Senior Project Manager – R&D New Product Development

Role Overview

• Manage all activities of the New Product Development Process phases: Ideation, Scoping, Concept, Development, Scale-up, and commercial launch.
• Oversees and manages the operational aspects of ongoing projects and serves as liaison between project management and planning, project team, and cross-functional teams management.
• Develop project plan, risk-based timeline and budget to support project goals, including tracking and monitoring activities
• Lead cross-functional teams through identification of risks & mitigations, problem resolution and root cause analysis, corrective and preventive action.
• Manage project communications to all stakeholders (project teams, functional managers, and senior management)
• Ensuring compliance with quality and regulatory requirements, where applicable.
• Facilitating the exchange of information between departments on a day-to-day basis and maintaining liaison with all members of the project team between project team.
• Lead the team to prepare for and execute Phase Gate. Represent the team with RAS leaders, ensuring such decisions are informed by a balanced and clearly articulated representation of the relevant data.
• Develop a mentality of collaboration, execution, and continuous improvement within the program through these mechanisms.
• Leverage technical acumen to partner with R&D, manufacturing, and ISC teams, monitor development progress, and ensure alignment between technical deliverables and program timelines
• Collaborate and act as the key liaison between cross-functional and external vendors.
• Knowledge of specialty materials industries beneficial integrating science and technology into business processes.
• Exceptional analytical, critical thinking and problem-solving skills coupled to strong business, strategic and financial knowledge.
• Expert in the development and deployment of program management tools and techniques including methods for tracking progress, risk management and delivery of major milestones.
• Understanding of engineering development lifecycles and the ability to translate technical inputs into program-level actions and timelines
• Excellent influencing skills with the ability to achieve challenging goals through others without direct authority across different functions and external partners. Drive for accountability within self and others.
• Proven project management experience with delivering medium-to large-scale projects from concept through delivery and operations.
• Relentless advocacy for the customer with a focus on meeting or exceeding customer requirements. Driving the team to make trade-offs that optimize customer and business value while maintaining program velocity and outcomes that sustain the highest standards of quality.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in science or engineering related is required (e.g, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Material sciences, or related sciences)
• Proven 6-8 years of experience in successfully leading complex, multiyear new product development programs delivered through high performing cross-functional teams based in a matrix organization.
• Willing to travel up to 20%.
• Advanced technical degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) and/or MBA, with demonstrated ability to bridge technical innovation and business strategy.
• Demonstrated accomplishments in leading new molecule and new material projects from ideation through commercialization within a technology, chemical, or manufacturing environment.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification not required but highly preferred.
• Proficiency in Excel, MS Project, financial modeling, and project portfolio management tools (e.g. Planisware)
• Experience leading cross‑functional teams with or without formal authority
• Strong interpersonal, problem solving, decision making, organization skills and ability to meet tight deadlines.

Tech Stack

• PMP

Benefits

• employer-subsidized Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
• 401(k) match
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Health Savings Accounts
• EAP
• Educational Assistance
• Parental Leave
• Paid Time Off (for vacation, personal business, sick time, and parental leave)
• 12 Paid Holidays