Senior Director of R&D and Commercial Development

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Founded in 1927, MATHESON is one of the largest compressed gas providers in the world. MATHESON provides everything from onsite air separation plants to small portable gas cylinders and all the services required to support these products and customer applications. We offer semiconductor, medical, welding, bulk, and cylinder gases for customers across the country. MATHESON has over 300 locations and more than 4500 employees in the U.S.

ABOUT THE ROLE

This responsibility involves assessing and creating Matheson’s electronics marketing plan and strategy, and then planning, coordinating and directing marketing and new business development efforts. The position requires excellent knowledge of Matheson capabilities, and customer process, issues and demands mainly in semiconductor industry and identifies business strategy, direction, and new products or solutions to these requirements or issues from customer. The position is responsible for overseeing the technological direction of Electronics division, ensuring that technology resources align with business goals and drive innovation.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop Matheson’s Technology Strategy by developing, identifying, and implementing business and product strategies that meet our customer needs and matches Matheson’s capabilities to successfully provide the product or service with safety, and high quality.
• Provide technical and business leadership by leading and managing technical teams as well as commercial personnel while fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation.
• Manage, maintain and grow the Research and Development efforts of Matheson by staying abreast of the industry needs, emerging technology and trends and conducting research to identify opportunities for innovation and improvement in gases and other molecules, equipment, purification, and services for semiconductor industry.
• Understand and manage Matheson’s technology infrastructure, and utilize the resources, effectively, efficiently, while ensuring it is scalable, secure, reliable and can be operated safely.
• Communicate with senior executives of Matheson to ensure they understand the specific business opportunities while identifying and providing specifics on the risks and unknowns.
• Construct revenue and expense budgets for both UHP equipment business as well as the Research and development group.
• Provide tactical and strategic direction for development of new processes, new products, and new technology in the area of materials science, corrosion mitigation, packaging, purification, storage and delivery technologies within MATHESON and holding company.
• Generation of ideas and improvements for technology and new products.
• Development of project plans, timelines and staff and capex budgets.
• Perform safety and hazard reviews/evaluations and evaluate abatement requirements for experiments.
• Ensuring that projects are adequately staffed and resourced.
• Prioritization of R&D project work and selection of personnel to maximize R&D outputs and ensure that project work adheres to timelines and is completed on time.
• Responsibility for ensuring that project outcomes are regularly communicated with senior management and coordinated with other groups/sections within the company.
• Direct successful handover/transition of R&D and AT projects with Engineering or Operations Department taking over the next phase of projects.
• Responsibility for staff training in key areas such as financial analysis, business plans and strategy development.
• Review of existing processes and materials and to provide direction and input to improve MATHESON capabilities.
• Interface and collaborate with customers, OEMs and third parties.
• Promote MATHESON technological expertise.
• Prepare and deliver technical presentation to customers, at public events and related industry conferences.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Education Level: A Ph.D. in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering is required with at least 10 years of directly relevant experience.
• Work Experience: 10+ years of directly relevant experience.

REQUIRED SKILLS

• Excel, Word, Visio, Power Point, Adobe, Outlook, Webex, TIMS a plus.
• This position requires the skills necessary to efficiently conduct basic research, product and technology development activities and pilot runs of new or improved products and evaluate the results of laboratory work and pilot programs; prepare progress reports and recommend the expansion or discontinuance of such programs; prepare accurate resource analyses of all development projects and forecast accurate project completion dates; and ensure that each research project is handled with the most economical and feasible methods possible.
• A Ph.D. in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering is required with at least 10 years of directly relevant experience.
• 10 years or more of business and commercial development experience.
• Knowledge and experience in product management, business development and customer collaborations.
• Drive the team to safely deliver quality products to our customers on time by monitoring the groups KPI’s and stepping in to lead/support/assist when needed.
• Directly communicate and visit with large OEM’s and customers to drive business growth for new equipment opportunities.
• Collaborate with UEQ engineering team in developing new equipment products and improving existing equipment designs.
• Have a working knowledge of analytical/instrumental equipment and methods to understand customer problems and develop new products and services that utilize these instruments and methods.
• Experience with gas applications in industry, lab-scale processes, gas synthesis and purification, materials compatibility, micro-contamination, ultra-high purity systems and environments, i.e. use of clean rooms.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills as well as organizational and interpersonal qualities.
• Demonstrated strong leadership, collaboration, project management, problem-solving, change management, and influencing skills.
• Experience with direct management of business and technical managers.
• Resource management, project management, program management, strategic planning, and budgeting experience.
• Demonstrated experience working on large, complex development and/or process improvement projects.

PREFERRED SKILLS

• Keep track of multiple projects and priorities in a busy R&D department.
• Work frequently with other departments such as product management, operations, sales, engineering, SHE, etc.
• Put in extra time and effort in certain projects when needed to maintain progress.
• Switching frequently from one research project to another and make informed, wise, justified decisions.
• Keep informed about what’s happening in the world of business R&D, Electronics (both Si and II-V materials) and maintain current information on key competitors and key customers.

The Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer that complies with the laws and regulations set forth under EEOC. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. EOE AA M/F/VET/Disability