R&D- Technical Manager (Industrial Wood)

Sherwin-Williams•Greensboro, NC

About The Position

The Industrial Wood Laboratory is seeking a Technical Manager to lead development and commercialization of new and existing products for OEM Industrial Wood customers. The role works closely with Industrial Wood Sales and Marketing to identify customer needs and project timelines, and coordinates project activities across relevant Sherwin-Williams functions. The position is accountable for technical programs and projects supporting large OEM Industrial Wood Products, customer relationships and satisfaction, and the development and performance of the technical team. The role requires 20% travel. The job includes contact with employees and access to confidential or proprietary information; the company states that a criminal-history review is necessary to protect its business, operations, reputation, staff, employees, and business relationships. Successful candidates must sign an Employee Restrictive Covenant Agreement where permitted by law.

Requirements

Must be legally authorized to work in the country of application without now or future sponsorship for an employment work visa and/or permanent residence status.
Must be at least 18 years of age.
Bachelor’s degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) field.
8 years of experience in coating formulation and applications.
5 years of experience managing or supervising direct reports and experience in people development.
Customer-facing interaction experience.
Experience with successful product development and launch.
Successful candidates must sign an Employee Restrictive Covenant Agreement where permitted by law.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in a business-related field.
Knowledge or experience in industrial paint formulations and processing.
DFFS/Lean Green Belt and/or Kepner-Tregoe expertise.
Formulation expertise.
Experience with industrial applications such as curtain coating, DRC, and vacuum coating.
Knowledge of wood composite manufacturing and/or coating, such as fiber cement or OSB.

Responsibilities

Lead development and commercialization efforts for new and existing products for OEM Industrial Wood customers.
Coordinate with Industrial Wood Sales and Marketing to identify needs and timelines for product-development projects and coordinate project activities across relevant company functions.
Maintain accountability for the portfolio of technical programs and projects supporting large OEM Industrial Wood Products.
Lead and implement a customer-centric culture focused on innovative solutions, execution excellence, and continuous improvement.
Translate technology strategy and objectives into tactical operational deliverables and hold the technical team accountable for goals and objectives.
Collaborate with business and cross-functional leaders to identify industry trends, business opportunities, and value creation or optimization through innovation and continuous improvement.
Drive customer focus and technical relationship plans for key OEM manufacturers and internal customers; take direct responsibility for customer satisfaction and business retention.
Oversee high-quality execution of multiple projects, including projects requiring short-term solutions under intense demand.
Coach and develop the team, define career growth paths, identify skill gaps, and create targeted development plans.
Provide timely feedback and address performance issues through actionable development plans.
Promote innovation, technical excellence, belonging, engagement, and a positive, collaborative work environment.
Identify critical skills and knowledge for successful performance, recognize strong contributors, and remove barriers to performance.
Ensure timely and appropriate performance communication aligned with individual and business success factors.
Optimize resource output across work types and time horizons for the segment.
Provide calm, steady leadership and guide the team through uncertainty, changing priorities, challenging technical projects, pressure, and timing constraints.