Research and Development Manager - Italmatch USA Corporation

Research and Development Manager, Smyrna, GA

Italmatch USA Corporation and its subsidiaries manufacture and sell specialty chemicals to its customers domestically and internationally. Italmatch USA is headquartered in Smyrna, GA, and Italmatch Chemicals global headquarters is based in Genoa, Italy.

Description: 

The Regional R&D Manager works in a Global Matrix organization and reports hierarchically to the Regional GM and functionally to the Corporate R&D Team. Some of the primary responsibilities are the support of Business Development and innovation efforts, new process development, manufacturing support, and technical support for Sales, Marketing, Engineering, Procurement, Customer Service, and M&A activities.

Main Responsibilities:

• Supports Company Business Development efforts by managing a Stage/Gate process for New Product Introduction.
• Takes a lead role in determining the manufacturing feasibility for new products in Company facilities.
• Supports Sales with Technical Support and occasionally with technical presentations.
• Stays abreast of relevant Technology developments in the Industrial Water Treatment and Oil and Gas industries.
• Research alternative manufacturing processes for Company product lines.
• Manages communications and good working relations with Corporate R&D and stays familiar with technologies and processes employed in Company facilities globally.
• Maintains good working relations and cooperation with the local Technical Institute.
• Takes a leading role in resolving customer issues regarding product quality, performance, application suitability, DOE, product selection or substitutions, etc.
• Initiates potential improvements or additions to the Company product lines.
• Supports Regulatory Compliance in the interpretation and implementation of regulations.
• Participates with the Engineering Department in relevant Capex project design work.
• Participates in the evaluation of potential acquisitions and M&A activities.
• Research potential raw material alternatives and possible substitute materials.
• Approves new and modified batch sheets for plant production.
• Supports plant operations in process improvements and problem troubleshooting.
• Provide basic training for Sales and Management personnel and help train new or less experienced scientists, engineers, and customer personnel when requested.
• Key participant in the PSM certification team.   

  Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in Chemistry or a related scientific discipline.
• 10 years or more of related experience.
• Proven experience leading and managing research and development in a related industry.
• Strong technical expertise and knowledge of R&D methodologies, experimental design, and scientific principles.
• Project management skills, including setting priorities, managing multiple projects simultaneously, and meeting deadlines.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and team-building skills.
• Organic Chemistry background (Preferred)

Equal Opportunity Employer. Except where prohibited by state law, all offers of employment are conditioned upon successfully passing a drug test. This employer uses E-Verify.