Senior R&D Leader | Materials Engineering Center

Overview

Dow has an exciting opportunity for a Senior R&D Leader in the Materials Engineering Center (MEC) located in Midland, MI within the Engineering and Process Science (E&PS) organization of Core R&D. 

 

Materials Engineering Center (MEC) is a unique capability within Dow generating value by providing custom mechanical solutions from fabrication and prototyping to predictive modeling, design, and testing to understand the performance of materials across real world applications. 

 

This role will directly lead a Fabrication, Design and Engineering team of ~ 15 technologists and engineers to deliver innovative projects as well as client support projects for Core R&D, Business R&D, and M&E. This role will also develop and manage a research project portfolio and technology platforms such as the fabrication and design areas. Additionally, the Senior R&D Leader will identify, champion, and assist in chartering projects in support of strategic objectives and will regularly interface with business stakeholders in various functions to define, develop, and assist the team in the execution of projects, while creating new project opportunities with business clients.

 

Your Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities include:

Strong mechanical and technical aptitude with experience in the use of the scientific method, statistical data analysis, and decision making
Technically strong and driven. You have challenged and collaborated with your team and others to develop, refine and execute initiatives
Hands on machining and/or laboratory experience
Proven people leadership skills. 
Demonstrated collaboration skills across R&D and /or manufacturing organizations
Excellent accountability, ownership mindset and learning agility
Involvement in the implement of a vision and strategy for an organization
 

Responsibilities / Duties

Provides safety and technical leadership to a group of ~15 R&D Engineers and Technologists.
Understands and communicates overall group objectives and strategy; supports and/or contributes to the technical solutions that result in project success.
Manages day-to-day supervision of team and performance against goals; accountable for performance management, team building, reward and recognition, employee development, and engagement.
Drives talent identification, attraction, retention, and development within the team to fulfill individual career aspirations and build technical identity around core technical expertise.
Creates a high performing team focused on innovation and delivery against project goals.
Fosters an innovative, passionate and inclusive team culture through organizing team building activities, technical communications, and other collaboration activities within team and the broader MEC.
Develops, prioritizes, and manages project portfolios and technology platforms within areas of accountability in support of innovation and implementation targets including identifying new projects, allocating resources, and supervising execution and completion of projects.
Build strategic collaborations with Business R&D, Core R&D, and M&E teams within Dow to support existing projects and develop an evergreen pipeline of valuable opportunities to address technology gaps.
Manages and executes strategic capital planning to enhance capabilities.
Promotes safety best practices, standards, and behaviors in collaboration with safety functional leaders.
Manages and drives documentation and intellectual property best practices.
 

Qualifications:

A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related Engineering disciplines.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
Minimum 10 years experience in R&D and/or M&E
Experience leading teams from a position of influence
A minimum requirement for this U.S. based position is the ability to work legally in the United States.  No visa sponsorship/support is available for this position, including for any type of U.S. permanent residency (green card) process.
 

Preferred Qualifications:

Previous direct people leadership experience.
A Master’s degree of PhD in Mechanical Engineering or related Engineering discipline.
Practical machining and/or lab experience
Creative problem solving
 

NOTE: This position does not offer relocation assistance