Saint-Gobain UK & Ireland
R&D Manager
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R&D Manager
East Leake - 5 days onsite
At Saint-Gobain we are looking for an R&D Manager to join our Global R&D centre in East Leake, playing a key leadership role in delivering innovative, customer-centric interior finishing solutions for construction markets worldwide.
This R&D Manager role will lead a team of technical specialists focused on powder and paste products, adhesives and interior drywall finishing systems. Working closely with global R&D centres, portfolio leadership, application experts and customers, you will influence strategic innovation programmes from early-stage research through to industrialisation and commercial deployment.
As a senior member of the R&D centre leadership team, you will help shape the long-term innovation roadmap, build critical capabilities, and strengthen the centre's position as a global centre of excellence within Saint-Gobain.
You’ll play a key role in shaping future-focused solutions that support sustainability, performance and customer needs across international markets.
Saint-Gobain is a worldwide leader in light and sustainable construction, designing, manufacturing and distributing materials and services for the construction and industrial markets. Our innovation teams are focused on delivering high-performance, sustainable solutions that improve everyday life and create better living spaces around the world.
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This role is based on-site in East Leake, 5 days per week.
What we’re looking for:
- Degree / higher degree qualified in Chemistry, Materials Science or a related scientific discipline, with significant industrial R&D experience within a manufacturing environment.
- Proven leadership experience managing and developing technical teams within product formulation, material development or construction solutions.
- Strong understanding of translating customer and market needs into innovative, solution-oriented R&D programmes.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate globally across technical and commercial teams.
- Experience delivering complex, multi-disciplinary research, development and innovation projects within an international environment.
What you will be doing:
- Lead and develop a team of R&D professionals, ensuring capability growth aligned to business and global R&D strategies.
- Drive customer-centric innovation projects from concept research through to commercial development and manufacturing implementation.
- Collaborate with global R&D, marketing and application teams to align innovation activity with strategic business priorities.
- Identify new technologies, materials and external partnerships, including universities and research organisations, to support future innovation opportunities.
- Promote a culture of continuous improvement, sustainability, safety and high-performance delivery across all R&D activities.
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Are Saint-Gobain inclusive employers?
Saint-Gobain is a worldwide leader in light and sustainable construction, following our purpose of ‘Making the World a Better Home’. We play a part in improving daily life through high-performance solutions. From wherever you are, let your unique personality and our values guide you every day to invent a more sustainable world.
We understand that a diverse workplace is not only a more enjoyable place to be, but also facilitates better decision making and innovation. So, whoever you are, and whichever Saint-Gobain business you join, you can be sure of a warm welcome with us.
And what about flexibility?
At Saint-Gobain, we’re always open to new ways of working. Everyone has different needs and commitments. We’ll happily discuss any need you might have for this role. Whilst we can’t promise to meet every request when we’re recruiting, we do promise to listen.
If you match our criteria, we will be in touch to discuss your experience and more about you as a person — we look forward to hearing from you!
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