Job Description

Job Title: Director of Technology and Scientific Development

Location: Ohio

Salary: $180k - $200k

Position Summary

This leadership role is responsible for driving the development and advancement of a company's scientific testing capabilities. The Director of Technology and Scientific Development will strategically guide investments in instrumentation and method development, aligning them with business growth objectives. Key responsibilities include partnering with executive and commercial teams to identify growth opportunities, supporting acquisition evaluations, and collaborating with laboratory leaders to enhance next-generation analytical capabilities.

Essential Functions

Commercial Growth

The director leverages scientific and market expertise to identify opportunities that enhance revenue and profitability:

• Collaborates with the sales and marketing teams to evaluate current scientific capabilities and identify new avenues for commercial expansion.
• Acts as the public-facing scientific leader, representing the organization as a thought leader at conferences and industry trade shows.
• Partners with commercial teams and laboratory scientists to deliver educational webinars.
• Supports efforts to acquire new customers by assisting with solution development and customer education.
• Conducts ongoing scientific research in support of materials testing, contributing to the development of new industry testing standards through collaboration with other scientific thought leaders.
• Expands expertise in additive manufacturing powder and particle analysis capabilities.
• Assists in developing marketing communication materials, including brochures and website content.
• Regularly publishes and presents scientific papers focusing on materials performance and testing.
• Provides senior leadership with insights on company capabilities, competitive positioning, growth opportunities, and industry developments.

Acquisition Support

The director provides technical expertise in due diligence efforts related to potential acquisitions:

• Reviews the published testing capabilities and certifications of target companies.
• Attends management presentations and lab tours during due diligence processes, preparing comprehensive discovery reports for senior leadership.
• Meets with scientific leaders at target companies to assess strengths and weaknesses.
• Offers perspectives and assessments of independent laboratories as potential acquisition candidates.
• Supports resolution of conflicts involving test results for both internal and external customers.
• Engages with external customers on technical issues and project coordination.

Laboratory Development

The director partners with laboratory leaders to enhance and expand testing capabilities:

• Identifies and recommends instruments to broaden testing capabilities.
• Builds relationships with testing instrumentation companies to explore emerging material testing technologies.
• Develops and maintains a long-term technology development plan.
• Proposes process and facility enhancements to improve safety, efficiency, and overall capability.
• Serves as an in-house scientific expert, collaborating with laboratory teams to address testing challenges and unique customer requirements.
• Mentors laboratory personnel and fosters a culture of continued scientific development through activities such as white paper publications and conference participation.

Incidental Functions

• Attends leadership meetings to present technical information.
• Undertakes special projects or additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree (Master’s or Ph.D.) in a scientific field, with a strong preference for a Ph.D. in material science or a related discipline.
• Expertise in additive manufacturing and/or particle analysis is strongly preferred.
• 10+ years of laboratory experience is strongly preferred.
• 5+ years of management experience in a lab setting, including experience in laboratory training.
• Proven track record of scientific publishing and excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Familiarity with common laboratory instrumentation and testing procedures.

Success Factors

• Demonstrated leadership and strong management skills.
• Detail-oriented with the ability to organize and coordinate multiple tasks and projects simultaneously.
• Creative, curious, and solution-focused.
• Comfortable working both independently and in group settings.
• A strong team player with a competitive drive to achieve success.
• Proactive thinker with the ability to anticipate opportunities and threats.