Open Innovation Leader - R&D - Ashland Inc

Are you the kind of person that is always thinking, sketching, seeking, and adjusting? Who needs to understand how things work and then figure out how they can work better? Are you a passionate, tenacious, solver who loves to work with others who share your drive? Are you positive, constructive, and ingenious?

Are you always solving?

Then we’d like to meet you and bet you’d like to meet us.

Ashland has an exciting opportunity for an Open Innovation Leader to join our Ashland LLC business at our Bridgewater, NJ or Wilmington, DE locations. This is a very visible, significant role within the Company and the R&D function. This position will report to the SVP & CTO.

**Must be willing to live in the Bridgewater, NJ or Wilmington, DE location**

As the Open Innovation Leader at Ashland, you will chart the path for R&D breakthroughs by forging partnerships and procuring funding from premier research and innovation collaboration programs in North America, Latin America, Europe, and Asia. You are tasked with orchestrating global efforts between academia and industry and securing government support where relevant. Your charge is to grow a network of innovation that incorporates external expertise, pioneering ideas, and groundbreaking technologies, ensuring alignment with our strategic goals. In your role as the ambassador to the academic and research communities, your collaborative endeavors will be crucial to the enhancement and assimilation of cutting-edge technology within our organization.
 

The responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Serve as a member of the Global Leadership team and collaborate with team members to develop and execute Ashland Open Innovation strategy.
• Develop and manage agreements with universities and research institutions for collaborative research and innovation projects globally working closely with our legal business partners. 
• Secure government grants and funding opportunities. 
• Build and maintain a network of academic and institutional partnerships to contribute to the open innovation strategy of Ashland.
• Serve as a key liaison between Ashland R&D and the external academic and research community, ensuring a continuous flow of innovation into the company.
• Lead and participate in cross-functional teams and business groups that include members from R&D, legal, marketing, and business development to ensure holistic Open Innovation strategy implementation.
• Develop, track and report key performance indicators (KPIs) related to open innovation efforts, including partnership effectiveness and innovation throughput.
• Represent Ashland R&D in external forums, conferences, and workshops. 
• Travel: Approximately 10% travel is required for this role, globally, to North America, Latin America, Europe, and Asia. 
• Other duties as required.
• Actively contribute to the organizational goals by taking initiative, executing on goals and focusing on performance and safety
• Improve the organization capacity and capabilities through building collaborative relationships, optimizing diverse talent and utilizing positive communications and influence with others

In order to be qualified for this role, you must possess the following:

• Master's Degree with a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering.
• 10+ years experience in developing new products in the specialty chemical industry
• Experience in chemical formulation, preferably in a regulated industry
• Knowledge of chemical transformation processes. 
• Experience in managing high-impact and complex technical projects (budget, timelines from start to finish, internal/external resources, execution, reporting and communication, etc.)
• Possess strong scientific problem-solving and leadership skills
• Demonstrated experience in establishing and managing partnerships with universities and research institutions.
• Proven track record in navigating and securing government grants and funding globally in the R&D sector.
• Proficient understanding of open innovation principles and practices, with experience in integrating external innovations into an industry setting.
• Excellent negotiation and relationship-building skills, with the ability to create and manage complex agreements and collaborations.
• The ability to help the company drive greater value through understanding the business, making complex decisions and creating the new and different
• Demonstrated responsible and ethical behavior at all times
• The ability to help the company drive greater value through understanding the business, making complex decisions and creating the new and different

The following skill sets are preferred by the business unit:

• PhD degree is preferred

In more than 100 countries, the people of Ashland LLC. (NYSE: ASH) provide the specialty chemicals, technologies and insights to help customers create new and improved products for today and sustainable solutions for tomorrow. Our chemistry is at work every day in a wide variety of markets and applications, including architectural coatings, automotive, construction, energy, personal care and pharmaceutical. Visit www.ashland.com to see the innovations we offer.
 
At Ashland our vision is to be a leading, global specialty chemicals company whose inspired and engaged employees add value to all we touch. In fact our people, employees, customers and vendors define who we are. They are the driving force behind everything we do.
 
Not only do we value our customers but we value our employees, and we work to offer them a dynamic and challenging environment. We hold ourselves to high standards at Ashland, and we value integrity and honesty.
 
Ashland has a history of attracting the best people and keeping them. The reasons are simple: industry competitive salary and benefits, pay-for-performance incentive plans and a diverse work environment where employees feel challenged and valued. People come to Ashland and stay. As a growing Fortune 500 specialty chemicals company, we offer opportunities for development and advancement throughout our global organization. Our values define who we are and what we care about as a company. If you are looking for a relationship with a company instead of simply a job, this may be a great fit.

Ashland is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled/Gender Identity/Sexual Orientation. 

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. NOTE:  We do not accept resumes from external staffing agencies or independent recruiters for any of our openings unless we have a signed recruiting agreement in place to fill a specific position.