Director, R&D and Technical Service

Summary

The Director of R&D and Technical Service is responsible in the Americas region for the portfolio management of research projects and for Technical Service activities. This position reports to the VP, R&D and Technical Service and has reporting responsibilities for employees in the R&D division based in the Americas and for this division's activities in the laboratories at Oklahoma. The incumbent is responsible for planning and directing all personnel in the Americas, and works with the VP, R&D and Technical Service on all aspects of project proposals, strategies, and goals. The incumbent enables and supports close collaboration between the R&D and Technical Service group in the Americas with the groups in the rest of the world. This position communicates with plant managers, vice president of sales, marketing, technology managers, operations managers, and external customers on a continual basis. This is a critical role in building positive relationships with each business partner. This position serves as the technical leader to drive the company's long-term vision to all employees within this division and to the entire organization. Although, this role has direct reports in the Americas region, it is responsible for collaborating with the R&D and Technical Service throughout the world to achieve our company's objectives.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Sets strategic direction for the project portfolio, agreeing gate execution targets, resource and budget allocations with Senior Management, Marketing, IBP, and T&I.

• Ensures that approved product development projects are progressed efficiently through to full commercialization and that project gates occur on schedule and within scope.

• Maintains and improves R/D work processes, promoting a culture of high standards and continuous improvement across Product R&D, Applications and Analytical Testing, and Technical Service.

• Identifies new product technology and applications opportunities; prepares and defends patents Provides input on intellectual property strategy and on tactical decisions on the management of specific innovations. The realization of this is through the Intellectual Property Committee.

• Develops the technical knowledge base and project/program management skills in the R&D group through leadership and coaching

• Manages departmental budget and creatively utilizes available resources to ensure completion of the project portfolio.

• Manages approved key academic and technical collaborations with third party institutions and organizations in the Americas that are strategic to R&D success.

• Works with Technical Service Managers, Sales, and Marketing to develop technical service strategies for Tronox's customer base in the Americas.

• Manages the department to collaborate with Sales and Marketing to realize tactical sales needs, through product approvals, product performance communications, and other product related issues.

• Manages the department to collaborate with Manufacturing and Technology & Improvement to realize process and product improvements.

• Collaborates with Manufacturing, Marketing, Sales, and SHEQ to establish appropriate product specifications, assist in quality improvement activities, and to address customer complaints that relate to product performance.

• Ensures that Technical Service collaborates with Sales, Customer Service, and Supply Chain, to facilitate the assignment of product batches to sales orders and to control the accumulation of slow moving stock.

• Creates and implements personnel development and succession strategies.