Director Research and Development

About the Organization

Sun Chemical, a member of the DIC Group, is a leading producer of packaging and graphic solutions, color and display technologies, functional products, electronic materials, and products for the automotive and healthcare industries. Together with DIC, Sun Chemical is continuously working to promote and develop sustainable solutions to exceed customer expectations and better the world around us. With combined annual sales of more than $8.5 billion and 22,000+ employees worldwide, the DIC Group companies support a diverse collection of global customers.

Sun Chemical Corporation is a subsidiary of Sun Chemical Group Coöperatief U.A., the Netherlands, and is headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey, U.S.A. For more information, please visit our website at or connect with us on LinkedIn or Twitter.

Position

Director of Research & Development, Pigments and Additives

Sun Chemical is seeking a Director of Research & Development, Pigments and Additives to join our Cincinnati, Ohio R&D department. The Director leads the development of organic pigment technologies from concept to launch, managing a team of chemists and technicians. This role combines technical expertise in organic synthesis and physical chemistry with strong leadership and project management skills. Key responsibilities include ensuring team safety, prioritizing R&D initiatives to meet business goals, and collaborating with manufacturing and customers to resolve quality issues. The Director also drives innovation by identifying new opportunities and translating them into actionable project plans.

Essential Job Functions

• Product Development: Lead research and development of organic pigments and additives, from concept through commercialization, aligning with global business strategies.
• Team Leadership: Manage and develop technical staff through performance reviews, training, and resource planning to meet project and organizational goals.
• Portfolio Management: Prioritize R&D projects in coordination with the CTO, technology leaders, and business managers to ensure alignment with strategic objectives.
• Innovation: Foster a culture of creativity and innovation throughout the product development cycle. Ensure IP protection and freedom to operate for new technologies.
• Customer Engagement: Build and maintain strong relationships with global customers to understand and address their long-term technical needs.
• Project Management: Apply project management tools to ensure timely and successful product development, meeting key milestones and deliverables.
• Safety & Stewardship: Promote a strong safety culture and ensure new products and processes are safe to manufacture and use, incorporating best practices and continuous improvement.

Required Education and Experience

• B.S. in Chemical Engineering; Masters or PhD in Chemistry strongly preferred, with a focus on Organic or Physical Chemistry.
• 10+ years of experience in pigment or related chemical research.
• Proven leadership and team management capabilities.
• Formal training in statistics and project management.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical and business concepts to diverse audiences.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities independently.
• Strong analytical thinking with a creative and innovative approach to problem-solving; proficiency in data analysis and statistical methods is essential.

Benefits

We offer a range of market-competitive total rewards that include merit increases, paid holidays, Paid Time Off, medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability benefits, 401(k) + match, and life insurance. Eligibility of benefit timing may vary.

Equal Employment Opportunity

It is Sun’s policy that applicants for employment are recruited, selected, and hired on the basis of individual merit and ability with respect to the position being filled. Sun prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other status protected by applicable law.

Employment agencies are an important component of our talent acquisition strategy, and we value the partnerships we have built with our preferred vendors. We will not accept unsolicited resumes from employment agencies for any employment opportunity. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at Sun Chemical or directly to hiring managers in any form without a signed contract on file, and search engagement for that position, will be deemed unsolicited in nature, and no fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired as a result of the referral or through other means. Additionally, any resume submitted without a contract in place will be considered property of Sun Chemical and no fees will be paid to the agency if the candidate is hired. #ID23