R&D Manager

Elgin, 2541 Technology Drive, #401, Elgin, IL 60124, USA

Morton Salt is an iconic company with a strong heritage and a bright future. Since 1848, we have been improving lives and enhancing everyday moments – at home, at work and virtually everywhere in between. We help unlock the flavors in food, make roads and sidewalks safer, improve the water in baths, pools, and homes, and keep businesses and industries running.

We are a dedicated team who constantly strives to do better together, and we are passionate about building a sustainable future for our company, the communities in which we operate, and the world around us. By joining our team, you will contribute to producing and delivering every form of salt that enhances everyday life.

Job Summary

The entry level R&D Manager position is an experienced R&D individual contributor that balances ≥50% of their time overseeing all activities in the R&D function where the group size is 4-5 FTE’s and with a budget ≤ $3M. Responsibilities include management of the R&D project portfolio, employee management, and administrative duties. The remaining balance of time is used to continue to directly work, support and create value within the R&D function.

Management of the R&D project portfolio includes accurate documents and reporting and management of R&D resources for projects and technical support requests. The R&D manager also ensures R&D projects are being properly managed and delivering on tasks/scope, costs, and timelines and if support is required, the R&D manager works to remove barriers and/or source the necessary support to projects to give the best chance for success.

The R&D manager will be directly accountable for R&D functional goals and metric defined annually.

Employee management encompasses talent management of direct reports in the function, including employee development, performance management, compensation decisions, engagement, recognition, office culture, and if necessary, discipline. The R&D manager is expected to have regular communication cadence (1:1 discussions) and awareness on employee matters or issues.

Administrative duties include being responsible for ensuring the R&D function maintains adherence and reporting with HR, EHS/OSHA/Fire and other corporate policies and procedures, and any applicable local/state/county/federal rules. Responsibilities also include site management of the office location (Elgin, IL), including lease/property management and relationship, purchasing of necessary equipment or materials, and management of open PO’s and timely payments on billings/invoices. The R&D manager is expected to help with annual SG&A budgeting and managing spending within R&D budget.

The R&D manager will use remaining time capacity to continue to provide support to the business in the way of execution of technical work including being part of project teams and supporting projects. The R&D manager will also use a portion of time to address technical support requests and work with cross-functional stakeholders including operations, quality, procurement, sales, marketing, innovation or business leadership as needed, acting as a technical advisory resource.

Technical work will predominantly include analytical/laboratory work, diagnostics/troubleshooting, process/product development, process/product testing and customer technical support. Career path development within the role includes development into an advanced R&D leader with R&D incubation or customer focused innovation including product/process creation, intellectual capital management and patent inventorship, identification/scouting on emerging sciences and disruptive technologies, and engagement/collaboration with startups, universities/government, corporate partnerships or with an external innovation nexus or hub.

• Management level oversight of the R&D function for Morton Salt, Inc. including oversight of R&D work activities performed at Elgin, IL and providing guidance to R&D employees.
• Responsible for execution of tagged work with R&D projects and technical supports efforts.
• Accountable for meeting R&D functional goals and metrics and successful…