Director of R&D-Encapsulants

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead and develop a global R&D organization, providing technical direction, prioritization, and execution oversight.
• Drive consistent R&D operating processes across the organization, including project management, documentation, and governance.
• Ensure R&D efforts align with business priorities, customer requirements, and regulatory standards.
• Develop and maintain technology roadmaps that connect current capabilities with future market and customer needs.
• Guide R&D project selection and prioritization to support new product development, application expansion, and system-level solutions.
• Support new product introduction (NPI) processes in partnership with Manufacturing and Operations
• Partner with Marketing and Sales to translate customer needs and market insights into differentiated technical solutions.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing to ensure solutions are scalable, cost-effective, and production-ready.
• Support customer engagement activities by providing technical expertise and solution development leadership.
• Manage and develop R&D leaders and technical staff, fostering accountability, continuous improvement, and professional growth.
• Build technical depth and bench strength across the organization to support future growth.
• Improve R&D efficiency, time-to-market, and project outcomes through structured processes and performance tracking.
• Contribute to integration and standardization efforts related to business growth and acquisitions.

BACKGROUND PROFILE:

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related technical discipline (advanced degree preferred).
• Minimum of 10 years experience in electronic materials, thermal management, or closely related technologies.
• Demonstrated experience leading R&D or technical teams within a manufacturing or industrial environment, with accountability for execution and outcomes.
• Proven experience developing new or enhanced products and application-level solutions from concept through commercialization, using structured product development processes (e.g., stage-gate).
• Demonstrated ability to improve R&D effectiveness, execution discipline, and predictability through systems, processes, and prioritization.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills, with experience partnering across R&D, Marketing, Operations, Manufacturing, and Commercial teams.
• Commercially aware technical leader able to balance technical depth with business and customer priorities and translate technical concepts into business-relevant terms.
• Results-oriented, hands-on leadership style with a track record of building, developing, and retaining high-performing technical teams in fast-paced or change-oriented environments.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally (up to approximately 50%).