Illinois Tool Works

Global diversified manufacturer of industrial equipment

R&D Manager

Process EngineeringConfirmed live in the last 24 hours

Full-timeLakeland, FL, USANo salary listed

About the Job

Requirements

A bachelor's degree in Chemistry is required; a master's degree is preferred.
Experience with lubricant materials, particularly oils and industrial fluids used in automotive applications.
At least 10 years of experience leading technical teams.
Demonstrated success fostering a collaborative, accountable, and solution-oriented environment.
Ability to identify market ideas and translate them into business solutions, with innovation, flexibility, and curiosity.
Ability to understand and prioritize speed and urgency in response to changing market conditions.
Successful new product launch experience, including familiarity with innovation funnel and stage-gate processes, strong supplier relationships, maintaining ISO standards, and product lifecycle planning.
Technical acumen, intellectual curiosity, and strong analytical and decision-making skills.
Dedication to safety.
Willingness to travel as required.
Ability to stand, walk, and climb constantly, and occasionally lift, push, pull, or move up to 65 pounds.
Ability to react and move quickly in an emergency; required vision includes close, distance, color, and peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
Ability to work in conditions involving moving machinery, moderate heat, cold, and humidity, and potential exposure to flammable liquids, chemicals, electrical shock, or battery explosion.

Responsibilities

Support Business Unit strategic planning, including market and technology trends, competitive analysis, claims development, and evaluation and recommendation of business strategies and tactics.
Supervise R&D activities, including new technology development and testing, qualification, manufacturing scale-up of product formulas, and continuous product differentiation and process improvement.
Build a collaborative, learning-oriented, and accountable culture, working closely with customers and delivering speed, quality, and value.
Ensure the R&D team understands lubricant chemistries and their application to creating product performance attributes and solutions for the automotive market.
Manage product performance testing, qualification, validation, and competitive comparisons.
Coordinate product development within the Car Care division as appropriate.
Explore solutions and develop a pipeline of differentiated new products.
Partner with Marketing on market knowledge, customer needs, industry trends, and technology advances; lead the team in exploring and testing ideas and translating knowledge into tangible solutions.
Direct research and product development, ensuring milestones, project timelines, and approved budgets are met.
Align business cases with the leadership team to deliver on key performance indicators.
Partner with other ITW divisions, suppliers, universities, and other relevant organizations to assess opportunities, build capabilities, and accelerate innovation.
Develop an understanding of the ITW 80/20 management process and Enterprise Strategy, and execute 80/20 initiatives.
Oversee the R&D function.

Job Description:

The R&DManageris a key contributor to the successful development and execution ofthe Business Unitgrowth initiatives byhaving a deep understanding ofmarket trends, assessing emerging technologies and their relevance toProAPproducts and services. This role bringsbest-in-class ideationand innovationtechniques that deliver a pipeline of creative, new products that address customer pain points and create a sustained, differentiatedportfoliothat will fuelprofitable growth forthe Business Unit.

KEYRESPONSIBILITIES

Support Business Unit Strategic Planningprocessto includemarket technology trends,competitive analysis,claims development andthe evaluation and recommendation of business strategies and tactics.

Supervisory responsibility over R&D includingnew technologydevelopment and testing, qualification, manufacturing scale-up of product formulas, and continuous product differentiation/process improvement.

Creates a collaborative, learning & accountable culture, working closely with customers, and delivering speed,quality& valueconsistently.

Formulation Expertise:

Ensuresthe R&D team has a deep understanding oflubricantchemistries and how these can be applied to create new product performance attributes that bring effective solutions to the automotive market.

Manages product performance testing, qualification/validation& competitivecomparisons.

Coordinates on product developmentwithinCarCaredivision asappropriate.

New product development, exploring solutions that create a pipeline of differentiated new products.

Leverages partnership withMarketingTeamregardingmarket knowledge, customerneeds, industrytrendsand advances in technology. Leads team to explore, test, and translate knowledge into tangible solutions.

Directs research and product development efforts and ensures keymilestones,project timelines and approved budgets are met.

Aligns business case withLeadership teamto deliver onKPIs.

Partner with other ITW divisions, supplierbase, universities and other relevant players to help the BU assess opportunities, buildcapabilitiesand accelerate pace of innovation.

Develop strong understanding ofITW80/20 management process and the Enterprise Strategyto execute on 80/20 initiatives.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This positionoverseestheR&D function.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, MS preferred

Experience with lubricant materials particularly with oils and industrial fluids used in automotives

10+years experienceleadingTechnicalteams

Proven leader withdemonstratedsuccess in fostering a collaborative, accountable and solution-oriented environment

Must be innovative, flexible,curiousand haveexhibitedsuccess byidentifyingand successfully translating market ideas into tangible business solutions.

Must havedemonstratedsuccess in understanding and prioritizing speed and urgency based on changing market conditions.

Proven and successful new product launch experience, including intimate familiarity with innovationfunnel,stage-gateprocess,strong supplier relationships,maintainingISO standards and effective product lifecycle planning.

Intellectual curiosity, technicalacumenand strong analytical / decision making skills.

An exhibited dedication to Safety

Must have a desire to travel asrequired

PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORK ENVIRONMENT

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employeeis constantly required tostand; walk; climb. The employee must occasionally lift, push/pull, and or move up to 65 pounds. The employee mustpossessthe mandatory ability to react and move quickly in case of emergency. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depthperceptionand ability to adjust focus/accommodate.

RISKS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to the possibility of injury to the hands or feet and collision with moving equipment. The possibility of fire exists. On rareoccasion, the employee has the possibility of exposure (once a day) to electrical shock and battery explosion. The employee may also rarely come into contact with toxic / caustic chemicals from damagedproduct.

Working Conditions

While performing the duties of this job, the employee isfrequentlyexposed to moving mechanical parts and machinery. A strong citrus odor is present constantly in the work environment. The noise level in the work environment is moderate. Work is performed inside with moderate amounts of heat,coldand humidity encountered. Inside work can be dirty, with adequate lighting and ventilation. Conditions can include the presence of hazards such as flammable liquids, movingmachineryand working around and with others.

ITW is an equal opportunity employer. We value our colleagues’ unique perspectives, experiences and ideas and create workplaces where everyone can develop their careers and perform to their full potential.

As an equal employment opportunity employer, ITW is committed to equal employment opportunity and fair treatment for employees, beginning with the hiring process and continuing through all aspects of the employment relationship.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

About the Company

Illinois Tool Works

Global diversified manufacturer of industrial equipment

ITW is a global manufacturer with a diversified portfolio of industrial products across seven segments, including automotive components, food equipment, welding systems, and construction tools. Its products are engineered and produced for OEMs and industrial customers, combining specialized components to meet the needs of large buyers. The company stands out through its multi-segment reach, large global footprint, and a business model that prioritizes the top 20% of customers to drive profitability and operational excellence. ITW aims for steady profitability and efficient operations by delivering reliable, value-added solutions across multiple industries.

Company size: 5,001-10,000
Company stage: IPO
Headquarters: Glenview, IL
Founded: 1912

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