R&D Director, Innovation Pipeline & Growth Platforms

About the Role

Trinseo is a global materials company at the intersection of people, technology, and customers, specializing in plastics and latex binders. We foster a collaborative culture driven by passion and innovation, dedicated to solving complex material challenges. This role focuses on leading the development of Trinseo's engineered materials innovation pipeline and future growth platforms by identifying, evaluating, and maturing emerging technologies, market opportunities, customer needs, and strategic partnerships.

The R&D Director, Innovation Pipeline & Growth Platforms will bridge external insights with Trinseo’s core competencies to create a robust portfolio of future growth opportunities, fostering a culture of exploration and guiding early-stage assessments.

Responsibilities

• Internal Innovation Leadership & Strategic Collaboration (30%): Partner with Business Unit R&D Directors, Business Leadership, Marketing, Strategy, and New Business Development teams to identify future growth opportunities, evaluate strategic fit, align technology roadmaps, and develop a prioritized exploratory innovation portfolio. Facilitate ideation, sponsor alignment, and decision-making across stakeholders.
• External Innovation Scouting & Ecosystem Development (30%): Build and maintain external networks with universities, startups, research institutes, technology providers, customers, standards organizations, venture ecosystems, and innovation partners. Identify emerging technologies, market disruptions, ecosystem shifts, and partnership opportunities that create long-term value for Trinseo.
• Exploratory Research & Pipeline Development (30%): Lead early-stage opportunity assessment and proof-of-concept exploration with R&D teams in the Global Innovation Centers. Evaluate technical feasibility, business attractiveness, sustainability implications, customer relevance, timing, and strategic alignment. Down-select viable concepts and mature them into a credible innovation pipeline.
• Innovation Governance, Management Systems & Alignment (10%): Establish management systems for innovation tracking, portfolio reviews, stakeholder communication, executive presentations, resource prioritization, and transition into formal business or product development pipelines. Ensure transparency, alignment, and timely progression of selected opportunities.

Qualifications

• Education: Ph.D. preferred in Polymer Science, Materials Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Engineering, or a related scientific discipline. Advanced business education or demonstrated business acumen strongly preferred.
• Experience: 20+ years of proven industrial R&D experience with achievements in translating early-stage ideas, scientific discoveries, customer needs, or emerging technologies into viable products, businesses, platforms, or growth initiatives. Experience engaging across business units, global teams, and external ecosystems is strongly preferred.

Skills

• Innovation Leadership: Ability to identify emerging technologies, external signals, unmet customer needs, and market disruptions and translate them into strategic growth opportunities.
• Technology Commercialization: Strong understanding of exploratory research, technology maturation, stage-gate development, business case creation, customer validation, and commercialization pathways.
• Strategic Thinking & Business Acumen: Ability to reconcile external possibilities with Trinseo’s core competencies, business strategy, sustainability direction, and growth priorities.
• Influence & Collaboration: Exceptional ability to build alignment and influence stakeholders without direct authority across functions, regions, and organizational levels.
• Executive Communication: Strong executive presence with the ability to communicate complex technical and business concepts through clear recommendations, concise presentations, and compelling innovation narratives.

About Trinseo

We believe that a diverse workforce contributes different perspectives, experiences, and creative ideas, enabling ongoing improvement. Race, gender, ethnicity, country of origin, age, personal style, sexual orientation, physical ability, religion, work and life experiences, and other factors contribute to this diversity. We welcome all applicants, regardless of background, and are committed to a fair and inclusive hiring process.