R&D Head - Polymer & Coatings

Job Purpose:

The Executive would be accountable to provide strategic and technical leadership for Research & Development by driving innovation, new product development, process improvements and commercialization of specialty chemical products.

The role is responsible for leading multidisciplinary R&D teams, developing advanced polymer technologies, supporting business growth through customer-focused innovations and ensuring successful technology transfer from laboratory to commercial production.

Key Responsibilities:

Research & Product Development:

- Lead the development of innovative products across Coating Chemicals, Textile Chemicals, Leather Chemicals and Industrial Adhesives.

- Drive end-to-end product development including concept generation, formulation development, reverse engineering, laboratory validation, scale-up, commercialization and customer approvals.

- Manage a portfolio of 25+ development projects simultaneously while ensuring adherence to project timelines and business priorities.

- Ensure successful first time-right commercialization and smooth technology transfer to manufacturing.

Customer Management:

- Lead research initiatives in polymer synthesis using Emulsion Polymerization, Polyurethane Dispersion (PUD) and Waterborne Polymer technologies.

- Develop innovative technologies, sustainable solutions and value-engineered products to strengthen the product portfolio.

- Identify emerging technologies, industry trends and new application opportunities to support long-term business growth.

- Present innovation roadmaps and project progress to senior management.

Technical Leadership:

- Provide technical guidance for troubleshooting manufacturing and application-related challenges.

- Develop robust formulations and scalable manufacturing processes.

- Establish best laboratory practices and strengthen R&D infrastructure.

- Lead the setup and commissioning of new R&D laboratories and technical facilities.

Business & Customer Support:

- Partner with Sales, Marketing and Product Management teams to identify new business opportunities and support market expansion.

- Lead customer technical discussions, product approvals and application trials.

- Provide technical support during customer visits, commercial trials and product launches.

- Ensure customer requirements are translated into innovative product solutions.

Team Leadership & Capability Development:

- Lead, mentor and develop a high-performing team of scientists.

- Set individual and departmental objectives aligned with organizational goals.

- Drive technical competency development, succession planning and a culture of innovation.

- Encourage collaboration, knowledge sharing and continuous improvement within the team.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

- Coordinate closely with Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Regulatory Affairs, Procurement, Quality Assurance and Product Management teams.

- Prioritize development projects based on business requirements and resource availability.

- Ensure seamless execution of projects from laboratory development through commercial production.

Decision-Making Authority:

- Approve technical approaches, formulations and development strategies.

- Prioritize R&D project portfolio and allocate resources.

- Recommend commercialization of new products.

- Lead technical decisions related to process optimization and manufacturing support.

- Drive innovation initiatives aligned with business strategy.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

- Number of successful new product launches.

- On-time completion of R&D projects.

- Commercialization success rate of new developments.

- First-time-right scale-up success.

- Revenue generated from new products.

- Customer approval and qualification rate.

- Reduction in development cycle time.

- Number of innovation/exploratory projects completed.

- Technical support effectiveness during customer trials.

- Team productivity and development of capability.

- Improvement in manufacturing efficiency through R&D initiatives.

Technical Competencies:

- Expertise in polymer chemistry, emulsion polymerization, polyurethane dispersions (PUD), waterborne polymer technologies and specialty chemical applications.

- Strong understanding of coating chemicals, textile chemicals, leather chemicals, industrial adhesives and application-driven solutions.

- Experience in new product development, formulation development, reverse engineering, scale-up, commercialization, and technology transfer.

- Capability in value engineering, manufacturing process optimization, technical troubleshooting and regulatory compliance.

Behavioural Competencies:

- Strategic thinking, innovation mindset and ability to drive technology-led growth.

- Strong leadership capability with focus on team development and talent building.

- Effective decision-making, analytical thinking and structured problem-solving approach.

- Strong customer orientation with the ability to manage stakeholders and build cross-functional partnerships.

- Excellent communication and presentation skills with strong planning, execution and results orientation.

- Commitment to continuous improvement, learning and operational excellence.

Qualifications & Experience:

- M.Sc. / Ph.D. in Polymer Chemistry, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Material Science, or a related discipline.

- 12 - 20 years of experience in Research & Development within the Specialty Chemicals industry, including a minimum of 5 years in a leadership role, with strong expertise in formulation development, polymer chemistry, and application testing.

- Proven experience in leading multidisciplinary R&D teams and managing innovation projects from concept to commercialization.

- Demonstrated expertise in customer-focused product development, scale-up, and technology transfer.

- Key Internal Stakeholders: Business Head, Manufacturing, Sales & Marketing, Product Management, Supply Chain, Quality Assurance, Regulatory Affairs, Procurement and Finance.

- Key External Stakeholders: Customers, raw material suppliers, technology partners, research institutions, testing laboratories and regulatory bodies.