Global Sr. R&D Manager, Specialty Additives

Ashland Specialty Ingredients, GP

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.

Ashland has an exciting opportunity for a Global Sr. R&D Manager, Specialty Additives to join our Specialty Additives business at our Wilmington, DE location. This is a very visible, significant role within the Company and the R&D function. This position will report to the Sr. Global R&D Director, Specialty Additives. 

The Global Sr. R&D Manager, Specialty Additives will lead the Specialty Additives global R&D team and North America Technical Service team at the Wilmington site.  This role will be driving innovation through new product development and platform advancement. This role is pivotal in aligning technical strategy with business goals, collaborating across functions to accelerate innovation, and supporting commercial success in North America and globally.

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

• Champion a culture of safety and compliance within the R&D laboratory and across all technical operations.
• Lead the Wilmington-based global R&D team in developing new products and advancing platform innovations
• Provide the team the daily guidance on project management and technical directions
• Collaborate with Applied Science, Measurement Science, Process Technology, and Regulatory teams to execute projects through the Global Stage Gate process.
• Partner with Product Management, Global Strategic Marketing, and Regional Marketing to ensure successful product development and commercialization.
• Direct the NA Technical Service team to support and grow the NA business, including both commercial products and New Product Introductions
• Work closely with the NA General Manager, Marketing, and Sales teams to drive technical support strategies and regional innovation through the Regional Stage Gate process.
• Support key customer accounts with technical expertise and co-development initiatives.
• Oversee talent management activities including recruitment, performance reviews, career development, and retention strategies.
• Oversee lab operations, capital investments, and R&D budgets.
• 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
• 25% travel both domestic and limited international

What This Role Is Not:

• Not an academic researcher - This position involves applied research with direct applications to products. It is not an opportunity to pursue a research agenda
• Not an entry level position – we need a candidate to hit the ground running with solid experience and a background to prove it.
• Not a position for someone with NO Coatings experience. This role requires the leader to have at least 10 years of coatings experience
• Not an individual contributor role - you MUST have experience leading a large (up to 18 people) team of R&D and technical Service team members

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

• PhD in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field OR a bachelor's degree will be accepted along with 15 years of specialty chemicals experience
• Over 10 years of experience in technical roles within R&D and Technical Service, preferably in the Specialty Additives industry (e.g., Coatings, Adhesives).
• Minimum 5 years of experience leading regional or global R&D teams.
• Deep technical expertise in coating formulation and application, especially in water-borne architectural and industrial coatings, ideally with strong knowledge of rheology modifiers, surfactants, dispersants, and other coating additives.
• Proven ability to lead new product development using scientific methodologies and a strong grasp of structure–property relationships.
• Track record on successfully launching impactful new products, ideally with coating additives.
• Strong leadership skills with a results-driven mindset and a sense of urgency.
• Excellent communication and project management skills.
• Demonstrated responsible and et