Senior Manager - Coatings R&D and Technical Development in Cleveland, Ohio at Pioneer Athletics

About Pioneer Athletics

Pioneer Athletics is the nation's leader in Athletic Field Marking Paint and Field Equipment, and has been in business since 1905. With creative, forward-thinking, "cutting-edge" technology and a competitive spirit, PIONEER ATHLETICS leads the Sports Turf Industry with the highest quality products for natural and synthetic turf athletic fields and athletic facilities.

Our customers include over 22,000 Universities, High Schools, Parks & Recreation Departments, and hundreds of Professional Sports Teams in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Asia.

We are a family-oriented company committed to the personal and professional development of our employees.

Location

Cleveland, OH

Position Summary

The Senior Manager of Coatings R&D and Technical Development is a strategic and hands‑on technical leader responsible for driving formulation development, standardized testing, regulatory compliance, and data‑driven decision making across the full coatings lifecycle. This role leads teams, builds scalable systems and processes, and partners cross‑functionally to deliver high‑quality, compliant, and industry leading products.

This position is ideal for an experienced coatings professional with deep formulation expertise, a strong foundation in regulatory and compliance leadership, and a demonstrated ability to modernize testing, analytics, and organizational capability at enterprise scale.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership & Strategy

• Lead research, development, and maintenance of coatings and related formulations across multiple product lines and markets
• Establish technical vision and priorities aligned with business objectives, portfolio strategy, and customer needs
• Drive proactive, data‑based decision making throughout the product lifecycle

Team & Talent Management

• Lead and develop high‑performing technical teams, including chemists, technicians, and managers
• Provide coaching, performance management, succession planning, and leadership development
• Build a collaborative, empowering, and accountable team culture

Formulation Development & Lifecycle Management

• Oversee formulation development, scale‑up, plant support, and lifecycle maintenance
• Lead troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and corrective action initiatives for quality, supply, and performance issues
• Support product launches using structured stage‑gate or equivalent processes

Testing, Data, and Standardization

• Develop, standardize, and modernize laboratory and field test methods
• Apply statistical tools to improve test quality and decision making
• Implement automated metrics, dashboards, and self‑serve reporting to improve efficiency and transparency

Regulatory & Compliance Leadership

• Ensure regulatory, environmental, and labeling compliance across all formulations
• Interpret and implement evolving VOC and environmental regulations
• Lead audits, reporting, and compliance programs across facilities and regions

Cross‑Functional & Enterprise Collaboration

• Partner with Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Procurement, Quality, Sales, Marketing, and IT
• Support raw material strategy, vendor qualification, substitutions, and risk mitigation
• Lead or contribute to enterprise initiatives such as digital transformation, standardization, and potential future post‑acquisition integration

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor of Science in Chemistry or related scientific discipline (required)

Experience

• 15+ years of progressive experience in the coatings or chemical industry
• Proven leadership experience managing managers and cross‑functional technical teams
• Demonstrated success operating at regional and enterprise scale

Technical Expertise

• Coatings formulation and performance evaluation
• Regulatory compliance and environmental standards (VOC, labeling, reporting)
• Statistical analysis and root cause analysis
• Competitive benchmarking and performance testing

Leadership & Business Skills

• Strong project and portfolio management capabilities
• Data‑driven problem solving and systems thinking
• Excellent communication skills with technical and non‑technical stakeholders
• Track record of building scalable processes where none previously existed

Tools & Technology

• Microsoft 365
• Data and analytics platforms
• Stage‑Gate or equivalent product development systems

Preferred Attributes

• Ability to balance strategic leadership with hands‑on technical engagement
• Passion for mentoring and developing technical talent
• Strong customer and market awareness, including contractor and end‑user perspectives