Director or Technical Product Development and Services Position Available In Surry, North Carolina

Director or Technical Product Development and Services 3.4 3.4 out of 5 stars 1515 Carter Street, Mount Airy, NC 27030

Description:

Job Description Job Class :

Director, Technical Product Development and Services Job Title(s):

Director of Technical Product Development and Services Job Organization Level:

Research and Development Reports To:

Head of Research & Development for the

Business Group FLSA Status:

Exempt Pay Grade:

15

Summary:

The Director of Technical Product Development and Services will lead the formulation, development, and commercialization of specialty products. This role bridges R D, technical service, and commercial strategy—driving innovation, ensuring product performance, and supporting customer success. The ideal candidate will be a hands-on technical leader with strong communication skills and a passion for delivering value through science and customer collaboration.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Other duties may be assigned. Abide by, enforce and participate in the implementation and ongoing oversight of all company safety standards and regulations. Formulate custom specialty products for the company’s portfolio. Design and execute product testing plans for new product development and optimization. Lead experimental design for formulation improvement, competitive benchmarking, and value proposition development. Provide technical support for equipment and product performance in customer applications. Deliver technical sales support, including customer presentations, product demonstrations, and field troubleshooting. Collaborate with sales and marketing to develop product literature, technical bulletins, and promotional materials. Build and maintain strong customer relationships; represent the company at tradeshows and industry events. Participate in global product stewardship and advocacy efforts with professional organizations and regulatory bodies. Maintain awareness of industry trends, competitor activity, and emerging technologies. Assist the management team in the formulation of division strategy.

Competency:

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies: Safety and Security

• Observes safety and security procedures, Determines appropriate action beyond guidelines, Reports potentially unsafe conditions, Uses equipment and materials properly Problem Solving
• Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner, Gathers and analyzes information skillfully, Develops alternative solutions, Works well in group problem solving situations, Uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics Technical Skills
• Assesses own strengths and weaknesses, Pursues training and development opportunities, Strives to continuously build knowledge and skills, Shares expertise with others Customer Service
• Manages difficult or emotional customer situations, Responds promptly to customer needs, Solicits customer feedback to improve service, Responds to requests for service and assistance, Meets commitments Interpersonal
• Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming, Maintains confidentiality, Listens to others without interrupting, Keeps emotions under control, Remains open to others’ ideas and tries new things Oral Communication
• Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations, Listens and gets clarification, Responds well to questions, Demonstrates group presentation skills, Participates in meetings Team Work
• Balances team and individual responsibilities, Exhibits objectivity and openness to others’ views, Gives and welcomes feedback, Contributes to building a positive team spirit, Puts success of team above own interests, Able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives, Supports everyone’s efforts to succeed, Recognizes accomplishments of other team members Written Communication
• Writes clearly and informatively, Edits work for spelling and grammar, Varies writing style to meet needs, Presents numerical data effectively, Able to read and interpret written information Leadership
• Exhibits confidence in self and others, Inspires and motivates others to perform well, Effectively influences actions and opinions of others, Accepts feedback from others, Gives appropriate recognition to others, Displays passion and optimism, Diversity
• Demonstrates knowledge of EEO policy, Shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences, Educates others on the value of diversity, Promotes a harassment-free environment, Builds a diverse workforce Ethics
• Treats people with respect, Keeps commitments, Inspires the trust of others, Works with integrity and ethically, Upholds organizational values Organizational Support
• Follows policies and procedures, Completes administrative tasks correctly and on time, Supports organization’s goals and values, Benefits organization through outside activities, Supports affirmative action and respects diversity Adaptability
• Adapts to changes in the work environment, Manages competing demands, Changes approach or method to best fit the situation, Able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events Attendance/Punctuality
• Is consistently at work and on time, Ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent, Arrives at meetings and appointments on time Dependability
• Follows instructions, responds to management direction, Takes responsibility for own actions, Keeps commitments, Commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals, Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan Initiative
• Volunteers readily, Undertakes self-development activities, Seeks increased responsibilities, Takes independent actions and calculated risks, Looks for and takes advantage of opportunities, Asks for and offers help when needed Judgment
• Displays willingness to make decisions, Exhibits sound and accurate judgment, Supports and explains reasoning for decisions, Includes appropriate people in decision-making process, Makes timely decisions Motivation
• Sets and achieves challenging goals, Demonstrates persistence and overcomes obstacles, Measures self against standard of excellence, Takes calculated risks to accomplish goals Professionalism
• Approaches others in a tactful manner, Reacts well under pressure, Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position, Accepts responsibility for own actions, Follows through on commitments Quality
• Looks for ways to improve and promote quality, Applies feedback to improve performance, Quantity
• Meets productivity standards, Completes work in timely manner, Strives to increase productivity, Works quickly Analytical
• Synthesizes complex or diverse information, Collects and researches data, Uses intuition and experience to complement data, Designs work flows and procedures Project Management
• Develops project plans, Coordinates projects, Communicates changes, Completes projects on time and budget and progress, Manages project team activities Change Management
• Develops workable implementation plans, Communicates changes effectively, Builds commitment and overcomes resistance, Prepares and supports those affected by change, Monitors transition and evaluates results Cost Consciousness
• Works within approved budget, Develops and implements cost saving measures, Contributes to profits and revenue, Conserves organizational resources Strategic Thinking
• Develops strategies to achieve organizational goals, Understands organization’s strengths & weaknesses, Analyzes market and competition, Identifies external threats and opportunities, Adapts strategy to changing conditions Innovation
• Displays original thinking and creativity, Meets challenges with resourcefulness, Generates suggestions for improving work, Develops innovative approaches and ideas, Presents ideas and information in a manner that gets others’ attention Planning/Organizing
• Prioritizes and plans work activities, Uses time efficiently, Plans for additional resources, Sets goals and objectives, Organizes or schedules other people and their tasks, Develops realistic action plans Delegation
• Delegates work assignments, Matches the responsibility to the person, Gives authority to work independently, Sets expectations and monitors delegated activities, Provides recognition for results Managing People
• Includes staff in planning, decision-making, facilitating and process improvement, Takes responsibility for subordinates’ activities, Makes one’s self available to staff, Provides regular performance feedback, Develops subordinates’ skills and encourages growth, Solicits and applies customer feedback (internal and external), Fosters quality focus in others, Improves processes, products and services, Continually works to improve supervisory skills Visionary Leadership•Displays passion and optimism, Inspires respect and trust, Mobilizes others to fulfill the vision, Provides vision and inspiration to peers and subordinates Quality Management•Looks for ways to improve and promote quality, Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness Business Acumen•Understands business implications of decisions, Displays orientation to profitability, Demonstrates knowledge of market and competition, Aligns work with strategic goals

