R&D Manager – Material Processing

Siding Products Group (SPG) is looking for a talented and experienced R&D Manager to join our current team in conducting research, developing a technical base, and Material Processing strategy for current and future research within the group. Projects will focus on the improvement of processes, performance, and product development activities related to SPG’s extensive product line. The work location for this position can be in any of our following locations: Malvern, PA, Northboro, MA, or Jackson, MI.

As an R&D Manager, the candidate will be expected to effectively lead cross-functional teams by managing others to execute and deliver project objectives. The candidate will be expected to oversee the R&D project portfolio in the areas of materials processing, equipment setup, troubleshooting process inefficiencies and ensuring process control, collaborating effectively with R&D colleagues, product managers, product engineers, application engineers, and external customers, create and execute project plans, design, and conduct experiments, analyze data, and present findings in written and oral formats. The candidate is also expected to play a role in proposing projects and programs vital to the R&D direction of the group. Further the candidate with be responsible for developing direct reports and others within the group.

Responsibilities

• Utilizes broad technical background and experience to develop and/or improve products, processes, and performance and/or reduce costs using state-of-the-art extrusion, injection molding, and hot-pressing processes.
• Collaborates with engineering, plant process, and other R&D teams on process improvement, raw material usage, and new equipment commissioning.
• Promotes SPG’s sustainability efforts through the alignment of projects with business needs and expectations
• Stays aware of new technology applications and competitive uses of same in work with materials, products, and processes, and development of new knowledge and applies this to personal research/ products.
• Develop a community of researchers connected to process R&D projects and leverage the flow of info.
• Provides scientific leadership to associates and colleagues throughout the R&D community.
• Manages and/or leads a portfolio of multiple projects simultaneously, on time, well documented, and within budget to meet business and customer objectives.
• Defines IP in agreement with upper management and business

Competencies

• Demonstrates an open and collaborative approach in all areas of responsibility.
• Able to communicate technically with internal competencies, university collaborators, and customers and utilize knowledge to advance projects and identify productive synergies.
• Understands Gate Process methodology/ideology and utilizes and incorporates it in research projects

• Bachelor’s Degree with 15+ years of experience; Master’s Degree with 10+ years of experience or PhD with 6+ years of experience

• 10+ years of hands-on experience with manufacturing processes/equipment in an industrial or research setting.

• Polymer processing background (Injection Molding, Extrusion, Compounding & Hot pressing

Through the responsible development of innovative and sustainable building products, CertainTeed, headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania, has helped shape the building products industry for more than 110 years. Founded in 1904 as General Roofing Manufacturing Company, the firm's slogan "Quality Made Certain, Satisfaction Guaranteed," inspired the name CertainTeed. Today, CertainTeed is a leading North American brand of exterior and interior building products, including roofing, siding, fence, decking, railing, trim, insulation, drywall and ceilings.

A subsidiary of Saint-Gobain, one of the world’s largest and oldest building products companies, CertainTeed has more than 6,300 employees and more than 60 manufacturing facilities throughout the United States and Canada. www.certainteed.com

Saint-Gobain provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. Saint-Gobain is an equal opportunity employer of individuals with disabilities and supports the hiring of veterans.