Senior R&D Group Leader, Specialty Additives (Finance)

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 an Senior R&D Group Leader 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 Senior R&D Group Leader 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

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 ethical behavior at all times
• The ability to help the company drive greater value through understanding the business, making complex decisions and creating the new and different

The following skill sets are preferred by the business unit :

• MSc is preferred

In more than 100 countries, the people of Ashland LLC. (NYSE: ASH) provide the specialty chemicals, technologies and insights to help customers create new and improved products for today and sustainable solutions for tomorrow. Our chemistry is at work every day in a wide variety of markets and applications, including architectural coatings, automotive, construction, energy, personal care and pharmaceutical. Visit www.ashland.com to see the innovations we offer.

At Ashland our vision is to be a leading, global specialty chemicals company whose inspired and engaged employees add value to all we touch. In fact our people, employees, customers and vendors define who we are. They are the driving force behind everything we do.

Not only do we value our customers but we value our employees, and we work to offer them a dynamic and challenging environment. We hold ourselves to high standards at Ashland, and we value integrity and honesty.

Ashland has a history of attracting the best people and keeping them. The reasons are simple: industry competitive salary and benefits, pay-for-performance incentive plans and a diverse work environment where employees feel challenged and valued. People come to Ashland and stay. As a growing Fortune 500 specialty chemicals company, we offer opportunities for development and advancement throughout our global organization. Our values define who we are and what we care about as a company. If you are looking for a relationship with a company instead of simply a job, this may be a great fit.

Ashland is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled/Gender Identity/Sexual Orientation.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. NOTE: We do not accept resumes from external staffing agencies or independent recruiters for any of our openings unless we have a signed recruiting agreement in place to fill a specific position.