Vice President Research And Development

Full time-On site Johns Creek, Georgia

The QUIKRETE Companies is seeking exceptional candidates for the

Vice President of Research \& Development

at our state-of-the-art Technology \& Innovation Center located in Johns Creek, Georgia.

The

VP of Research \& Development

will lead our product development efforts. This individual must combine deep technical knowledge in polymer and especially cement-based materials with strong business acumen and people leadership capabilities. General strength in material science is important as this role will evaluate new and competitive technologies regardless of the material (cement, polymer, metal, composite, etc.). The ideal candidate will be a curious, strategic thinker who thrives on solving complex challenges and is passionate about developing high-performing teams and driving continuous improvement across the value chain—from raw materials to product application. Much of the product development is in formulated packaged products sold through retail and commercial distribution channels. Demonstrated ability to understand and anticipate market and customer needs and translate into performance attributes is essential. The successful candidate will have a strong record of moving new product ideas from concept through development and into the marketplace, especially in formulated packaged products.

Job Responsibilities

Product Development Leadership

• Lead and evolve the company’s R\&D strategy with a focus on innovation in cement- and polymer-based systems, admixtures, and additives.
• Demonstrate deep technical curiosity with a willingness and ability to “go deep” when necessary to remove roadblocks and advance key projects.
• Develop technical knowledge and insights for sound decision making using statistically-sound experimentation and high-quality data.
• Integrate complex technical inputs and stakeholder requirements to guide product development and innovation.

Materials Expertise

• Provide technical leadership in cement chemistry including ternary systems (OPC, Aluminate, Sulfate), redispersible and other polymers, rheology, stress-strain analysis, and composite materials.
• Oversee research and development across coatings, adhesives, sealants, and elastomers.
• Engage strategically in raw material selection with consideration of sourcing, cost drivers, and application requirements.

Business Leadership

• Translate technical capabilities into business value; articulate the value proposition to a variety of internal and external stakeholders including supply partners, installers, GCs, designers, and owners.
• Identify P\&L opportunities across multiple businesses and product lines.
• Contribute to strategic planning.
• Communicate complex technical concepts clearly to non-technical business leaders.
• Stay abreast of industry trends, emerging technologies, and regulatory developments, and represent the company in industry forums, conferences, and partnerships

Technology Management

• Lead a diverse portfolio of projects spanning simple raw material replacements to novel product innovation.
• Enforce disciplined product development practices to ensure timely, efficient, and successful product launches.
• Guide cross-functional teams across R\&D, quality, regulatory, and technical service.

Team Development

• Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing, multidisciplinary team across varying levels of education and experience from high school to PhD.
• Champion career development, succession planning, and a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Manage team performance, including progressive discipline and terminations as warranted.
• Facilitate effective cross-functional collaboration among teams with different backgrounds and expertise.

Collaboration

• Support other business functions, including operations, sales, and purchasing
• Oversee raw material evaluations and cost out opportunities
• Work closely with Quality Assurance and plant management to address quality issues and claims.

Qualifications

Education:

• Advanced degree in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering or related discipline.

Experience:

• 15\+ years of significant experience in the construction materials industry, with a focus on cement-based systems.
• Extensive experience in product development, with demonstrated product launches in the commercial and consumer channels.
• Proven track record of successfully launching and scaling new products.
• Experience leading large technical organizations and working directly in production environments.

Skills:

• Deep knowledge of product and portfolio management.
• Expertise in product development processes, statistical methods, and design of experiments; machine learning a plus.
• Exceptional people management skills, including hiring, training, team development and retention.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills and the ability to lead and influence without formal authority.
• Comfortable with difficult conversations and decision-making under uncertainty.
• Understands and can articulate the technology vision.
• Ensures projects don’t get ahead of process while not letting process slow progress; does not allow perfection to be the enemy of good.

What We Offer:

• An influential executive role at the forefront of technology and innovation in a growth-focused company.
• A collaborative, mission-driven culture that values technology, integrity, and impact.
• Competitive compensation and benefits package.

What You Will Experience:

This position is based at the QUIKRETE® Engineering and Technical Center in Johns Creek, Georgia. Johns Creek is a vibrant community located in the northern suburbs of Atlanta, one of the fastest growing regions in the country. The 70,000\+ square foot facility houses state-of-the-art laboratories, analytical equipment, physical testing machines, environmental testing rooms and chambers, scale-up equipment, an engineering development lab, warehouse, and modern office and public space. Here, you will work in an intellectually challenging and highly collaborative environment with ample opportunities for professional development.

Business travel - approximately 25% - to manufacturing sites, job sites, technical meetings and symposia, vendors (typically they come to us), and business meetings is essential.The successful candidate will champion the technical capabilities of The Quikrete Companies to customers, suppliers, and the larger technical community.

QUIKRETE® offers attractive salaries and benefits including competitive base pay, medical, dental and vision coverage, basic life and personal loss insurance, supplemental life insurance, and a 401k retirement plan with a generous company match policy.

The QUIKRETE Companies, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, protected veteran status, or status as an individual with a disability.

About The QUIKRETE Companies -- “What America’s Made Of”

An industry pioneer known for its iconic and unmistakable yellow bag of concrete, The QUIKRETE® Companies was founded in 1940\. During the past 85 years, The QUIKRETE Companies evolved from a fledgling building material supplier in Columbus, Ohio to a scalable, single source for commercial, residential, infrastructure, and industrial building, repair and rehabilitation products. We have an exceptional track record of growth through acquisition into adjacent space, making The Quikrete Companies number 1 or 2 in North America for dry-mix mortars (Quikrete, Spec Mix, Custom, brands), Hardscapes and Masonry (Pavestone, Keystone, Tremron, and Best Block brands), Concrete Pipe (Rinker Materials), and storm water management (Contech). With the recent Summit Materials acquisition, The Quikrete Companies is a major player in cement manufacturing and ready mix concrete production.

For more information on QUIKRETE visit

www.quikrete.com

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