R&D- Application Development Manager

Responsibilities

• Responsible for the day-to-day management of the applications laboratory, ensuring safe operations and effective execution of projects.
• Provide testing support and guidance for stage gate product development, product investigations, and internal and external product benchmarking.
• Calculate, coordinate, and communicate required personnel, substrates, application equipment time, and material quantities to support multi-product benchmarking projects.
• Complete application assessment for stage gate projects for all technologies.
• Complete application work and provide feedback for Raw-Material replacement, Manufacturing site change, Rework and technology transfer projects.
• Utilizes extensive knowledge of product performance to interpret coating application results to provide feedback to formulation team in developing new products.
• Develop and validate Industrial Wood (IW) application procedures to align with line audits of customers.
• Maintain current equipment and plan for new equipment.
• Manage one or more team members.
• Maintain external communication on scheduling to the IW team.
• Develop and provide application training to internal and external customers both at internal and external sites including trade shows.
• Develop and maintain line audit documentation for customers.
• Schedule meetings to coordinate materials and substrates to ensure testing and training are executed with minimal variation from defined processes and product specifications.
• Troubleshoot on external customer lines without technical lab assistance.
• Gather information and design testing parameters to reproduce quality issues and provide feedback to quality and R&D team on product and application differences.
• Host customer visits and lead live product demonstrations on customer substrates, analyzing results with key decision-makers to drive approvals or implement targeted adjustments to application processes and product selection.
• Coach and mentor team members to ensure timely completion of projects and career growth as needed.
• Consult on continuous improvement initiatives to support internal and external customers.
• Consult on product selection for current and future product systems to the development lab.
• Consult on the creation of sales tools including training manuals and brochures.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Math field.
• At least 18 years of age.
• Knowledge of conventional Industrial Wood Coatings flat line application equipment including reciprocal, fixed head spray, roll, curtain coat, and vacuum coaters.
• Knowledge of Rheology and its use in Coatings.
• 10 years of applications experience.
• Knowledge of conventional solvent-borne products such as conversion varnishes, lacquers and PU’s as well as UV.
• Knowledge of conventional as well as UV waterborne product applications as well as 100% solids UV.
• Extensive experience at customer application line and performing line audits.
• 5+ years of management/leadership experience and the ability to communicate effectively in a matrix environment of differing organizational structures and physical locations.
• Advanced PowerPoint skills and presentation in front of customers.
• Advanced data analysis skills.
• Documentation and Line audit Project management/scheduling experience.