R&D Development Manager - Transportation

Americhem, Inc.•Morrisville, PA

51d

About The Position

The Development Manager - Transportation leads Americhem's R&D efforts for the transportation market segment, translating strategic growth priorities into scalable technology platforms and differentiated new products. This role manages a team of development engineers, ensuring efficient execution of innovation projects, seamless handoff to Regional Design teams, and tight alignment with commercial market segment goals. The Development Manager operates at the intersection of R&D, Commercial, and Process Engineering, delivering high-impact solutions tailored to evolving market needs.

Requirements

Bachelor's or Advanced degree (Ph.D. or M.S.) in Polymer Science, Materials Science, Chemistry, or related field.
8+ years in product development or technical management, ideally in the plastics, materials, or additives industry, with a strong understanding of the assigned market segment's technical and commercial landscape.
Technical expertise in formulation, material design, and product testing relevant to the assigned market.
Project management and cross-functional coordination experience.
Strong communication and leadership capabilities, including team supervision and external presentation.
Periodic travel (up to 20%) to R&D sites, manufacturing plants and customer locations as needed.

Nice To Haves

Technically driven and commercially aware, with a passion for innovation.
Collaborative, agile leader who thrives in a matrixed environment.
Organized and proactive, with a continuous improvement mindset.
Confident communicator, both written and verbal, with external and internal stakeholders.
Exceptional skills in problem solving.

Responsibilities

Lead the development of differentiated technology platforms through the evaluation of new materials, additive systems, or formulations that meet segment-specific performance, regulatory, and sustainability requirements.
Oversee design of experiments, prototype creation, performance testing, and product qualification.
Collaborate with the Research, Technical Services, and Process Engineering teams to ensure feasibility and scale-up readiness.
Follow Management of Change protocols when implementing changes or improvements to technology platforms or formulations.
Supervise a team of development engineers; assign responsibilities, monitor progress, and provide technical guidance.
Ensure project timelines, deliverables, and quality expectations are met consistently.
Utilize Americhem's stage-gate process and innovation systems to manage project visibility and execution rigor.
Track key performance metrics / project milestones and continuously improve development workflows for efficiency and speed-to-market.
Interface regularly with Global Market Managers to align development roadmaps with commercial strategies and customer needs.
Coordinate with Regional Design Teams for technology transfer, technical documentation, and application-specific adaptation.
Partner with customer to support "high, wide and deep" relationships; present development capabilities and gather application insights for customer needs.
Provide technical input to strategic plans and segment growth initiatives.
Participate in industry specific organizations and keep informed of global technical trends relevant to segment.
Monitor competitive technologies and support IP activities in partnership with the Research & IP Strategy team.
Talent Development - Mentor team members and support professional growth aligned with Americhem's talent strategy.
Knowledge Management - Ensure robust documentation of formulations, trial outcomes, and platform evolution for global adaptation.
Sustainability Integration - Embed sustainability targets into platform designs (e.g., recyclability, bio-based content, durability).