R&D Director, Innovation Pipeline & Growth Platforms
HybridExton, Pennsylvania, United States
Job Summary
Lead the development of Trinseo's engineered materials innovation pipeline by identifying, evaluating, and maturing emerging technologies, market opportunities, and strategic partnerships. Partner with Business Unit R&D Directors, New Business Development, and commercial teams to align technology roadmaps and develop a prioritized exploratory innovation portfolio. Build external networks with universities, startups, research institutes, and innovation partners to identify emerging technologies and partnership opportunities that create long-term value. Guide early-stage opportunity assessment and proof-of-concept exploration in Global Innovation Centers, down-selecting viable concepts for transition into formal business or product development pipelines. Establish management systems for innovation tracking, portfolio reviews, and executive presentations to ensure transparency and timely progression of selected opportunities.
Required Qualifications
- 20+ years of proven industrial R&D experience with numerous achievements translating early-stage ideas, scientific discoveries, customer needs, or emerging technologies into viable products, businesses, platforms, or growth initiatives
- Ph.D. preferred in Polymer Science, Materials Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Engineering, or a related scientific discipline
- Advanced business education or demonstrated business acumen strongly preferred
- Experience engaging across business units, global teams, and external ecosystems is strongly preferred
- Cross-cultural insight and competence
- Ability to identify emerging technologies, external signals, unmet customer needs, and market disruptions and translate them into strategic growth opportunities
- Strong understanding of exploratory research, technology maturation, stage-gate development, business case creation, customer validation, and commercialization pathways
- Ability to reconcile external possibilities with Trinseo Engineered Materials and Specialties core competencies, business strategy, sustainability direction, and growth priorities
- Exceptional ability to build alignment and influence stakeholders without direct authority across functions, regions, and organizational levels
- Strong executive presence with the ability to communicate complex technical and business concepts through clear recommendations, concise presentations, and compelling innovation narratives
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