Global Technical Manager

Synthomer is a leading supplier of high-performance, highly specialised polymers and ingredients that play vital roles in key sectors such as coatings, construction, adhesives, and health and protection – growing markets that serve billions of end users worldwide. Headquartered in London, UK and publicly listed there since 1971, we employ c.3,900 employees across our 5 innovation centres of excellence and more than 29 manufacturing sites across Europe, North America and Asia. Around 20% of our sales volumes are from new and patent protected products.

At our innovation centres of excellence in the UK, Germany, China, Malaysia and Ohio, USA we collaborate closely with our customers to develop new products and enhance existing ones tailored to their needs, with an increasing range of sustainability benefits. Since 2021, we have been proud holders of the London Stock Exchange Green Economy Mark, which recognises green technology businesses making a significant contribution to a more sustainable, low-carbon economy.

Global Technical Manager – Specialty Vinyl Polymers (SVP)

Lead Innovation. Drive Technical Excellence. Shape Global Growth.

We are seeking an experienced and commercially minded Global Technical Manager to lead our R&D and Technical Service functions within our Specialty Vinyl Polymers (SVP) business.

This is a highly visible leadership role, responsible for defining and executing the global technical strategy, driving innovation, supporting customers, and ensuring the successful delivery of new product development programmes. Working closely with commercial, manufacturing and business leadership teams, you will play a critical role in accelerating growth across PVC, adhesives, coatings, composites and emerging markets.

The successful candidate will combine deep technical expertise with strong leadership skills, a customer-focused mindset and the ability to influence and collaborate across a global organisation.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Act as a key member of the SVP Business Leadership Team, representing R&D and Technical Service.
• Develop and execute the global technical strategy, ensuring alignment with business growth objectives.
• Define long-term innovation and product development goals while maintaining a robust innovation pipeline.
• Contribute to the Integrated Business Planning process and chair Product Management Reviews.
• Partner with commercial teams to identify and develop new market opportunities.

People Leadership

• Lead, coach and develop a team of technical leaders and specialists across R&D, Applications and Technical Service.
• Build a high-performing, performance-driven culture focused on innovation, customer support and continuous improvement.
• Ensure organisational capability and succession planning support long-term business objectives.
• Foster collaboration across global teams and functions.

Technical Service & Customer Support

• Oversee the global Technical Service function, ensuring timely and effective support for customers and commercial teams.
• Serve as a senior technical resource for key customers, distributors and internal stakeholders.
• Provide guidance on product applications, specifications, technical issues, regulatory requirements and customer complaints.
• Deliver technical training and application expertise to customers, distributors and internal teams.
• Support Business Development and Technical Sales teams in securing new business and expanding market opportunities.

Research & Development

• Lead the global product development process, ensuring projects are aligned with business priorities and delivered through effective stage-gate governance.
• Drive innovation programmes that deliver differentiated products and sustainable growth.
• Ensure high-quality application testing and technical evaluation to support customer and market requirements.
• Provide technical leadership for manufacturing support and plant investment projects.
• Champion continuous improvement in project execution, laboratory operations and technical processes.
• Support intellectual property development and protection through patents, confidential know-how and competitive technology assessment.

Safety, Health & Environment (SHE)

• Demonstrate visible SHE leadership and ensure all technical activities comply with internal policies and applicable regulations.
• Promote a proactive safety culture across laboratories and technical teams.
• Ensure laboratories operate to the highest standards of safety, compliance and 5S principles.

About You

You are an experienced technical leader with a proven track record of driving innovation, managing multidisciplinary teams and delivering business results in specialty chemicals or polymer-based markets.

Essential Experience

• Degree in Polymer Chemistry, Chemistry, Materials Science or a related scientific discipline.
• Significant experience in R&D, product development and technical leadership roles.
• Experience managing innovation pipelines, stage-gate development processes and new product commercialisation.
• Strong people management experience with a demonstrated ability to lead, coach and develop technical teams.
• Technical knowledge and industry experience within PVC, coatings, adhesives, composites or related specialty chemical markets.
• Applied chemistry and customer-facing technical support experience.
• Experience working within a global business environment.

Key Skills & Attributes

• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate technical opportunities into commercial growth.
• Exceptional leadership and interpersonal skills, with a collaborative and inclusive approach.
• Strong presentation and communication skills with the ability to simplify complex technical concepts.
• Customer-focused with excellent problem-solving capabilities.
• Highly organised with a strong bias for action and delivery.
• Commercially aware and capable of influencing stakeholders at all levels.
• Culturally aware and comfortable operating across international markets.
• Willingness to travel globally to support customers, projects and business growth initiatives.

Why Join Us?

This is an exciting opportunity to lead a global technical organisation at the forefront of innovation in Specialty Vinyl Polymers. You will have the opportunity to shape technical strategy, develop high-performing teams, influence business direction and drive the development of next-generation products for markets around the world.

Ready to make a global impact? We'd love to hear from you.

🌍 Global Benefits Overview

• 💰 Competitive, market-aligned compensation

• 🎯 Discretionary global bonus scheme

• 📈 Discretionary Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) – for senior positions

• 🚗 Company car or car allowance – varies by region and role

• 🩺 Healthcare – tailored to regional locations

• 👶 Parental leave and family support – maternity, paternity, adoption (aligned with regional policies)

• 🏡 Working options – flexibility where it matters, based on role and business needs

• 📚 Learning & development opportunities – training, online platforms, buddy/mentorship programs, Internal Synthomer University with L&D offers

• 💙 Wellbeing support – employee assistance program (EAP), mental health resources, wellbeing initiatives

• 🌱 Retirement / pension contributions – plans vary by country

• 🤝 Culture of Inclusion – where everyone can thrive

• 🏆 Performance culture, global reward & recognition programmes