Product Development Specialist, Americas

Would you like to join a global, growing company that innovates for a more sustainable tomorrow? UPM could be the team for you. We are frontrunners in developing renewable alternatives to fossil-based materials. Besides enabling both businesses and consumers make more sustainable choices, we strive to create a positive UPM experience for all our employees around the world. We live by our values – trust and be trusted, achieve together, renew with courage. Together we can renew the everyday, for a future beyond fossils!

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We are looking for a Product Development Specialist, Americas to join our team in Mills River.

Greetings from your future manager

Innovation and New Product Development is core to UPM Adhesive Materials’ strategy and competitiveness in a rapidly evolving world. Our Product Development & Innovation team is crucial to developing advanced technologies and enabling us to meet and exceed customer expectations and deliver the next generation of adhesive materials. We are excited to welcome you to our team, joining us in making a significant impact in this exciting journey and shaping the future together! – John Hofmann, Senior Manager, Product Development & Innovation.

What You Will Do

• Develop and implement new adhesive technologies across water‑based and hot‑melt systems, ensuring technical readiness for market needs
• Support innovation and growth projects via utilization of the Stage Gate methodology, driving the implementation of novel adhesive technologies from concept to launch
• Coordinate with commercial and operations teams to identify, qualify, and commercialize new products to deliver both short-term and long-term business results
• Engage with manufacturing teams and support required analytical work to quantify and define product specifications
• Maintain and update a long‑term roadmap for adhesive and labeling technologies, aligning with business strategy and capability development
• Collaborate within a regional and global network of technical experts to scale UPM’s adhesive and coating competence and share best practices
• Partner with regional market organization to effectively translate market needs into technical solutions for labeling applications
• Provide expert guidance on adhesive formulation approaches, testing methods, and performance optimization across applications and end uses within the consumer and specialty market segments
• Drive efficiency between market segments by identifying shared technology needs, overlapping opportunities, and cross‑application solutions
• Advance the implementation of novel paper face stocks for adhesive laminates across consumer and specialty segments and ensure strong alignment during qualification and launch
  
  

Who You Are

• B.S. in polymer science or related field with advanced degree preferred
• Proven formulation experience with pressure sensitive adhesives as well as understanding of manufacturing and conversion processes, with experience in water-based adhesive formulation
• Extensive knowledge of polymer characterization, viscoelasticity, polymer morphology, and structure-property relationships (including rheology, spectroscopy, thermal analyses such as DSC & DMA, etc.)
• Experienced in product development in chemical, packaging, or adjacent industries, with experience using new product development methodologies and leading large-scale projects (e.g. Stage Gate, DFSS, etc.)
• Ability to convert market needs into technical “critical to quality” product attributes, and develop these “CTQs” into product development roadmap
• A proactive and engaging team player, leveraging a cross-functional Innovation team across a regional and global network
  
  

This Is What We Offer To You

• A meaningful job: We have an inspiring purpose “We renew the everyday for a future beyond fossils”. Our work is impactful and transformative. 
• A caring community: Our community is built on great team spirit and shared commitment. We care about each other and the well-being of our colleagues. We support the work-life balance of all our employees.
• Development opportunities: We offer you great opportunities to learn and grow throughout your career. We are an international, multi-business organization offering plenty of avenues for personal growth.
• Responsible employer: Sustainability is at the core of everything we do. We are committed to ambitious, science-based sustainability targets in all areas, from climate change mitigation to enhancing biodiversity. We foster diversity and inclusivity, offering a work environment in which everyone can be themselves.
• Comprehensive benefit package: UPM’s benefit package includes medical, dental and vision insurance, paid time off and a 401(k)-retirement plan.
  
  

Learn about our Rewarding and our Ways of working

Additional information 

To apply, please submit your CV and cover letter by April, 24th 2026.

Please note that we accept only applications submitted through our online application system. We begin reviewing applications as they are received, and you may be contacted before the application deadline. 

For support with submitting your application, please contact our HR Service Center at careers@upm.com or tel.  18777235247. 

This job description is intended to be a guide and is not intended to be a contract of employment, explicit or implicit. All contents are subject to change at the sole discretion of the company. Cooperation is expected of all employees. Other duties may be assigned as needed.

Only candidates authorized to work within the United States without sponsorship will be considered.

UPM North America is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

UPM is a material solutions company, renewing products and entire value chains with an extensive portfolio of renewable fibres, advanced materials, decarbonization solutions, and communication papers. Our performance in sustainability has been recognized by third parties, including EcoVadis and the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices. We operate globally and employ approximately 15,800 people worldwide, with annual sales of approximately €10.3 billion. Our shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd.

UPM – we renew the everyday

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