We are hiring a Technical Manager for our Kenton, OH location!

General Purpose:

The Technical Manager will utilize strong technical expertise, leadership, and strategic skills to provide competitive solutions that satisfy the business and customer needs in their respective areas of chemical manufacturing. This will include the management of lab and/or research and development staff and programs from idea conception to product commercialization in support of the facility's strategic direction.

The Technical Manager will use those same skills as well as expertise in the areas of raw materials, processing technology, and quality systems to manage the plant, support engineering team to meet customer requirements, plant productivity goals, and continuous improvement objectives. In addition, this position supports manufacturing operations by providing support to complies with all safety, environmental, and quality regulations. Some travel may be required from time to time.

Essential Functions:

Responsibilities that are requirements in order to perform the job:

• Manage/mentor/develop/lead teams. Support recruiting and conduct performance reviews
• Proactively and creatively plan and drive multiple projects and support development and execution of innovation strategy
• Direct scientific investigations of new technologies involving complex experimental studies in support of product development, new product opportunities, raw material evaluations and process optimization activities
• Assist in solving complex problems related to customer complaints, application problems and suitability for use. Support customers by understanding their needs and developing or recommending material solutions to meet those needs
• Initiate and coordinate approval of product specifications and test method revisions to reflect manufacturing capabilities, as well as customer needs
• Leads team meetings to determine progress on short and long-term activities and to set and communicate priorities. Manage the team that will react to production problems with sound, timely technical solutions to advert creation of rework, scrap, environmental incidents, or personal injury
• Identifies, in conjunction with marketing and business development, promising areas of research or technology that address unmet needs and have large potential markets.
• Utilize strong technical knowledge, strong application knowledge, and expertise in innovation processes to create competitive solutions to customer and market needs
• Implement the manufacture of new products from research by determining the capability to produce, adapting formulations to the plant’s equipment and raw materials, running correlation tests, monitoring production, and training production personnel
• Communicates to senior management updates for all products under development and their stage of development, and the status of process development and improvement activities
• Communicates directly and indirectly with the customers for quality and technical information and troubleshooting
• Maintain and support laboratory operation including managing plan expenses, instrument investment, maintenance of instrumentation and waste management
• Create a safe work environment by creating safety awareness in regular safety meetings, practices, and inspections. Manage laboratory with a focus on safe operations and oversee regulatory compliance for the department.
• Communicate with global internal stakeholders, customers, and vendors to initiate, align, and transfer developments. Contribute to internal global knowledge transfer.
• Plans and formulates aspects of research and development proposals such as objective or purpose of project, applications that can be utilized from findings, costs of project, and equipment and human resource requirements. Approves and submits proposals considered feasible to management for consideration and allocation of funds, or allocates funds from department budget

Supportive Functions:

In addition to performance of the essential functions, this position may be required to perform a combination of supportive functions based on business needs:

• Plans, organizes, and supervises the work of other technical professionals and technicians
• Manages and maintains the Tollgate Projects in the CRM database
• Maintains 5S standards and participates in site’s 5S and safety related activities
• Decisions related to process changes or improvements, problems in manufacturing, and rework of off specification materials
• Involved in hiring decisions for technical employees in the department

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

The individual must possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities and be able to explain and demonstrate that he or she can perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation:

• Strong technical leadership and project management skills proven by successful completion of multiple research and development programs
• Expert level experience in research and development processes, innovation tools, and IP related aspects required
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment and driving clarity in times of ambiguity and extreme complexity
• Goal oriented individual with prioritization skills, executional excellence, and inter-personal leadership to work effectively as part of a diverse, multi-disciplinary team
• Highly motivated problem solver with a clear track record of results to deliver objectives in a complex environment
• Excellent verbal and written communication
• Ability to navigate through the company and find unique ways to drive results
• Should have knowledge of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, database software, development software, manufacturing software, project management software and MS Office applications
• Failure Mode & Effects Analysis (FMEA) training completion certificate preferred
• Design of Experiment (DOE) training completion certificate preferred
• Troubleshooting, laboratory procedures, management abilities
• High level of technical expertise in formulating, processing, manufacturing equipment, raw materials, quality principles and customer applications
• Incumbent must be creative and possess strong problem-solving skills

Education/Experience Guidelines:

• Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) is required (Chemistry, Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering or similar)
• 3+ years of progressive experience in a relevant technical/scientific department
• 3+ years of experience supervising employees

Notice:

This job description is a summary of the typical functions of the job, not a comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks and duties. The responsibilities, tasks and duties of the individual performing the job may differ from those outlined, and other functions, as assigned, might be part of the job.

Equal Employment Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Statement:

Sumitomo Bakelite North America Holding Inc., and all its affiliate companies, is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination. We do not discriminate based on race, color, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions), religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, physical or mental disability, marital status, age, military or veteran status, genetic information, height, weight, familial status or any other applicable legally protected characteristics.