R&D Portfolio Manager - Technology

Cabot Corporation (NYSE: CBT) is a leading global specialty chemicals and performance materials company headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Our businesses deliver a broad range of products and solutions to customers in transportation, infrastructure, environment and consumer industry sectors. We bring the power of innovative chemistry to solve customers’ challenges today while preparing them for tomorrow’s needs.

This key position is accountable for overseeing the R&D portfolio of product, process, and application development projects. It will ensure that leadership has the systems, data, governance, and insights required to make high quality, timely decisions about investments, priorities, and risk. The role is well suited for a senior technical leader who combines strategic rigor, strong judgment and effective collaboration with senior leadership in a matrix organization.

• Own and lead the company’s R&D portfolio governance across product, process, and application development, ensuring alignment with business strategy, technology roadmaps and long‑term value creation.
• Design, implement and continuously strengthen the portfolio management systems, data structures and analytics used to support prioritization, trade‑off decisions and investment transparency.
• Partner with directors, R&D managers, business leaders and functional stakeholders to shape portfolio priorities, balance near‑term and long‑term investments and enable effective decision making.
• Drive portfolio transparency through robust data, dashboards and reviews, enabling clear visibility to progress, risks, trade‑offs and resource constraints.
• Monitor portfolio performance against milestones, strategic intent and value delivery; proactively identify risks and recommend corrective actions.
• Continuously improve portfolio management processes, governance forums and planning tools to increase speed, focus and impact of R&D investments.
• Establish disciplined, repeatable portfolio review and decision processes that enable focused discussion, efficient escalation and timely decisions at the appropriate level.
• Ensure portfolio data is accurate, integrated and actionable, enabling leadership to confidently assess progress, scenarios and implications across the full R&D pipeline.

• Advanced degree or equivalent experience in chemical engineering, materials science, chemistry or a related technical discipline.
• Demonstrated ability to design and manage portfolio systems, data and decision frameworks.
• Strong track record of cross‑functional leadership, influencing without authority in matrixed organizations.
• Strategic mindset coupled with strong execution discipline, organizational skills and clear, effective communication.
• Strong executive presence and ability to engage effectively with senior leaders, including clear framing of data‑driven recommendations and trade‑offs.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in chemical engineering, materials science, chemistry or a related technical discipline.
• 10‑12 years of experience in an R&D or technical project management role.

• The pay range for this role is $114 800 to $214 900. Compensation will depend on skill, qualifications, experience and location.
• Health benefits on the first day of employment, 401K savings plan, vision, dental and annual bonus based on company performance.
• Growth through training, peer coaching and support, and opportunities to grow influence, position and compensation.
• Flexible, collaborative team environment that values meaningful work and sustainable solutions.
• Direct and open feedback culture and global engineering support throughout your career.

Cabot Corporation is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive culture that embraces differences and to empowering employees to achieve exceptional results. This includes providing reasonable accommodation for employees’ and applicants’ disabilities or religious beliefs and practices in accordance with applicable law.

Cabot Corporation does not discriminate against any employee or applicant because they have inquired about pay. This policy does not apply to employees who have access to compensation information as part of their essential job functions.

All candidates conditionally offered a position must complete and pass a background check, a drug test and receive an acceptable result. Certain positions may require a pre‑employment physical.