Corporate Technology Program Manager
Job Summary
The Program Manager for the Centralized R&D Group will oversee and drive cross-functional material development projects from conception through commercialization. The role focuses on managing research initiatives that span various teams within the company and ensuring that resources are optimized for innovation and material breakthroughs. This position is pivotal in balancing scientific discovery with business objectives, ensuring that new materials and technologies are aligned with the company’s growth strategy.
Essential Functions
· Program Leadership: Lead, manage, and execute multiple R&D programs focused on material development, coordinating between researchers, engineers, commercial resources and external partners to ensure timely and successful outcomes.
· Innovation Pipeline Management: Oversee the material innovation pipeline, assisting prioritizing of projects based on business value, technical feasibility, and market attractiveness.
· Project Management: Develop and manage detailed project plans, schedules, budgets, and resource allocations and skillsets for key business growth drivers, ensuring alignment with company objectives and innovation goals.
· Cross-functional Collaboration: Work closely with product development, engineering, manufacturing, and marketing teams to integrate new materials and technologies into the company’s product pipeline.
· Stakeholder Engagement: Communicate program status, risks, and milestones to senior leadership, ensuring transparency and alignment with business strategy. Regularly present findings and updates at project review meetings.
· Risk Management: Identify and manage risks and opportunities related to technical development, project timelines, and resource availability.
· Regulatory and Compliance: Ensure that R&D projects comply with relevant industry standards, certifications, and environmental regulations.
· Budget Oversight: Work closely with finance and the R&D team to manage program budgets, ensuring resources are used effectively to meet project goals.
· Vendor & Partner Management: Collaborate with external research institutions, material suppliers, and technology partners to drive innovation, ensuring that all collaborations contribute to the program’s success.
· Process Improvement: Continuously evaluate and improve R&D processes, tools, and methodologies to increase efficiency and effectiveness in the development of new materials.
· Other duties as assigned
Additional Qualifications
· Project Management Skills: Demonstrated ability to manage multiple large-scale projects simultaneously, ensuring alignment with both scientific and business objectives.
· Technical Acumen: Strong understanding of material science, chemistry, or engineering principles to drive informed decision-making in the R&D space.
· Leadership: Proven leadership and team management experience, with the ability to inspire and motivate cross-functional teams.
· Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
· Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to anticipate and resolve challenges in a dynamic research environment.
· Software Proficiency: Proficiency in project management software (e.g., MS Project, MS Teams, Stage-Gate Project Management Tools) and data analysis tools (e.g., Excel, Tableau).
Competencies
· Each position at Avient focuses on eight Core Competencies as a Leader of Self. Additionally, management positions focus on Leadership Competencies as a Leader of Others and/or a Leader of the Business. These competencies are designed to drive behavior that will ultimately help our associates excel at their current roles, while supporting individual and career development.
Environmental, Health, Safety, & Security (EHS&S) Requirements
· Avient integrates EHS&S into all aspects of our operations. Each position at Avient is responsible for complying with all applicable EHS&S requirements. Additionally, employees and management are responsible for reporting all EHS&S incidents immediately to ensure we keep EHS&S a priority within the organization.
Security includes physical security and cyber security.
Who We Are
Avient Corporation provides specialized and sustainable material solutions that transform customer challenges into opportunities, bringing new products to life for a better world. Examples include:
· Dyneema®, the world’s strongest fiber™, enables unmatched levels of performance and protection for end-use applications, including ballistic personal protection, marine and sustainable infrastructure and outdoor sports
· Unique technologies that improve the recyclability of products and enable recycled content to be incorporated, thus advancing a more circular economy
· Light-weighting solutions that replace heavier traditional materials like metal, glass and wood, which can improve fuel efficiency in all modes of transportation and reduce carbon footprint
· Sustainable infrastructure solutions that increase energy efficiency, renewable energy, natural resource conservation and fiber optic / 5G network accessibility
Avient employs approximately 10,000 associates and is certified ACC Responsible Care®, a founding member of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste and certified Great Place to Work®. For more information, visit www.avient.com.
Why Avient
Avient Corporation is a world-class sustainable organization built on innovation, collaboration, and employee development. We are committed to providing a supportive and dynamic work environment where our diverse associates can grow and succeed, as well positively impacting our planet and the communities we serve. Our Great Place to Work culture, values, and benefits make Avient an employer of choice for top talent.
We believe diversity of ideas and backgrounds gives us the creativity to be successful in a rapidly changing world. In support of this, we stress equality of opportunity for all qualified individuals in accordance with applicable laws. Decisions on hiring, promotion, development, compensation or advancement are based solely on a person’s qualifications, abilities, experience and performance.
Avient Corporation is a drug free workplace. Avient is an equal opportunity employer. We maintain a policy of non-discrimination in providing equal employment to all qualified employees and candidates regardless of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, color, religion, national origin, disability, genetic information, protected veteran’s status, or other legally protected classification in accordance with applicable federal, state and local law.