and drive Open Innovation initiatives to accelerate technology development
Operations & Manufacturing
Provide SME knowledge to provide support in developing solutions to customer problems and needs
5. WORK ENVIRONMENT (if required) / EHS RESPONSIBILITIES (if any) This section describes in what kind of conditions the associates work and where (Quaker Houghton facilities, Customer site) as well the required physical demands (ergonomic conditions) &/or EHS responsibilities Work in laboratory and administrative office setting, w/ travel as required
Visit customer and research sites as required
Ensure EH&S standards are achieved
6. EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS/COMPETENCIES to perform the job duties Key education or certification required
A BS Degree (w/ 20+ years of experience), Master's Degree (w/ 12+ years of experience) or PhD (w/ 10+ years of experience) in chemistry, materials science or chemical engineering
What is the minimum number of years of relevant experience that is needed
15+ years of progressive R&D/technology leadership at global chemical business or other highly regulated business
5+ years supervisory experience
What skills and competencies are required
Demonstrated ability to deliver large projects of increasing complexity and scale. Ability to think analytically.
Executive level communication skills. Command of the English language, verbally and in writing.
Ability to be highly influential; can create and relay a business case as require, capability to manage and motivate professional staff members.
Well versed in key R&D methods and project management (e.g. stage gate process management, six sigma, KPIs)
Strong business acumen: links technology to financial performance and strategic objectives
Disciplined people-manager; outstanding record and capability of recruiting, developing, motivating and coaching a world-class industrial organization with a broad customer focus
Customer Intimate, Results Orientation, Teamwork/ Collaboration, Entrepreneurial/ Innovative, Operational Excellence, Learning Agility, Safety Mindset
Budget management experience
