Innovation Manager - Electronics

Job Description:

Key Responsibilities:

• Leadership & Strategy
  • Lead the R&D team dedicated to advanced formulations for electronics.
  • Define and align the local innovation roadmap with global product development strategies.
  • Engage with senior customer R&D leaders to define new product opportunities and anticipate future technology requirements
  • Foster collaboration and knowledge sharing across Basel, ATC, and HATC sites.
• Innovation & Development
  • Translate market and customer needs (electronics, PCB, semiconductors) into product requirements.
  • Oversee the design, validation, and optimization of advanced formulations: solder masks, coatings, gels, encapsulants, etc.
  • Work with new component R&D teams to define future requirements for resins, curatives etc to advance future formulation performance
  • Ensure robust development processes that support scalability, performance, and regulatory compliance.
• Technology Transfer & Industrialization
  • Interface with process development teams to ensure smooth scale-up and industrialization of new formulations.
  • Lead pilot trials, scale-up activities, and readiness for commercial launch.
  • Support manufacturing, technical service and customer teams during qualification and ramp-up phases.
• Team Development & Capability Building
  • Develop expertise in formulation, characterization, and application within the team.
  • Mentor and support team members’ growth, training, and career development.

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS

• The R&D Manager –Formulations is a core member of the Global Product Innovation leadership team, actively contributing to strategic planning and execution of new product development initiatives aligned with business objectives.
• The role requires proactive engagement with cross-functional teams, including process development, regional technical centers (Basel and HATC), and commercial leaders, to ensure seamless integration of formulation activities into broader innovation programs.
• Close collaboration with regional marketing and technical service teams is essential to identify high-value opportunities, select impactful projects, and support product launches with robust technical documentation, compelling value propositions, and well-structured go-to-market plans.
• The manager must demonstrate strong technical leadership, with a sharp focus on project execution, making timely and informed decisions to overcome technical challenges, and accelerate development timelines.
• Influencing and guiding cross-functional teams toward successful outcomes is a key aspect of the role, requiring a combination of scientific credibility, commercial understanding, strategic thinking, and effective communication.

SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE ROLE

• A distinctive aspect of this role is its responsibility for driving meaningful innovation in formulation to support the division’s strategic growth objectives. Success requires a blend of creativity and scientific rigor, combined with a relentless focus on efficient and timely development of new material solutions.
• The R&D Manager will work closely with regional technical service and marketing teams to ensure alignment on opportunity selection, definition of product performance targets, and prioritization of projects that deliver high customer and business value.
• As with all R&D leadership roles, this position demands strong collaboration and influencing skills to ensure alignment across R&D, manufacturing, and commercial functions. The manager will play a key role in shaping and maintaining a coherent, strategically driven innovation portfolio.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

Education

• Master’s degree or PhD in Chemistry, Materials Science, Formulation, or related field.

Experience

• Minimum 10 years in R&D for materials formulation in electronics (solder masks, coatings, encapsulants, adhesives etc.).
• Proven track record in managing multidisciplinary teams and leading innovation projects from proof of concept to industrialization.
• Strong experience with scale-up, customer qualification, and technology transfer.

Key Competencies

• Formulation expertise: epoxy, acrylic, polyurethane, silicone resins, fillers, additives, pigments, etc.
• In-depth knowledge of electronics market requirements (PCB, semiconductors, LED...).
• Ability to manage complex projects, unite teams, and interact with industrialization, quality, marketing, and customer functions.
• Scientific rigor, creativity, results orientation, and customer focus.

• Resource Management: Efficiently utilizes technical, human, and financial resources to maximize R&D productivity.
• Innovative Thinking: Encourages creativity and experimentation to solve technical challenges.
• Customer Focus: Maintains a strong orientation toward application-driven innovation and end-user needs.

Additional Locations: