R&D Senior Manager - Data Science

The R&D Senior Manager – Data Science is a strategic leadership role responsible for advancing enterprise business intelligence and analytics capabilities across global R&D. This position combines deep technical expertise with portfolio-level strategy to accelerate innovation, improve decision-making, and strengthen cost competitiveness.

• Define and execute the enterprise R&D analytics and digital strategy to drive growth, margin expansion, and operational excellence
• Lead end-to-end portfolio governance, including investment prioritization, resource allocation, and roadmap alignment
• Champion the digital transformation of R&D, scaling advanced analytics, AI, and automation solutions
• Act as a thought leader on emerging technologies, identifying scalable opportunities to enhance innovation and competitiveness
• Establish governance frameworks to ensure data integrity, compliance, and execution discipline

• Set the direction for advanced modeling, optimization, and machine learning to solve complex R&D and business challenges
• Lead development of scalable analytics tools from concept through production deployment
• Drive adoption of analytics solutions to enable portfolio optimization, risk identification, and data-driven decision-making
• Oversee the creation and governance of data pipelines, data structures, and features required for advanced analytics
• Serve as a senior technical advisor translating complex data into business value

• Own the vision and governance for R&D systems and analytics platforms
• Partner with IT to design and deploy integrated, scalable digital solutions
• Advance enterprise capabilities in knowledge management, experimentation and modeling, specification and product lifecycle data
• Ensure systems are scalable, secure, and aligned with enterprise architecture

• Establish and track R&D performance metrics, dashboards, and reporting frameworks
• Drive transparency and accountability through data-driven performance management
• Identify and scale high-impact analytics use cases that deliver measurable business results

• Lead and develop a high-performing, global team across data science, BI, and systems
• Build a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement
• Define and execute talent and capability strategies, including succession planning and skill development
• Mentor leaders and technical experts to strengthen organizational depth and impact

• Act as a strategic partner to R&D, Operations, Procurement, Finance, Commercial, and IT leadership
• Align global and regional teams on standards, data governance, and best practices
• Translate business priorities into scalable analytics initiatives that deliver measurable value
• Ensure responsible and secure deployment of analytics solutions in partnership with IT and governance teams

• Scaled deployment of enterprise analytics solutions driving measurable ROI
• Increased speed and quality of R&D decision-making
• Strong adoption of AI and advanced analytics tools across the organization
• A high-performing, future-ready analytics organization
• Robust, trusted data infrastructure supporting innovation and growth

• MS or PhD in Data Science, Engineering, or a related field
• 10+ years of experience in data science, analytics, or R&D digital transformation
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing teams or complex cross-functional initiatives
• Proven track record of delivering business impact through analytics, systems, or operational leadership

• Advanced knowledge of statistical modeling, optimization techniques, and machine learning
• Proven programming skills in Python, SQL, and cloud-based data platforms
• Experience building data pipelines, models, and production-ready analytics tools

• Background in materials science, polymers, manufacturing, or packaging
• Familiarity with film extrusion or food packaging interactions

• Strategic thinker with…