Requirements:

Qualifications :

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education/Experience:

Bachelor’s or master’s degree in chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related field, and 10+ years of experience in product development, formulation, or technical service in the chemical or materials industry. Expertise in developing and commercializing innovative formulations (XPS, PUR, PIR) for polyurethane foam systems, blowing agents, or specialty fluids. Experience in formulating Hydrocarbon based formulas. Demonstrated success in customer-facing technical roles.

Language Ability:

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret the most complex documents. Ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints. Ability to write speeches and articles using original or innovative techniques or style. Ability to make effective and persuasive speeches and presentations on controversial or complex topics to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.

Math Ability:

Ability to apply advanced mathematical concepts such as exponents, logarithms, quadratic equations, and permutations. Ability to apply mathematical operations to such tasks as frequency distribution, determination of test reliability and validity, analysis of variance, correlation techniques, sampling theory, and factor analysis.

Reasoning Ability:

Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems. Ability to deal with nonverbal symbolism (formulas, scientific equations, graphs, musical notes, etc.,) in its most difficult phases. Ability to deal with a variety of abstract and concrete variables.

Computer Skills:

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of: Microsoft Office Suite applications, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software.

Supervisory Responsibilities :

This job may direct the work of product development, sales support and technical services personnel.

Physical Demands :

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the associate will be engaging in these physical activities:

Physical Activity, Amount of Time Stand:

1/3 to 2/3

Walk:

1/3 to 2/3

Sit:

1/3 to 2/3 Use hands to finger(s), handle, or feel: Over 2/3 Reach with hands and arms: Over 2/3 Climb or balance: None Stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl: Under 1/3 Talk or hear: Taste or smell: Under 1/3 This job requires that the person be able to independently lift or exert the amount of force or weight within the frequency specified below: Lifting or Force Requirements, Amount of Time Up to 10 pounds: Over 2/3 Up to 25 pounds: 1/3 to 2/3 Up to 50 pounds: Under 1/3 Up to 100 pounds: None More than 100 pounds: None This job performs Light Work. It requires the exertion of up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force to move objects. There may be instances when the associate may be required to transport or lift items that are light but bulky or awkwardly shaped. Normal or corrected vision is required to be able to perform this job successfully. This role requires frequent travel for customer visits, tradeshows, industry events and company events/meetings.

Work Environmen t:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of the conditions an associate encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet. There may be occasional exposure to moderate loud noise, particularly when performing tasks or functions in the manufacturing or warehouse areas. This job will be performed under the environmental factors given below: Environment Conditions, Amount of Time Wet or humid conditions (non-weather): None Work near moving mechanical parts: Under 1/3 Work in high, precarious places: None Fumes or airborne particles: None Toxic or caustic chemicals: Under 1/3 Outdoor weather conditions: Under 1/3 Extreme cold (non-weather): None Extreme heat (non-weather): None Risk of electrical shock: None Work with explosives: None Risk of radiation:

None Vibration:

None The primary work location for this job is in an office or a laboratory setting. The work environment characteristics described above do not necessitate the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The associate must wear personal protective equipment such as safety glasses/goggles, closed shoes, and other protective equipment as specified by OSHA and other federal/state regulations at all times while performing the duties of this job in the manufacturing, warehouse or shipping areas, and in areas where specific PPE requirements are designated/prescribed.