R&D Director, Innovation Pipeline & Growth Platforms

Overview

Trinseo is a different kind of global materials company – at the intersection of people, technology, and customers. We are a world leader in the production of plastics and latex binders. Our culture is built on passion and innovation. 

A career at Trinseo presents a unique opportunity to work in a highly collaborative environment. Helping customers solve their most complex material challenges is the reason we come to work each day. We are seeking innovative thinkers – ready to tackle any challenge and passionate about delivering value. 

As a global materials solutions provider focused on delivering innovative and sustainable solutions to our customers, we need people to feel respected and included so they can be more creative, innovative, and successful. We strive to create workplaces that reflect all communities and customers we serve and where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work. That's why we're fully committed to inclusion across race, gender, age, religion, identity, and experience to drive us forward every day. 

Overview (Scope of Role)

The R&D Director, Innovation Pipeline & Growth Platforms will lead the development of Trinseo's engineered materials innovation pipeline and future growth platforms by identifying, evaluating, and maturing emerging technologies, market opportunities, customer needs, and strategic partnerships. Working collaboratively with Business Unit R&D Directors, New Business Development, Commercial teams, Global Innovation Centers, and external innovation ecosystems, this role will bridge outside-in insights with Trinseo Engineered Materials and Specialties core competencies to create a robust portfolio of future growth opportunities. 

The position will foster a culture of exploration, guide early-stage opportunity assessment, and establish a disciplined process for advancing promising concepts into the company's business and product development pipelines.

Responsibilities

• Internal Innovation Leadership & Strategic Collaboration: Partner with Business Unit R&D Directors, Business Leadership, Marketing, Strategy, and New Business Development teams to identify future growth opportunities, evaluate strategic fit, align technology roadmaps, and develop a prioritized exploratory innovation portfolio. Facilitate ideation, sponsor alignment, and decision-making across stakeholders - 30%
• External Innovation Scouting & Ecosystem Development: Build and maintain external networks with universities, startups, research institutes, technology providers, customers, standards organizations, venture ecosystems, and innovation partners. Identify emerging technologies, market disruptions, ecosystem shifts, and partnership opportunities that can create long-term value for Trinseo. - 30%
• Exploratory Research & Pipeline Development: Lead early-stage opportunity assessment and proof-of-concept exploration by working with R&D teams in the Global Innovation Centers. Evaluate technical feasibility, business attractiveness, sustainability implications, customer relevance, timing, and strategic alignment. Down-select viable concepts and mature them into a credible innovation pipeline. - 30%
• Innovation Governance, Management Systems & Alignment: Establish effective management systems for innovation tracking, portfolio reviews, stakeholder communication, executive presentations, resource prioritization, and transition into formal business or product development pipelines. Ensure transparency, alignment, and timely progression of selected opportunities.- 10%

Qualifications

Experience and Education

• Ph.D. preferred in Polymer Science, Materials Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Engineering, or a related scientific discipline. Advanced business education or demonstrated business acumen strongly preferred.
• 20+ years of proven industrial R&D experience with numerous achievements translating early-stage ideas, scientific discoveries, customer needs, or emerging technologies into viable products, businesses, platforms, or growth initiatives.
• Experience engaging across business units, global teams, and external ecosystems is strongly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Innovation Leadership: Ability to identify emerging technologies, external signals, unmet customer needs, and market disruptions and translate them into strategic growth opportunities.
• Technology Commercialization: Strong understanding of exploratory research, technology maturation, stage-gate development, business case creation, customer validation, and commercialization pathways.
• Strategic Thinking & Business Acumen: Ability to reconcile external possibilities with Trinseo Engineered Materials and Specialties core competencies, business strategy, sustainability direction, and growth priorities.
• Influence & Collaboration: Exceptional ability to build alignment and influence stakeholders without direct authority across functions, regions, and organizational levels.
• Executive Communication: Strong executive presence with the ability to communicate complex technical and business concepts through clear recommendations, concise presentations, and compelling innovation narratives.

Equity and InclusionWith our expanding global presence, cross-cultural insight and competence are essential for our ongoing success. We believe that a diverse workforce contributes different perspectives, experiences and creative ideas that enable us to continue to improve every day. Race, gender, ethnicity, country of origin, age, personal style, sexual orientation, physical ability, religion, work and life experiences and many more factors contribute to this diversity.  We welcome all applicants, regardless of their backgrounds, and are committed to a fair and inclusive hiring process.

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