R&D Head – Specialty Chemicals (Polymer and Coatings)

Job Purpose

• The Executive would be accountable to provide strategic and technical leadership for Research & Development by driving innovation, new product development, process improvements and commercialization of specialty chemical products. The role is responsible for leading multidisciplinary R&D teams, developing advanced polymer technologies, supporting business growth through customer-focused innovations and ensuring successful technology transfer from laboratory to commercial production.

Company Background

• A leading manufacturer of crop protection and specialty chemicals

Key Responsibilities

Research & Product Development

• Lead the development of innovative products across Coating Chemicals, Textile Chemicals, Leather Chemicals and Industrial Adhesives.
• Drive end-to-end product development including concept generation, formulation development, reverse engineering, laboratory validation, scale-up, commercialization and customer approvals.
• Manage a portfolio of 25+ development projects simultaneously while ensuring adherence to project timelines and business priorities.
• Ensure successful first time-right commercialization and smooth technology transfer to manufacturing.

Customer Management

• Lead research initiatives in polymer synthesis using Emulsion Polymerization, Polyurethane Dispersion (PUD) and Waterborne Polymer technologies.
• Develop innovative technologies, sustainable solutions and value-engineered products to strengthen the product portfolio.
• Identify emerging technologies, industry trends and new application opportunities to support long-term business growth.
• Present innovation roadmaps and project progress to senior management.

Technical Leadership

• Provide technical guidance for troubleshooting manufacturing and application-related challenges.
• Develop robust formulations and scalable manufacturing processes.
• Establish best laboratory practices and strengthen R&D infrastructure.
• Lead the setup and commissioning of new R&D laboratories and technical facilities.

Business & Customer Support

• Partner with Sales, Marketing and Product Management teams to identify new business opportunities and support market expansion.
• Lead customer technical discussions, product approvals and application trials.
• Provide technical support during customer visits, commercial trials and product launches.
• Ensure customer requirements are translated into innovative product solutions.

Team Leadership & Capability Development

• Lead, mentor and develop a high-performing team of scientists.
• Set individual and departmental objectives aligned with organizational goals.
• Drive technical competency development, succession planning and a culture of innovation.
• Encourage collaboration, knowledge sharing and continuous improvement within the team.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Coordinate closely with Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Regulatory Affairs, Procurement, Quality Assurance and Product Management teams.
• Prioritize development projects based on business requirements and resource availability.
• Ensure seamless execution of projects from laboratory development through commercial production.

Decision-Making Authority

• Approve technical approaches, formulations and development strategies.
• Prioritize R&D project portfolio and allocate resources.
• Recommend commercialization of new products.
• Lead technical decisions related to process optimization and manufacturing support.
• Drive innovation initiatives aligned with business strategy.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Number of successful new product launches.
• On-time completion of R&D projects.
• Commercialization success rate of new developments.
• First-time-right scale-up success.
• Revenue generated from new products.
• Customer approval and qualification rate.
• Reduction in development cycle time.
• Number of innovation/exploratory projects completed.
• Technical support effectiveness during customer trials.
• Team productivity and development of capability.
• Improvement in manufacturing efficiency through R&D initiatives.

Technical Competencies

• Expertise in polymer chemistry, emulsion polymerization, polyurethane dispersions (PUD), waterborne polymer technologies and specialty chemical applications.
• Strong understanding of coating chemicals, textile chemicals, leather chemicals, industrial adhesives and application-driven solutions.
• Experience in new product development, formulation development, reverse engineering, scale-up, commercialization, and technology transfer.
• Capability in value engineering, manufacturing process optimization, technical troubleshooting and regulatory compliance.

Behavioural Competencies

• Strategic thinking, innovation mindset and ability to drive technology-led growth.
• Strong leadership capability with focus on team development and talent building.
• Effective decision-making, analytical thinking and structured problem-solving approach.
• Strong customer orientation with the ability to manage stakeholders and build cross-functional partnerships.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with strong planning, execution and results orientation.
• Commitment to continuous improvement, learning and operational excellence.

Qualifications & Experience

• M.Sc. / Ph.D. in Polymer Chemistry, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Material Science, or a related discipline.
• 12–20 years of experience in Research & Development within the Specialty Chemicals industry, including a minimum of 5 years in a leadership role, with strong expertise in formulation development, polymer chemistry, and application testing.
• Proven experience in leading multidisciplinary R&D teams and managing innovation projects from concept to commercialization.
• Demonstrated expertise in customer-focused product development, scale-up, and technology transfer.
• Key Internal Stakeholders: Business Head, Manufacturing, Sales & Marketing, Product Management, Supply Chain, Quality Assurance, Regulatory Affairs, Procurement and Finance.
• Key External Stakeholders: Customers, raw material suppliers, technology partners, research institutions, testing laboratories and regulatory bodies.