R&D Manager

About Chase Corporation

Founded in 1946 we have grown to become a global specialty chemicals company that is a leading manufacturer of protective materials for high-reliability applications across diverse market sectors.

Today we employ nearly 800 people and continue to grow and strengthen our business by employing a related diversification strategy that combines organic growth initiatives with strategic acquisitions.

Based in Westwood, Massachusetts, USA we operate manufacturing facilities in the United States, Europe, and Asia and continue to invest in our capabilities in order to deliver value to our global customer base demands.

Role Overview

The Manager, R&D – Building & Construction plays a critical role in driving product innovation, formulation development, and successful commercialization across the Building & Construction segment. This hands-on leadership position requires active engagement in laboratory and pilot environments to develop, optimize, and scale polymer-based coatings, adhesives, fire-retardant systems, and structural solutions.

Working cross-functionally with Sales, Marketing, Operations, Quality, and Supply Chain, the Manager leads New Product & Solutions Development (NPSD) initiatives, ensures effective technology transfer into manufacturing, and aligns R&D priorities with commercial growth objectives. This role serves as the technical bridge between customer needs, product strategy, and scalable manufacturing execution.

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Program Execution

• Lead, mentor, and develop the Building & Construction R&D team; foster accountability, execution discipline, and innovation.
• Align R&D portfolio priorities with business strategy; manage NPSD projects through stage-gate processes.
• Own project scope, timelines, and resource allocation; proactively adjust to meet commercial and operational objectives.
• Drive cross-functional coordination for pilot trials, field validation, launch readiness, and technology transfer.
• Support M&A initiatives including technical due diligence, capability assessment, and post-acquisition integration.

Technical & Product Development

• Develop and optimize formulations utilizing polyurethane, PMMA, epoxy, acrylic, and hybrid chemistries.
• Translate market and customer requirements into differentiated, manufacturable product platforms.
• Provide technical leadership to accelerate innovation, improve performance, and reduce time-to-market.
• Lead structured experimentation, validation, and qualification protocols to ensure commercial viability.

Manufacturing & Quality Partnership

• Provide technical support across multiple manufacturing sites, including scale-up, troubleshooting, and cost optimization.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and ISO 9001 standards; support internal, external, and customer audits.
• Promote and reinforce safety standards within R&D and manufacturing environments.

Strategic R&D Leadership

• Represent Building & Construction R&D in cross-functional and strategic planning forums.
• Develop and report KPIs tied to portfolio health, speed-to-market, cost performance, and innovation pipeline value.
• Identify and leverage synergies across business units to share technologies, platforms, and best practices.

Qualifications

• 7 years of experience in product development and new application identification within building materials or adjacent industrial markets.
• 3 years leading technical programs or managing R&D teams.
• Strong background in building & construction markets; experience with corrosion protection, flame-retardant systems, structural reinforcement, or related applications preferred.
• Demonstrated experience implementing stage-gate NPI processes and project management tools.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams in a regulated manufacturing environment.
• Willingness to travel up to 25% to support manufacturing sites, customer engagement, and field trials.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or related discipline required.
• Advanced degree preferred.