Research And Development Manager

Job Description

R&D Manager | Greater Cleveland Area

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Zume Search is partnering with a growing specialty coatings manufacturer seeking an experienced R&D Manager to lead product innovation, support commercialization efforts, and help build the next generation of technical talent within the organization.

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This is an excellent opportunity for someone who combines strong leadership capabilities with deep technical expertise in coatings, polymers, formulations, or specialty chemicals. While this role includes management responsibilities, it's not a position for someone who wants to stay exclusively behind a desk. The ideal candidate enjoys solving technical challenges, supporting manufacturing, interacting with customers, and staying involved in the day-to-day development process.

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What You'll Do

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• Lead research and development activities for new and existing coating technologies

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• Oversee formulation development, testing, product evaluation, and commercialization efforts

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• Partner closely with operations, quality, sales, and technical teams to bring new products to market

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• Troubleshoot formulation, process, and manufacturing challenges

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• Manage R&D projects from concept through scale-up and production

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• Lead, coach, and develop a growing technical team

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What We're Looking For

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• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Polymer Science, or related field

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• 7+ years of experience in coatings, polymers, specialty chemicals, or formulation development

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• Demonstrated leadership experience managing technical teams or projects

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• Strong knowledge of coatings formulation and product development processes

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• Proven problem-solving skills with the ability to translate technical findings into practical business solutions

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• Experience supporting scale-up, commercialization, and manufacturing environments

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Why This Opportunity?

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This is a chance to join an organization with ambitious growth plans and make a significant impact on both product innovation and team development. You'll have the opportunity to shape the technical direction of the business, mentor future R&D talent, and help expand a team that is expected to grow under your leadership.