Research and Development Manager

Overview

KADANT BLACK CLAWSON LLC is an established leader in equipment and systems for the international pulp and paper process industries. For 150 years, we’ve helped our customers reduce their input costs and improve efficiency through innovative products and technologies. Our sustainability efforts have been nationally recognized, and Kadant is also listed on the New York Stock Exchange (KAI). Our state‑of‑the‑art manufacturing facility is located in Lebanon, OH, where we design and manufacture our products for customers across the globe.

We currently seek to fill the position of Research and Development Manager to oversee fundamental investigative research activities and development of new products and machine designs. This role will manage the daily activities of the Development Team and support the Production Engineering group for technical issues as they arise, all while advancing KBC’s mission of being a forward‑thinking, collaborative, and ethical business.

• Leads the Research & Development Engineering Team in all aspects of product development for capital products in the pulp & paper industry; manages direct reports.
• Leads and participates in the annual Global R&D conference.
• Provides the Production Engineering group with standard drawings and BOMs as required by Fiberline companies for all new products.
• Reviews assignments and specifications in light of design demands; negotiates alterations or requested revisions or proposals if necessary.
• Ensures that a steady stream of new products is developed each year, in alignment with other functional groups, for both the aftermarket and capital product lines.
• Identifies threats and opportunities for the different products and reports them to leadership.
• Develops customer contacts for new technology opportunities; personally assesses the client and KBC’s opportunities to create development partnerships and successful reference installations.
• Gathers, derives, and prepares all necessary technical information regarding new and extended product lines.
• Interfaces with other global offices (France, Sweden, China, Canada, etc.) and others to maximize the benefit of Kadant’s R&D investment.
• Develops relationships and builds influence with other department heads and peers in sister companies.
• Leads the bi‑monthly Technical Steering Committee.
• Manages the product development justification, approval, and ISO process.
• Assists the Director of Engineering with managing the intellectual property of the Company.
• Manages and reports monthly on the progress of the Development and Product Engineering groups.
• Aligns and sets goals and objectives for direct reports, regularly measures performance, and provides suitable opportunities for development/training.

• Excellent verbal and written communication.
• Excellent presentation skills.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving and machine design skills.
• Familiarity with new product development processes such as Stage‑Gate and Agile.
• Familiarity with FEA and CFD to guide engineers in completing projects.
• Good technical knowledge regarding design software, including Solid Works and ANSYS.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software. ERP experience preferred.
• Demonstrates KBC values of personal accountability, discipline, trust, and proactive action.
• This position requires a bachelor’s degree in mechanical or chemical engineering, pulp & paper science, or a related field from an accredited college or university.
• Master’s degree and/or Professional Engineering license is preferred.
• Minimum ten (10) or more years’ experience in R&D and developing new products for the capital equipment industry is required.
• Experience in the pulp and paper field is preferred.
• Experience as a manager with leadership capabilities and the ability to inspire others to do excellent technical development work is required.
• Experience in the global patent submittal process is required.
• Minimum 15% travel expected in North America.

All benefits are effective upon hire--including medical, dental, vision, and 401k.