Head of Research & Development Manager (R&D)

R&D Manager (Building & Living Business Unit) Germany Location: North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany Company Summary: Airswift is retained by one of the leading companies in the nonwovens market worldwide. With a strong focus on Building and Living applications for nonwoven solutions the client is looking to grow their team and increase their service lines in the department. Your Responsibilities: Independently develop new and innovative products in the field of building materials (e.g. thermal and acoustic insulation, roofing) for a global market Conduct and analyse raw materials to ensure alignment with customer specifications Define technical specifications and establish operating standards to ensure a seamless transition to manufacturing Supervise laboratory instructions and monitor their implementation Work in an international, cross-functional development environment Develop roadmap projects and coordinate national and international funding projects Requirements: ~1-3 years of professional experience in product development, ideally with knowledge of raw and technical textiles, including their production and finishing processes ~ Strong knowledge in the field of technical textiles ~ Excellent communication skills in German and English; additional proficiency in Dutch and/or French is a plus ~ Team player with a hands-on mentality and a creative, solution-oriented mindset ~ Strong IT affinity: SAP experience is an advantage ~ Analytical and results-driven problem solver with an innovative approach • Experience in project management as well as familiarity with Minitab, design of experiments, and intellectual property/patents is desirable Key Words: Research & Development, Laminate, Nonwoven, Textile, Filtration, Acoustic Board, Needle Felt, Air Laid, Latex Bonding, Thermal Air Bonding, Project management, Sales, Quality Assurance, Client Facing, Cross Functional.