Global Fire Protection Portfolio R&D Technical Director

• Advanced degree in Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Minimum of 10 years of leadership experience in coatings or specialty chemicals R&D, with a strong emphasis on regulatory compliance and product delivery.
• Deep expertise in global fire protection standards and certification processes, including successful engagement with third-party testing agencies.

Preferred:

• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams, manage complex technical programs, and deliver results aligned with strategic business goals.
• Strong background in physical property testing and system compatibility, especially in multi-layer coating systems.
• Skilled in technical decision-making, risk management, and resource prioritization across global teams.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence across technical and commercial domains.

This vacancy is advertised exclusively for internal candidates, with a closing date of Friday 12th June.

Interview dates: Proposed for the week commencing 8th and 15th June. Successful candidates will be notified in advance, allowing time to prepare.

*Please be aware that you can apply for any internal job offer after minimum one year in current role having previously informed your manager.Please read the **[*How to apply internally

](https: //swcompany.sharepoint.com/sites/EMEAITalentDevelopment/Shared Documents/Forms/AllItems.aspx?id=/sites/EMEAITalentDevelopment/Shared Documents/Talent Acquisition/Employee Resources/How to apply internally_SW pdf.pdf&parent=/sites/EMEAITalentDevelopment/Shared Documents/Talent Acquisition/Employee Resources) guidelines before handing in your application All internal employees when applying for a role are required to upload their updated C.V and their last 2 appraisals (which can be retrieved from HR Cloud).

• Product Development & Execution

• Lead the full lifecycle of product development for intumescent coatings, ensuring timely and successful delivery from concept to commercialization.

• Drive executional excellence across global R&D teams, ensuring alignment with business cases and market strategies.

• Champion innovation and continuous improvement in product performance, application, and system integration.

• Regulatory Standards & Third-Party Testing

• Serve as the technical authority on global fire protection standards (UL, EN, ASTM, ISO), ensuring all products meet or exceed regulatory and certification requirements.

• Develop and manage third-party testing programs, including coordination with external laboratories and certification bodies.

• Monitor and respond to evolving regulatory landscapes, proactively adjusting development strategies to maintain compliance.

• Physical Property & Compatibility Testing

• Oversee rigorous testing of product physical properties including adhesion, durability, thermal expansion, and fire resistance.

• Ensure environmental and physical compatibility across substrates, surface preparation methods, primers, and topcoats.

• Lead system-level validation to ensure product performance in real-world applications.

• Strategic Collaboration & Leadership

• Partner closely with the Global Fire Portfolio Marketing Director to align technical development with customer needs, market trends, and strategic priorities.

• Translate business cases into clear, actionable R&D plans with defined deliverables and success metrics.

• Provide technical leadership across cross-functional teams, fostering collaboration between R&D, marketing, regulatory, and operations.

• Key Stakeholder in the delivery of the Fire Center of Excellence (FCOE) Approval and Completion