Senior Product Development Manager

Senior Product Development Manager

Position Overview:

The Senior Product Development Manager will lead the formulation and innovation activities for Wikoff Color’s inks and coatings portfolio at the Alpharetta Technical Center. This individual will oversee a multidisciplinary team of formulation chemists/scientists specializing in Energy‑Curable, waterborne, and solvent‑borne technologies, as well as color matching and customer support.

The ideal candidate will bring strong technical depth in inks, coatings, or related polymer chemistry, proven people‑leadership skills, and the ability to translate customer and market needs into commercially viable, sustainable solutions. This role is highly collaborative, interfacing with Sales, Manufacturing, Procurement, and Marketing to drive product innovation, technical excellence, and business growth.

Minimum Education , Experience, and Technical Knowledge

Required:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, or a related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of progressive experience in the inks, coatings, or specialty chemicals industry.
• Demonstrated expertise in formulating solvent‑borne, water‑borne, or energy‑curable systems.
• Prior experience supervising or leading technical teams in a laboratory environment.
• Strong understanding of color science, pigment dispersion, and color matching techniques.
• Proven track record of product development from concept to commercialization.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide technical and strategic leadership for product development projects across energy‑curable, water‑borne, and solvent‑borne platforms.
• Manage and mentor a team of formulation chemists and color specialists; set clear priorities, goals, and development plans for each team member.
• Drive new product innovation aligned with Wikoff’s strategic objectives and customer needs.
• Evaluate new raw materials, technologies, and suppliers to enhance product performance, cost efficiency, or sustainability.
• Partner with Sales and Marketing to identify market gaps and translate them into actionable R&D programs.
• Guide formulation optimization and scale‑up efforts in collaboration with Manufacturing and Quality.
• Ensure timely project execution, accurate documentation, and communication of technical results.
• Oversee color matching and color control standards for customer‑specific formulations.
• Maintain an active role in troubleshooting customer issues and providing technical expertise for complex applications.
• Foster collaboration with other Wikoff R&D centers to share best practices, standardize procedures, and coordinate global development efforts.
• Uphold and continuously improve laboratory safety, compliance, and organization standards.

Preferred Skills and Strengths:

• Strategic thinker with strong problem-solving, decision-making, and project management skills.
• Excellent leadership and mentoring capabilities.
• Strong interpersonal skills for cross‑functional collaboration with Sales, Operations, and Marketing.
• Familiarity with regulatory and sustainability requirements affecting inks and coatings.
• Ability to communicate technical information effectively to both technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Proficiency in laboratory data management and documentation systems.
• Demonstrated commitment to quality, safety, and continuous improvement.

Full‑time, onsite position at Wikoff Color’s Alpharetta, GA Technical Center.

Primarily laboratory and office‑based, with occasional travel to customer sites, suppliers, or other Wikoff facilities.