What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director, R&D Portfolio & Analytical Services position at DuBois Chemicals, Inc.?
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The Research & Development (R&D) Portfolio and Analytical Services Director is a key leadership role responsible for managing the full lifecycle of R&D initiatives and lab support services across the organization. Reporting directly to the Chief Technical Officer (CTO), this position oversees the strategic execution of the R&D project portfolio, ensuring alignment with business objectives and delivering innovative, cost-effective solutions to market. This role is accountable for managing the Stage-Gate process, driving project governance, and ensuring timely progression of initiatives from concept through commercialization. This role also leads the analytical laboratory operations, ensuring robust testing, data integrity, compliance with regulatory standards, and effective communications internally and externally. Additionally, the position manages raw material substitution programs, optimizing formulations for cost, performance, and sustainability while mitigating supply chain risks. This role ensures alignment between technology strategy, project prioritization, resource allocation, and cross-functional execution. The Director works closely with the CTO, R&D leaders, Applications, Operations, and Commercial functions to deliver a transparent, well-managed, and high-performing technical organization.
Duties & Responsibilities
Technical Portfolio Management
DuBois provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, service in the military, veteran status, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable federal, state, and/or local law and/or regulation.
We're committed to bringing passion and customer focus to the business.
- Note: This position is based in our Sharonville, OH headquarters***
The Research & Development (R&D) Portfolio and Analytical Services Director is a key leadership role responsible for managing the full lifecycle of R&D initiatives and lab support services across the organization. Reporting directly to the Chief Technical Officer (CTO), this position oversees the strategic execution of the R&D project portfolio, ensuring alignment with business objectives and delivering innovative, cost-effective solutions to market. This role is accountable for managing the Stage-Gate process, driving project governance, and ensuring timely progression of initiatives from concept through commercialization. This role also leads the analytical laboratory operations, ensuring robust testing, data integrity, compliance with regulatory standards, and effective communications internally and externally. Additionally, the position manages raw material substitution programs, optimizing formulations for cost, performance, and sustainability while mitigating supply chain risks. This role ensures alignment between technology strategy, project prioritization, resource allocation, and cross-functional execution. The Director works closely with the CTO, R&D leaders, Applications, Operations, and Commercial functions to deliver a transparent, well-managed, and high-performing technical organization.
Duties & Responsibilities
Technical Portfolio Management
- Lead the development and ongoing management of the technical project portfolio, ensuring alignment with corporate strategy and priorities.
- Establish and maintain portfolio governance processes, including project intake, evaluation, prioritization, and stage-gate reviews.
- Build visibility into project status, resource needs, risks, and outcomes through standardized reporting and dashboards.
- Partner with Portfolio, Procurement, & R&D leadership to evaluate business cases, ROI, and value creation of technical initiatives.
- Oversee shared services teams, including raw materials and analytical labs, that support Customers, Operations, Quality, Procurement, and EHS.
- Optimize work processes, scheduling, workflow management, and communication across shared technical capabilities.
- Ensure shared services deliver consistent, high-quality, and timely support to technical and commercial teams.
- Lead the development, implementation, and improvement of systems used in portfolio and project management (e.g., PLM, workflow tools, databases, reporting platforms).
- Standardize documentation, templates, project charters, and governance frameworks across the technical organization.
- Implement performance metrics and dashboards to monitor progress, productivity, and resource utilization.
- Partner closely with R&D, Applications, Operations, Quality, Sales, Marketing, and Supply Chain to ensure strong coordination and alignment of resources.
- Support Commercial, Operations, and Procurement teams by providing portfolio insights, timelines, and data required for planning and prioritization.
- Identify and monitor project risks across the portfolio, ensuring mitigation plans are in place.
- Support regulatory, quality, and compliance documentation as part of shared service workflows.
- Ensure all technical operations meet safety, environmental, and internal governance standards.
- Lead our Lab Safety Committee for all R&D sites.
- Lead a high-performing team of scientists, chemists, engineers, and technical specialists; recruit, coach, and develop top technical talent.
- Foster a culture of transparency, collaboration, accountability, and operational excellence
- Develop succession planning and capability growth within the department..
- Champion our Career Advancement Program for promotions on the non-managerial career path.
- Build capability in project management and technical operations across the broader organization.
- Partner with the CTO and Finance to develop and manage the overall R&D budget.
- Support resource planning, forecasting, and workload balancing across technical teams.
- Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or related technical field required; advanced degree preferred.
- 7 years managerial experience in chemical manufacturing or specialty chemicals.
- In-depth knowledge of analytical testing and testing methodology
- 5 years leading project management, or portfolio governance functions.
- Expertise in project and portfolio management methodologies (e.g., Stage-Gate, Agile, PMBOK).
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence senior leaders and cross-functional partners.
- Domestic & International Travel up to 10%
DuBois provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, service in the military, veteran status, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable federal, state, and/or local law and/or regulation.