R&D Manager (Chemical Coatings)

A leading organisation in the chemical coatings sector is seeking a Research and Development Manager (x1 vacancy) to oversee all R&D activities at their Samut Sakhon site. This role offers you the opportunity to shape the future of protective, industrial, and chemical liquid coatings by driving innovation and managing a talented team of scientists, engineers, and researchers.

What you'll do:

As Research and Development Manager – Chemical Coatings based in Samut Sakhon, you will play a central role in shaping the direction of the organisation’s R&D efforts. Your day-to-day responsibilities will involve strategic planning alongside hands-on management of complex projects that span from ideation through commercialisation. You will work closely with internal teams across marketing, operations, sales, and senior management to ensure that research initiatives are fully integrated into business objectives.

The package includes base salary + performance bonus + provident fund

• Guide and manage the entire R&D division to ensure alignment with long-term strategic objectives while nurturing a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Develop comprehensive R&D strategies, set clear project goals, and establish priorities in partnership with senior leadership to drive innovation across all product lines.
• Monitor global industry trends, competitor advancements, and emerging technologies to identify new opportunities for product development and process enhancement.
• Build, mentor, and lead a multidisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, and researchers by setting performance expectations, providing constructive feedback, and conducting regular reviews.
• Foster cross-functional collaboration between R&D, marketing, operations, sales, and other departments to ensure seamless integration of research outcomes into business processes.
• Oversee the full lifecycle of R&D projects from initial concept through prototyping to commercialisation while ensuring timely delivery within budgetary constraints.
• Allocate resources efficiently across multiple projects by balancing competing demands without compromising quality or timelines.
• Drive rigorous testing protocols, validation procedures, and quality assurance measures for all R&D outputs to maintain high standards of excellence.
• Engage with external partners such as universities, research institutions, and industry networks to leverage additional expertise for innovative solutions.
• Ensure compliance with relevant regulations and industry standards while proactively identifying risks associated with R&D activities and implementing effective contingency plans.

What you bring:

To excel as Research and Development Manager – Chemical Coatings you will bring extensive experience from the paint industry—particularly with polyurethane (PU), alkyds, epoxy formulations—and have managed technical teams responsible for delivering innovative solutions. Your background should include significant laboratory work coupled with hands-on involvement in product development cycles from concept through commercialisation. You will possess deep theoretical understanding of coating science along with practical expertise in pigment dispersion techniques. Familiarity with regulatory frameworks is crucial for ensuring compliance throughout all stages of research activity. Your ability to communicate effectively across diverse teams—both internally among scientists/engineers/researchers as well as externally with academic partners—will be key to driving successful collaborations. Proficiency in digital tools such as MS Office suite plus SAP will support your project management efforts while your analytical mindset enables you to optimise resource allocation against competing priorities.

• Mandatory: A bachelor’s degree in Chemistry or related field is required for this position.
• Mandatory: At least 10 years’ experience working within laboratory environments focused on paint industry applications including PU (polyurethane), Alkyds, Epoxy products as well as new technologies in refinish coatings.
• Mandatory: Minimum 5 years’ experience in technical management roles overseeing complex R&D projects within chemical coatings sectors.
• Mandatory: Proven track record formulating products using Epoxy and PU chemistries including pigment dispersions over at least five years.
• Mandatory: In-depth knowledge of coating concepts along with familiarity with legal regulations governing chemical coatings production.
• Mandatory: Proficiency in MS Office suite as well as SAP for project tracking and resource management is essential.
• Preferred: Experience formulating automotive refinish coatings or working within protective/industrial/plastic coatings backgrounds.
• Preferred: Demonstrated ability to identify improvements in existing products focusing on efficiency gains, sustainability enhancements, and cost-effectiveness measures.
• Preferred: Excellent interpersonal skills enabling effective communication across cross-functional teams as well as external stakeholders including customers and research partners.
• Preferred: Strong analytical abilities combined with proven experience managing budgets, timelines, documentation processes (including intellectual property) within regulated environments.

What sets this company apart:

This organisation stands out for its commitment to advancing technology within the chemical coatings sector while prioritising employee growth through generous training opportunities. The company fosters an inclusive workplace culture where collaboration is encouraged across all levels—from R&D specialists through marketing and operations—ensuring that every voice contributes towards shared success. Employees benefit from flexible working arrangements designed to support work-life balance alongside access to industry-leading resources for personal development. The company actively engages with external partners including universities and research institutions which provides unique opportunities for networking as well as exposure to cutting-edge innovations. By joining this team you become part of a network dedicated not only to technical excellence but also continuous improvement driven by end-user feedback—a place where your contributions directly impact product quality sustainability initiatives cost-effectiveness measures within global markets.

What's next:

If you are ready to take your career further by leading transformative R&D initiatives in chemical coatings we encourage you to apply now!

Due to the high volume of applications, our team will only be in touch if your application is shortlisted.

Robert Walters Recruitment (Thailand) Limited
Recruitment License No.: น. 1188 / 2551