R&D Manager

About Research and Development - Ucrete

Ucrete is Sikas high-performance resin flooring technology for demanding industrial environments. Based at our Redditch Technology Centre the Ucrete R&D team develops and maintains robust flooring solutions for customers operating in sectors where durability hygiene chemical resistance and dependable performance matter. The team works closely with manufacturing technical service quality procurement and commercial colleagues while also connecting into Sikas wider international R&D network.

Purpose of the Role

This is a key technical leadership role with responsibility for the effective delivery of Ucrete product development and product maintenance activities at Redditch. You will provide clear direction to the local R&D team strengthen experimental and data-led ways of working and ensure that projects move from technical concept to industrially robust solutions. Alongside people leadership and formulation expertise you will lead the development of stronger digital R&D capability ensuring that experimental data is well structured reusable and actively exploited through design of experiments advanced analytics and appropriate AI/ML-enabled tools. The role will help protect the existing Ucrete range while accelerating the creation of differentiated next-generation flooring technologies.

Whats In it for You

The Opportunity:

Lead and develop the Redditch Ucrete R&D team creating a safe collaborative and high-performing laboratory environment.

Own a balanced portfolio of innovation product maintenance raw-material change and technical support projects using clear priorities milestones data-based decision criteria and measurable business outcomes.

Shape technically robust formulations and solutions through sound polymer chemistry structured experimentation and design of experiments supported by high-quality digital data statistical modelling and clear visualisation of technical evidence.

Build the teams data-science capability promoting consistent data architecture and metadata effective use of Nuage and other approved systems and the responsible application of AI/ML to identify patterns improve experimental learning and support formulation and performance prediction.

The Rewards:

You will be rewarded with a competitive salary and a strong package of benefits. We pride ourselves on our total reward offer:

EV/PHEV company car fleet or car cash allowance

Bonus scheme

25 days holiday rising to 28 days with service plus bank holidays

Hybrid and core-hours working balanced with the practical requirements of an R&D leadership role

Company pension contribution of up to 10% private healthcare and group life cover at six times annual salary

Global Income Protection enhanced family leave staff discounts Cycle to Work and service awards

The Support:

You will join an established technology centre with access to experienced laboratory manufacturing quality and commercial colleagues as well as Sikas broader global R&D community. The role has the visibility and support needed to influence priorities build team capability and ensure that technically strong ideas are converted into dependable products and business value.

The Skills:

The role offers scope to deepen your leadership of formulation-led R&D portfolio management and cross-functional technology transfer while establishing data science as a practical enabler of Ucrete innovation. You will be encouraged to develop the teams capability in design of experiments digital data management statistical analysis visualisation and AI/ML-enabled approaches that improve learning decision quality formulation insight and development speed. This is not a standalone data-science position: success will come from connecting robust laboratory science with well-governed data and commercially relevant technical decisions.

From day one Sika will support your professional and personal development through local learning product knowledge leadership development and the global Sika Business School offering.

The Future:

Potential career routes include broader R&D leadership technology leadership global product development and other senior technical or innovation roles across Sika. You will have the opportunity to progress within a global company spanning a wide range of technologies markets and business areas.

Qualifications :

What we need from you

A degree in chemistry polymer science materials science chemical engineering or a closely related discipline supported by substantial industrial formulation or product-development experience.

Strong knowledge of polymeric materials and formulated systems; experience of resin flooring polyurethane cementitious polyurethane or adjacent technologies would be highly advantageous.

Proven ability to lead coach and organise technical teams while maintaining high standards of health safety laboratory practice and personal accountability.

A structured data-led approach to innovation and product maintenance including portfolio prioritisation design of experiments statistical data interpretation visualisation technical documentation and delivery against agreed milestones.

The ability to improve digital R&D practice by setting expectations for data quality structure metadata and reuse. Practical experience with tools such as advanced Excel statistical software Python Power BI or AI/ML applications in scientific R&D would be advantageous.

Practical understanding of product-change processes manufacturing scale-up and formulation transfer with the confidence to integrate laboratory evidence manufacturing data and commercial requirements across R&D operations quality regulatory and commercial functions.

Clear credible communication and stakeholder-management skills with the judgement to challenge constructively explain complex technical and analytical findings and turn evidence into practical recommendations.

Additional Information :

We offer competitive salaries aligned with local market benchmarks and the specific scope and responsibilities of each role. Compensation is determined based skills relevant to the position education and/or training.  We are committed to fair and equitable pay practices in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time