R&D Division Manager

R&D Manager – Automotive Refinish Coatings

Location: Samut Prakan, with occasional travel to Samut Sakhon
Industry: Automotive Refinish Coatings | Paints & Coatings | Chemical Formulation
Employment Type: Permanent

About Our Client

Our client is a well-established coatings organization with a strong presence in Thailand's automotive refinish market. The business supports body shops, service centers, distributors, and automotive aftermarket customers with high-performance coating systems and related surface protection solutions.

The company is entering a new phase of product development, portfolio expansion, and regional collaboration. This creates an opportunity for an experienced R&D leader to strengthen local formulation capability, improve product performance, and support the development of new solutions for evolving customer and market needs.

About the Role

The R&D Manager will lead research and development activities for liquid automotive refinish coating products. This role requires a strong technical foundation in paint and coating formulation, especially in PU, Epoxy, Alkyd, pigment dispersion, and related coating systems.

The successful candidate will manage R&D activities across local teams, translate customer and market requirements into practical formulation work, and collaborate closely with internal stakeholders across sales, operations, production, and regional R&D leadership.

This is not a purely administrative R&D role. The company needs someone who brings technical credibility, hands-on formulation understanding, and mature leadership.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage R&D activities for automotive refinish and related liquid coating products.
• Develop, modify, and improve coating formulations based on customer requirements, product performance needs, and market trends.
• Work with PU, Epoxy, Alkyd, pigment dispersion, and other relevant coating technologies.
• Oversee product testing, validation, troubleshooting, and technical improvement activities.
• Translate customer, sales, and market feedback into clear R&D actions.
• Manage and guide R&D / laboratory team members across relevant sites.
• Collaborate with production, sales, marketing, operations, QA/QC, and regional technical stakeholders.
• Support new product development, product improvement, cost optimization, and commercialization projects.
• Maintain proper technical documentation and ensure compliance with applicable industry standards and internal procedures.
• Monitor market, competitor, and technology developments in coatings and automotive refinish solutions.

Key Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Chemistry, Chemical Science, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, Materials Science, or related fields.
• At least 10 years of experience in the paint, coating, or chemical formulation industry.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in technical management, R&D leadership, laboratory management, or formulation leadership.
• Strong experience in liquid coating formulation.
• Experience with PU, Epoxy, Alkyd, pigment dispersion, or automotive refinish technologies.
• Strong understanding of raw materials, formulation behavior, product performance, and coating application.
• Experience leading technical teams, laboratory staff, chemists, researchers, or application specialists.
• Able to work cross-functionally with sales, production, operations, QA/QC, and regional stakeholders.
• Good English communication for technical discussion and regional reporting.
• SAP and MS Office knowledge are advantages.

Preferred Background

Strong-fit candidates may come from:

• Automotive refinish coatings
• Automotive coatings
• Industrial liquid coatings
• Paint and coating formulation
• Pigment dispersion / color formulation
• Chemical formulation for coating applications
• Technical R&D leadership in coatings or related materials

Adjacent backgrounds may be considered if the candidate has strong formulation exposure and clear leadership maturity.

This Role Is Suitable For Someone Who

• Enjoys solving technical formulation problems, not only managing paperwork.
• Understands how raw materials affect coating performance.
• Can lead experienced technical staff with credibility and patience.
• Is comfortable working in a business that is transforming and becoming more regionally connected.
• Can balance technical depth, team leadership, and commercial practicality.
• Communicates clearly with both local teams and overseas technical stakeholders.

What Makes This Opportunity Interesting

• Lead R&D for a recognized automotive refinish coatings business.
• Work on liquid coating products with direct customer and market application.
• Join a business expanding into wider automotive aftermarket and specialty products.
• Collaborate with regional technical leadership.
• Play a visible role in product innovation, formulation improvement, and future portfolio development.

Application

Interested candidates are invited to apply confidentially.

Please submit your CV or contact TalentUp Consulting Group for an initial confidential discussion.