General Manager For Research and Development

Job Description

Job Title

General Manager / Deputy General Manager Research & Development (Specialty Chemicals Development)

Department

Research & Development (R&D)

Reports To

Cheif Technology Officer R&D / Business Head

Job Summary

The General Manager – R&D will lead the organization's Research & Development function for the development of innovative specialty chemicals and advanced polymer solutions. The role is responsible for driving new product development, application development, process optimization, technology transfer, and intellectual property creation across multiple business segments, particularly water and wastewater treatment chemicals, specialty polymers, ion exchange resins, membranes, and allied technologies.

The incumbent will provide strategic and technical leadership to multidisciplinary R&D teams while collaborating closely with Marketing, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Finance, and external stakeholders to accelerate innovation, commercialize new technologies, and support the organization's long-term growth strategy.

Educational Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Polymer Science, Polymer Technology, Materials Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline from a reputed university.
• Minimum 15 years of industrial R&D experience after completion of Ph.D.

OR

• M.Tech./M.Sc. in Polymer Science/Technology, Materials Science, Chemistry, or related discipline with 20–22 years of industrial R&D experience.

Experience Requirements

The ideal candidate should possess extensive industrial experience in:

• Development of specialty chemicals for water and wastewater treatment.
• Polymer chemistry, polymer synthesis, formulation development, and advanced characterization.
• Product scale-up and commercialization.
• Managing multidisciplinary R&D teams and innovation programs.
• Technology transfer from laboratory to manufacturing.

Technical Expertise

A. Specialty Chemicals for Water & Wastewater Treatment

Hands-on experience in product and application development of:

• Antiscalants, Corrosion inhibitors, Industrial cleaning chemicals
• Biocides, Green chemicals, Defoamers, Flocculants, Dispersants

Responsibilities include:

• Development of new formulations.
• Enhancement of existing products for improved performance, quality, processability, and cost optimization.
• Application development for industrial water and wastewater treatment systems.

B. Specialty Polymers

Strong expertise in the development of:

• Polyelectrolytes, Emulsion polymers, Polymer dispersants, Polymer flocculants
• Green polymer inhibitors

Application knowledge in industries such as:

• Water treatment Paper, Textile, Ceramic, Petrochemical & refinery, Process industries

Additional expertise in the following will be considered a strong advantage:

• Ion exchange resins, Polymeric adsorbents, Catalyst resins
• Porous polymers, Separation and purification technologies
• Chromatographic materials, Advanced catalytic systems

Key Responsibilities: Research & Innovation Leadership

• Lead the R&D strategy for specialty chemicals, polymers, ion exchange resins, membranes, and related technologies.
• Drive new product ideation, design, development, validation, and commercialization.
• Lead technically complex innovation projects from concept through commercialization.
• Develop capability roadmaps aligned with business growth objectives.
• Identify emerging technologies and convert scientific opportunities into commercial products.

Product & Application Development

• Develop innovative formulations for water and wastewater treatment applications.
• Improve existing products for enhanced efficiency, sustainability, quality, and cost competitiveness.
• Conduct feasibility studies and establish product development protocols.
• Support application development across multiple industrial segments.

Cross-functional Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with Marketing, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Procurement, Finance, Quality Assurance, and Business Teams.
• Engage with customers to understand application challenges and translate market needs into product innovations.
• Coordinate technology transfer activities with manufacturing plants.
• Work with suppliers and external technical partners for new raw materials and technologies.

Project & Laboratory Management

• Lead and manage multiple R&D projects simultaneously.
• Oversee laboratory operations, infrastructure, and technical capabilities.
• Ensure timely execution of development programs within budget and timelines.
• Support pilot plant trials, process optimization, and commercial scale-up activities.

Intellectual Property & Scientific Documentation

• Drive patent identification, drafting, filing, and protection activities.
• Coordinate with patent attorneys and consultants.
• Prepare and review:
• Know-How Dockets (KHDs)
• Product Bulletins
• Product Data Sheets
• Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS/SDS)
• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• Technical Reports
• Scientific Publications

Process Excellence & Sustainability

• Lead initiatives for:
• Process optimization
• Raw material cost (RMC) reduction
• ETP load reduction
• Waste minimization
• Energy efficiency
• Sustainable chemistry implementation
• Drive green chemistry initiatives aligned with organizational sustainability goals.

Quality, Compliance & Safety

• Ensure implementation and compliance with:
• ISO Management Systems
• Laboratory Safety Standards
• Process Safety & HAZOP studies
• DSIR requirements
• Regulatory and statutory compliance
• Maintain documentation supporting product lifecycle management.
• Ensure proper handover of specifications, Bill of Materials (BOM), analytical methods, and manufacturing documentation.

People Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of research scientists and technical professionals.
• Build a high-performance innovation culture.
• Drive capability development, coaching, succession planning, and performance management.
• Foster collaboration across diverse technical and business functions.

Key Accountabilities

• Deliver the R&D capability roadmap aligned with business strategy.
• Successfully execute innovation and technical development projects.
• Lead product development from concept to commercialization.
• Build and protect the organization's intellectual property portfolio.
• Ensure effective laboratory management and technology transfer.
• Improve manufacturing processes through scientific innovation.
• Maintain compliance with quality, safety, regulatory, and statutory requirements.
• Support business growth through continuous innovation and customer-focused solutions.

Skills & Competencies

Technical Skills

• Strong knowledge of polymer chemistry, synthesis, formulation science, and characterization techniques.
• Expertise in water treatment and wastewater treatment chemistries.
• Understanding of filtration, separation, purification, and membrane technologies.
• Experience in process scale-up and commercialization.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.

Leadership Skills

• Proven experience managing R&D teams of 10 or more scientists.
• Strong project management and innovation leadership skills.
• Ability to manage multiple high-impact projects simultaneously.
• Experience driving cross-functional collaboration.

Business & Communication Skills

• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Strong stakeholder management with internal and external partners.
• Customer-centric approach with strong application development orientation.
• Ability to influence decision-making across organizational levels.

Personal Competencies

• Strategic thinking with a strong innovation mindset.
• Design thinking and solution-oriented approach.
• Growth mindset with agility and adaptability.
• High degree of ownership and accountability.
• Passion for continuous learning and technology advancement.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, innovation-driven environment.

Preferred Experience

Candidates with experience in one or more of the following areas will be preferred:

• Water & wastewater treatment chemicals, Specialty polymers
• Ion exchange resins, Membrane technologies
• Process separations, Adsorbents
• Catalysis, Chromatography materials
• Green Chemistry and sustainable product development
• Patent filing and IP management
• Technology commercialization and plant scale-up

Success Measures (KPIs)

• New products successfully commercialized.
• Innovation pipeline and project delivery.
• Patent filings and intellectual property generation.
• Revenue contribution from new products.
• Technology transfer success rate.
• Process cost reduction and sustainability improvements.
• Team capability development and engagement.
• Customer satisfaction through application support and product performance.

Note

The above responsibilities represent the minimum requirements of the position. Additional duties and responsibilities may be assigned by the Department Head or Management based on operational requirements. This document serves as a guideline and is subject to revision and modification as required by the organization