The Company:

Listgrove is proud to be retained as the recruitment business partner for a key board level position to be appointed by our client. The company has an enviable reputation as a high-quality manufacturer of water-based additives for polymer latex, paint and adhesive industries. It has a successful history that spans five decades and is recognized as a world leader in aqueous dispersions and emulsions. The company prides itself on its technical capability, innovation and close partnership approach with both customers and suppliers.

Primary function:

Responsible for delivering and providing support in the development of the innovation strategy as defined by the board of directors, in line with commercial strategy for the business to achieve growth and margin targets.

Main Responsibilities:

· Deliver and provide support in the development and execution of the Group-wide innovation strategy as defined by the board of directors, in line with commercial strategy for the business to achieve growth and margin targets.
· Collaborate with the commercial team to jointly initiate ideas for new products that directly impact delivery of the commercial strategy which delivers growth targets and meets the needs of the customer base.
· Act as the link between the senior management team and the technical function ensuring that expectations are delivered against, and priorities are fully understood.
· Provide leadership to the Group Technical functions across the UK, Malaysia and US sites to deliver high standards and levels of service for technical & QC.
· Drive the pace and quality of Group Technical activities across UK, US & Malaysia.
· Line Management of UK team, with direct line management for Research & Applications Manager, Regulatory Manager & QC Manager.
· Oversight of the regulatory function, with specific responsibility for new regulatory compliance projects
· Manages and proactively develops the raw material portfolio to facilitate innovation.
· Supports production in terms of scale-up, product implementation, customer complaint resolution.
· Lead troubleshooting customer trials and applications activities.
· Responsible for all laboratories, equipment and people within the Technical department.
· Attends conferences and exhibitions as the company’s external technical ambassador.
· Responsible for IP portfolio and new patent specifications/ applications as required by the business.
· Chairing on Market & Technology steering meetings.
· Jointly responsible for project prioritisation and justification.

Additional General duties:

· Maintain awareness and keep updated with any changes that would affect the Company.
· Actively encourage safe working practices in the work environment in order to ensure that the company’s health and safety standards are achieved.
· Act as a professional and positive ambassador for the business.
· Ensure that the department works effectively and fairly at all times.
· Carry out such duties as may reasonably be required from time to time to meet the evolving needs of the company.
· To ensure a high standard of housekeeping is maintained in the laboratory in order to ensure that Health and Safety requirements are met and efficiency is achieved.

Person specification:

· Experience of creating and delivering innovation strategies that achieve commercial growth.
· Experience of working with customers to deliver innovation and manage expectations against commercial / innovation strategy and plan.
· Experience of polymers and water-based polymers.
· Excellent technical and business thinker with a proven track record of innovation.
· Good business sense with ability to think strategically and implement the technical strategy as set out by the board.
· High levels of self-motivation, tenacity and drive.
· Strong leadership and people management skills.
· Able to prioritise projects and workload for self and the technical team.
· Excellent interpersonal skills and relationship building.
· Excellent analytical skills.
· Ability to learn new concepts quickly.
· Ability to work on multiple projects and issues simultaneously to meet deadlines.
· Computer literate.
· Good team player.
· Results oriented with a positive outlook, and a clear focus on high quality and business profit.

Qualifications

· Must be qualified to degree level with a minimum of five years technical leadership experience in the chemicals industry (coatings, adhesives, polymer, pigments, additives).
· Significant regulatory knowledge/experience