Technical Manager

Job Title

Position Overview

Position(s) Overview:

• Manage technical initiatives within the commercial and specialty divisions by providing leadership in the following areas:
• Innovation of new products and platforms.
• Evaluation of new raw materials for sustainable turf/carpet backings and yarns.

• Process and/or raw material modifications will result in cost savings for existing products.
• Communicate results and provide recommendations to all levels of the organization.
• Strategically coordinate all product development to ensure intellectual property (IP) protection is achieved to maintain future competitive advantage in the marketplace.
• Responsible for coaching and supporting direct reports, providing a motivating work environment, and growing future leaders in the organization.

Responsibilities:

• Coordinate with internal customers (Turf Manufacturing, R&D, Marketing and Brand Teams, Turf Operations, Sourcing, Sustainability, etc.) to determine performance requirements and target costing for new products, both domestic and international

• Design and coordinate lab studies, pilot trials, and production trials (XRs, MTRs, and TPRs) to develop appropriate turf yarn and backing formulations, backing constructions, and process settings that will achieve performance and costing goals for new products. Follow the development process from inception to product release.

• Coordinate testing of trial materials to ensure that all customer and product requirements are met.
• Evaluate test data, communicate results, and present recommendations to customers and management at all levels of the organization.
• Interface with customers, Manufacturing, QE, and Tech Services to ensure that the appropriate testing protocols are in place for the finished product.
• Collaborate with manufacturing groups to negotiate priorities and ensure that trials are run efficiently and with minimal impact on scheduled production orders.
• Initiate process and/or product construction modifications for existing products to enhance performance or reduce costs.
• Coach and support direct reports while fostering a collaborative environment that capitalizes on ideas and input from all levels of the organization.
• Ensure that the products being developed meet all global safety, environmental, and other regulatory requirements and industry standards, as well as requirements for necessary product certifications by outside entities (e.g., Green Label Plus, Cradle-to-Cradle, etc).
• Provide technical support for contract manufacturing and specialty operations (turf yarn extrusion, turf manufacturing, extrusion compounding, precoat compounding, extrusion coating, tile cutting, needle bond, urethane coating, recycling, etc.) by troubleshooting quality and process issues in order to identify and implement solutions.

• Interface with Global Sourcing, raw material vendors, and equipment vendors to stay abreast of new technology and exchange information on technical issues regarding raw materials and equipment.
• Ensure that company assets, including supplies, fixed assets, raw materials, and intellectual property, are protected.
• Lead and/or serve on cross-functional teams, product development teams, and technical groups promoting sustainable product design that meets or exceeds all performance requirements.
• Assist in installation and startup of new equipment, as needed.
• Provide mentoring and coaching to develop technical knowledge and skills within the turf and commercial divisions.

• Report project status to management on a regular basis.
• Manage technical risk related to innovative turf/flooring projects, including research associated with competitors’ existing intellectual property, creating and submitting Records of Invention, maintaining all supporting trial data in an accessible format, and collaborating with Shaw attorneys to file patent applications.
• Utilize effective statistical and analytical techniques when reviewing data.
• Lead or participate in process improvement initiatives (e.g., Six Sigma, Kaizen, Lean, FMEA, etc.)
• Utilize software (e.g., Smartsheet) to accomplish goals and manage projects.

Foundational Competencies:

• Drive Results
• Deliver Compelling Communication
• Build Trusting Relationships
• Lead Change

• Demonstrate Strategic Influence

Requirements:

• Four-year degree required; Chemistry or engineering field, preferred
• A minimum of 3+ years’ experience in turf/carpet/carpet tile manufacturing OR 8+ years other manufacturing experience is required.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Work Shift