R&D- Global Fire Protection Portfolio Technical Director

The Global R&D Technical Director for Fire Protection is a member of the Global Protective & Marine R&D Technology Leadership Team. This role is responsible for leading sales support, as well as product and platform development, for intumescent coating systems within Sherwin Williams Protective & Marine global business.

Job duties include contact with other employees and access confidential and proprietary information and/or other items of value, and such access may be supervised or unsupervised. The Company therefore has determined that a review of criminal history is necessary to protect the business and its operations and reputation and is necessary to protect the safety of the Companys staff, employees, and business relationships.

This role will be located at Sherwin-Williams Morikis Global Technology Center located at 6745 Miller Road, Brecksville, OH 44141.

1. Product Development & Execution
o Lead the full lifecycle of product development for intumescent coatings, ensuring timely and successful delivery from concept to commercialization.
o Drive executional excellence across global R&D teams, ensuring alignment with business cases and market strategies.
o Champion innovation and continuous improvement in product performance, application, and system integration.
2. Regulatory Standards & Third-Party Testing
o Provides organizational leadership and accountability for regulatory standards and third party testing, serving as the technical authority for global fire protection standards including UL, EN, ASTM, and ISO.
o Through direct and indirect teams, establishes governance and oversight to ensure products meet or exceed regulatory and certification requirements.
o Owns the strategy and execution model for third party testing and certification.
o Ensures the organization proactively adapts to evolving global regulatory requirements to maintain compliance, manage risk, and protect market access.
3. Physical Property & Compatibility Testing
o Oversee rigorous testing of product physical properties including adhesion, durability, thermal expansion, and fire resistance.
o Ensure environmental and physical compatibility across substrates, surface preparation methods, primers, and topcoats.
o Lead system-level validation to ensure product performance in real-world applications.
4. Strategic Collaboration & Leadership
o Partner closely with the Global Fire Portfolio Marketing Director to align technical development with customer needs, market trends, and strategic priorities.
o Translate business cases into clear, actionable R&D plans with defined deliverables and success metrics.
o Provide technical leadership across cross-functional teams, fostering collaboration between R&D, marketing, regulatory, and operations.
o Key Stakeholder in the delivery of the Fire Center of Excellence (FCOE) Approval and Completion

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Must be legally authorized to work in the country of employment without needing sponsorship for employment work visa status now or in the future (e.g., OPT, CPT, H1B, EB-1,etc.)
Bachelors Degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Math field.
Must be at least 18 years of age.
Minimum of 10 years of leadership experience in coatings or specialty chemicals R&D, with a strong emphasis on regulatory compliance and product delivery.
Deep expertise in global fire protection standards and certification processes, including successful engagement with third-party testing agencies.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Advanced degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Math field.
Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams, manage complex technical programs, and deliver results aligned with strategic business goals.
Strong background in physical property testing and system compatibility, especially in multi-layer coating systems.
Skilled in technical decision-making, risk management, and resource prioritization across global teams.
Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence across technical and commercial domains.

Travel Requirements: 40% Domestic and International

This position is not eligible for sponsorship for work authorization now or in the future, including conversion to H-1B visa.

Successful candidate will be required to sign an Employee Restrictive Covenant Agreement where permitted by law.