The Global Director of Research & Development, Cleaners is responsible for leading Rust-Oleum's global cleaners technology platform and innovation pipeline. This role provides strategic and technical leadership for the development, commercialization, quality improvement, and lifecycle management of cleaner, detergent, disinfectant, degreaser, and specialty surface care products across consumer and professional markets.
The successful candidate will establish and execute a global technology strategy, build world-class technical capabilities, and lead a high-performing team of scientists and engineers to deliver differentiated products that drive profitable growth. The role requires close collaboration with Marketing, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Regulatory, Quality, Sourcing, and Commercial teams across North America, EMEA, and other global regions. The location for this role is based in Pleasant Prairie, WI a perfect and affordable location with close proximity two major US cities and international airports.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Technology Leadership
- Develop and execute the global cleaners technology roadmap aligned with business growth objectives.
- Identify emerging technologies, consumer trends, regulatory developments, and competitive advancements to drive innovation.
- Build and expand Rust-Oleum's cleaners capabilities across consumer, industrial, institutional, and specialty cleaning segments.
- Lead technology scouting activities with suppliers, universities, startups, and industry partners.
Product Innovation & Commercialization
- Lead the ideation, development, validation, scale-up, and launch of new cleaning technologies and products.
- Manage a balanced portfolio of breakthrough innovations, line extensions, reformulations, cost reductions, and quality improvement initiatives.
- Ensure strong technical substantiation supporting product claims, performance, safety, compliance, and customer value propositions.
- Drive rapid commercialization and efficient project execution from concept through launch.
- Knowledge, execution and strategy of internal and external manufacturing capabilities
Global R&D Team Leadership
- Build, lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing global technical organization.
- Recruit and retain top technical talent in formulation science, analytical chemistry, microbiology, surface science, and testing.
- Establish career development, succession planning, and organizational capability-building initiatives.
- Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, accountability, inclusion, and continuous learning.
Technical Excellence
Provide deep scientific leadership in:
- Household and industrial cleaning chemistry
- Surfactants and detergents
- Disinfection and antimicrobial technologies
- Surface chemistry and compatibility
- Formulation science
- Performance testing and claim substantiation
- Regulatory and stewardship requirements
- Establish standardized testing methodologies and global performance validation protocols.
- Drive knowledge sharing and technology transfer across regions and business units.
Cross-Functional Leadership
- Partner closely with Marketing, Manufacturing, Operations, Supply Chain, Purchasing, Regulatory Affairs, and Quality teams.
- Support manufacturing scale-up, troubleshooting, productivity improvements, and operational excellence initiatives.
- Lead technical interactions with strategic customers, suppliers, and external partners.
- Serve as the technical voice of the cleaners platform within the broader Rust-Oleum and RPM organizations.
Business Impact
- Deliver innovation-driven sales growth and market expansion.
- Support margin improvement through formulation optimization and cost-reduction initiatives.
- Establish and monitor key innovation and R&D performance metrics.
- Manage R&D budgets, capital investments, and resource allocation to maximize business impact.
Qualifications
Education
- Ph.D. preferred; M.S. required in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, Materials Science, Surfactant Science, or related discipline.
Experience
- 15+ years of progressive R&D leadership experience in consumer cleaners organizations.
- Proven success leading global product development organizations.
- Demonstrated experience commercializing cleaning, detergent, home care, institutional, industrial, or adjacent specialty chemical products.
- Experience managing geographically dispersed teams and global innovation portfolios.
- Strong track record of translating technology into profitable business growth.
Technical Competencies
- Expertise in cleaning formulations, surfactant systems, detergency mechanisms, and performance testing.
- Strong understanding of formulation science, structure-property relationships, and product performance optimization.
- Experience with regulatory requirements, product stewardship, and claim substantiation.
- Familiarity with digital R&D tools, data analytics, AI-enabled formulation development, and innovation processes.
Leadership Competencies
- Strategic thinker with strong business acumen.
- Proven ability to lead organizational transformation and capability building.
- Exceptional communication and influencing skills.
- Strong project portfolio management capability.
- Demonstrated success in developing people and building high-performing teams.
- Results-oriented leader with a strong bias for action and execution.
From big benefits to small, we take care of our associates! After 30 days of employment, you will be eligible for a benefits package that includes medical, dental, life, disability and business travel insurance, flexible spending accounts, EAP, stock purchases and vacation/sick days/parental leave.
We also offer a 401(k) plan after three months of employment. Associates are vested in the RPM Pension plan after completing five years of service. Rust-Oleum offers (9.5) paid holidays and two floating holidays per year. You are also eligible to earn three weeks of vacation on an annualized basis.
Rust-Oleum is an equal opportunity employer. Employment selection and related decisions are made without regard to sex, race, age, disability, religion, national origin, color, or any other protected class.