Specialty Additives R & D Director EU

Vacancy Specialty Additives R&D Director, EU – Zwijndrecht – Full time

Are you the kind of person that is always thinking, sketching, seeking, and adjusting? Who needs to understand how things work and then figure out how they can work better? Are you a passionate, tenacious, solver who loves to work with others who share your drive? Are you positive, constructive, and ingenious?

Are you always solving? Then we’d like to meet you and bet you’d like to meet us.

Our client has an exciting opportunity for a Specialty Additives R&D Director to join their Specialty Additives business at their Research Center (Zwijndrecht, Netherlands). This is a very visible, significant role within the Company and the Specialty Additives Business Unit. This position will report to the Specialty Additives Business Unit CTO.

The responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Lead a diversified team of experienced and skilled Scientists based in the Research Center, supporting both R&D and Technical Service in a variety of applications including architectural and industrial coatings. Track record of building a high-performance team through effective hiring, retaining and motivating talent.
• Collaborate closely with functional teams and BU Specialty Additives Marketing and Commercial teams to support customers, drive continuous improvement, results and successes.  Influence decision making and outcomes through strong communication.
• Ability to function at both tactical and strategic levels and become a strategic partner of Business Leaders.
• Long-term recommendations, combined with an entrepreneurial spirit, exploring the new and thinking beyond the status quo.
• Identify new product opportunities along with the commercial management team in the Specialty Additives segments. Responsible for ideation and innovation management and a track record of managing a portfolio of high impact R&D projects through a Stage Gate process, resulting in proven commercial successes with a positive impact on P&L.
• Establish and lead new technology platforms, high impact product development and product improvement projects.
• Responsible for regional Operational and Capex budgets.
• Partner with third parties, suppliers and universities to support innovation.
• Travel Responsibilities – You will get to see the world with a first focus on Europe, build strong relationships with strategic accounts and meet your colleagues up to 25% of the time.
• Actively contribute to the organizational goals by taking initiative, executing on goals and focusing on performance and safety
• Improve the organization capacity and capabilities through building collaborative relationships, optimizing diverse talent and utilizing positive communications and influence with others.

In order to be qualified for this role, you must possess the following:

• PhD or MSc Degree in a science related field such as Chemistry, Polymer, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science.
• Minimum of 10 years working experience in technical roles on both R&D and Technical Service in a Specialty Additives industry such as Coating and Adhesive.
• At least 5 years’ experience leading regional/global R&D teams
• Effective technical leader in specialty chemical and polymer industry with in-depth knowledge on Coating formulation and application, especially water-borne Architecture Coating and Industrial Coating
• Extensive experience to lead new product development with scientific methodology and good understanding on structure-property relationship
• Track record to successfully launch new products with significant business impact
• Demonstrated leadership to drive the results with the sense of urgency
• Experience working with global teams (technical and commercial) in Asia, Middle East, Europe, Latin America, China.
• Fluent in English
• Demonstrated responsible and ethical behavior at all times.
• The ability to help the company drive greater value through understanding the business, making complex decisions and creating the new and different.

The following skill sets are preferred by the business unit:

• PhD chemistry
• Foreign language skills
• Experience with Change Management

In more than 100 countries, the people of our client provide the specialty chemicals, technologies and insights to help customers create new and improved products for today and sustainable solutions for tomorrow. Their chemistry is at work every day in a wide variety of markets and applications, including architectural coatings, automotive, construction, energy, personal care and pharmaceutical.

At our client their vision is to be a leading, global specialty chemicals company whose inspired and engaged employees add value to all we touch. In fact their people, employees, customers and vendors define who they are. They are the driving force behind everything they do.

Not only do they value their customers but they value their employees, and they work to offer them a dynamic and challenging environment. They hold themselves to high standards at our client, and they value integrity and honesty.

Our client has a history of attracting the best people and keeping them. The reasons are simple: industry competitive salary and benefits, pay-for-performance incentive plans and a diverse work environment where employees feel challenged and valued. People come to our client and stay. As a growing Fortune 500 specialty chemicals company, they offer opportunities for development and advancement throughout our global organization.

Their values define who they are and what they care about as a company. If you are looking for a relationship with a company instead of simply a job, this may be a great fit.

Our client is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Minorities/Women/Veterans/ Disabled/ Gender Identity/Sexual Orientation. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.