Group Director, Research Process Development – Decatur, IL
This is a full-time, exempt level position.
Position Summary:
The successful candidate will be responsible for the leadership of ADM’s research process development group. This includes ensuring the group’s project management team efficiently executes projects by effectively leveraging its laboratory, process engineering, piloting (scale-up/scale-down), modeling, and deep knowledge capabilities.
Responsibilities:

• Effectively work with colleagues from our centers of excellence, commercial, and operations teams in addition to other groups withing our global science and technology team.
• Accountable for technology development and technical support across ADM’s innovation platforms and operating assets.
• Expand the process development capabilities and leverage third parties as required to advance ADM’s innovation strategy.
• Promote a strong safety culture in laboratory, scale-up/scale down, and demonstration scale operations.
• Leverage ADM’s agile-based stage-gated technology development project management process to identify and develop technology options to meet business goals.
• Ensure processes are in place to recruit, mentor, and develop research staff.

Requirements:

• BS degree in Chemical Engineering or Chemistry (advanced degree preferred)
• Minimum of 15 years of management/R&D/operations experience in the industrial chemical, food or nutrition enterprise with a track record of accomplishment in the discovery, scale-up and commercialization of new technology.
• Leads with emotional intelligence to successfully coach, mentor and individuals and cross-functional teams.
• Must have expertise and management history in development, scale-up/scale-down, and commercialization of process technologies.
• A successful track record demonstrating the ability to construct teams, develop milestone-based projects, and drive team goals in a collaborative matrix environment.
• A proven track record of building strong internal and external relationships with business groups, technology partners and customers.
• Recognized innovator with a proven commercial track record.
• Experience in the application of stage gate project management to research and development programs.

Competencies:

• Safety leadership.
• Ability to lead a team of managers.
• Able to work and communicate effectively with cross-functional teams of engineers, scientists, business development, commercial, and plant personnel.
• Goal oriented and performance-based work ethic.
• Effective problem solving and troubleshooting skills in team environments.
• Strong and effective written and verbal communication skills and capabilities.

Excited about this role but don’t meet every requirement listed? Studies show that often applicants will self-select out if they don’t check every box. We encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this role or another one of our openings. 

ADM requires the successful completion of a background check. 
REF:84163BR