Job Abstract

Innovation starts here! As the top R&D executive and reporting directly to the CEO, the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) is responsible for shaping Avient's innovation strategy, building a culture of collaboration, leading the Corporate Research & Development organization and building new platforms for short, medium, and long-term growth for the company.

The CTO will influence technical and organizational aspects of Avient's innovation decisions, continuously advancing and leveraging our global R&D capabilities and tools to drive growth and improve operational efficiency, while inspiring the organization behind these initiatives.

The CTO plays a key role in driving our business strategy through innovation, ensuring the company has the competencies and platforms ready to meet the customers' most demanding needs. This leader provides vision and guidance for the development of the next generation of Avient’s products and solutions, translating strategies into sustainable commercial success and business growth through collaboration with the businesses and global cross-functional teams.

Successful candidates will possess an innate curiosity with a desire to win, will be an innovative visionary, and a strategic thinker, and have proven success in leading high performing teams to solve their customer’s most complex problems. They will also have a strong penchant for building a strong team and collaborative culture across the organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute Avient's long-term innovation strategy with respect to new and emerging products and technology platforms centered around customer needs.
• Identify and influence investment in sustainable innovations to drive business growth.
• Manage innovation portfolios, new product pipelines, technology roadmaps and resources consistently with Avient business segments' strategy and growth objectives.
• Establish strategic relationships and alliances with key academic groups and research partners to complement and accelerate the development of key platforms.
• Contribute in identifying M&A and licensing opportunities to provide new platforms and solutions for new markets and new development areas beyond current technology base.
• Lead and enhance Avient's Innovation Process, idea generation processes, technology project management, experimental processes, recognition programs and other technology tools to bring products from ideation to development to commercialization.
• Maintain and enhance robust Intellectual Property systems and processes for protection of all Avient patentable inventions, formulations, and technical data.
• Lead research efforts to identify new raw material alternatives supporting product development, operational efficiency and cost savings.
• Collaborate with and support Product Stewardship to ensure products are developed and validated in adherence to regulatory standards.
• Enhance and evolve R&D by leveraging advanced analytics and digital technologies to improve efficiency, drive business growth and focused execution.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and discovery, which delivers creativity, vision, and growth for Avient.
• Inspire high-performance, results-driven teams to continually come up with novel approaches to leverage synergies and expand technical capability across the businesses and regions.
• Maintain effective talent management processes and technical training programs within the R&D organization, ensuring key talent development and retention, building innovation capability and maintaining an R&D organization that is acutely aware of and leveraging secular trends.
• Advocate a strong safety and performance culture across the technical teams.
  

  Ideal Candidate Profile Includes

• A highly customer focused individual with strength in technology and a strong business acumen.
• Ph.D. in Polymers, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Material Sciences and Engineering or related field
• Proven accomplishments in leading multidisciplinary scientific teams in developing new products and projects, providing clear direction to research and product development efforts that align with Avient's strategy.
• Broad and deep technical skills in product development, formulation development of specialty polymer compounds, composites and fibers.
• Possesses innate curiosity and the ability to identify innovation opportunities and accelerate their translation into new products and solutions.
• Skilled at interacting with and collaborating with diverse stakeholders, including Avient employees, customers, government agencies, academic groups, industry associations, and the Board of Directors.
• Demonstrated ability to build an internal and external technology network and make connections in this network to advance and accelerate Avient's technologies and capabilities.
• Balances technical expertise and business acumen. Acts as an insightful thought partner and strategist for the business.
• Continually assesses the market potential of an innovative idea or solution. Builds excitement in others to explore creative options.
• Serves as an innovative and strategic partner to build, grow, and maintain long-lasting relations with key customers. Uses customer insights to drive and guide development of new offerings.
• Strong talent management and employee engagement skills with a track record of attracting, developing, and retaining a high performing team around the world.