Director, Chemical Innovation, Easton, PA
GENERAL SUMMARY:
The Director of Chemical Innovation will serve as a visionary leader and catalyst for breakthrough innovation at Crayola, driving the discovery, development, and commercialization of proprietary chemical technologies that fuel new product segments and business models. This role requires the ability to lead and inspire a team of scientists, chemists, and chemical engineers - translating consumer needs and white space opportunities into complex scientific work with strategic business outcomes. The ideal candidate brings a strong innovative mindset, cross-functional leadership expertise, and a passion for turning ideas into impactful, consumer-driven solutions.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Shape Innovation Strategy: Develop and lead a forward-looking chemical innovation strategy that identifies new product segments, business models, and technology platforms through consumer insights, market analysis, and emerging trend evaluation.
- Drive Consumer-Informed Science: Translate consumer needs and white space opportunities into actionable scientific direction, guiding the development of proprietary chemical technologies that deliver differentiated value.
- Direct and empower the chemical innovation team through the full innovation lifecycle—from early-stage ideation and feasibility through development and hand off to commercialization—using iterative, insight-driven processes that align with the strategic business goals.
- Build and Mentor High-Performing Teams: Lead and develop a team of chemists, chemical engineers, and scientists, fostering a culture of experimentation, technical excellence, and continuous learning.
- Manage Technical Functions: Oversee key technical areas including chemical formulation, bench-level experimentation, formulation development, and early-stage technical validation. Guide the team in designing and executing experiments, analyzing results, and iterating on chemical technologies to ensure feasibility, performance, and alignment with consumer needs.
- Advance Technology Solutions: Guide the development of scalable, ownable technology solutions that can be reapplied across multiple product lines/platforms and consumer needs.
- Enable Commercialization: Collaborate with Marketing, Design, Product Development, Operations, and Supply Chain to ensure seamless translation of bench-scale technologies into manufacturable, cost-effective, and compliant products.
- Collaborate: with Marketing and cross-functional teams to effectively highlight the technology’s benefits with clear, distinctive and differentiable claims.
- Strengthen External Partnerships: Identify and engage with external partners, suppliers, and technology providers to access and integrate novel raw materials and technologies into product solutions.
- Protect Innovation: Partner with Legal and IP teams to secure proprietary technologies through patents and freedom-to-operate assessments.
- Ensure Operational Excellence: Align with Manufacturing, Sourcing, and QA teams to optimize scale-up, supply chain readiness, and product launch success.
- Manage Resources and Budget: Set functional goals, manage departmental budgets, and allocate resources to ensure alignment with strategic priorities and innovation roadmaps
- Support Strategic Initiatives: Contribute to special projects and strategic initiatives as assigned by the Leadership Council.
JOB SPECIFICATIONS:
- Experience: Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, chemistry, engineering, or a master’s degree in business or marketing, MBA preferred. Minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience in technical or product development roles, with a proven ability and tacit knowledge leading high-performing teams of innovators, chemists, engineers, and scientists.
- Innovation Leadership: Demonstrated expertise in building and managing a pipeline of innovative, consumer-informed technologies that align with strategic business goals and whitespace opportunities.
- Commercialization Success: Proven track record of successfully translating early-stage technologies into commercialized products—on time, on budget, and with measurable business impact.
- Strategic Thinking: Strong general management mindset with the ability to connect scientific development to consumer needs, market trends, and long-term business strategy.
- Collaboration & Influence: Excellent integrative skills, including cross-functional collaboration, communication, and the ability to influence across all levels of the organization.
- Agility & Prioritization: Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities, navigate ambiguity, and make sound decisions in a dynamic innovation environment.
- Project & Resource Management: Strong project management orientation with experience in resource planning, budgeting, and portfolio management.
- Team Development: Proven ability to attract, develop, and retain top technical talent. Experience in mentoring, succession planning, and building a culture of innovation and accountability.
- External Partnerships: Experience identifying and leveraging strategic alliances and external technology partners to accelerate innovation and expand capabilities.
PHYSICAL CONDITIONS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.
WHY CRAYOLA?
- Kid Inspired Culture
- Free Admission to Crayola Experience for Employees
- Community Volunteerism Opportunities
- Annual Bonus Potential for all Full-Time Employees
- Company Matched 401k & Employee Value Sharing Plan
- Comprehensive Healthcare Benefits for Eligible Employees
- Education Assistance Program
- Wellness Programs
- Employee Resource Groups
- Generous Product Discounts Onsite & Online
- Company Sponsored Employee Events
- Discounts on a wide variety of products and services – automotive, electronics, fitness, travel and entertainment
Green is our favorite color!
Crayola cares about the environment and responsibly makes the products you love. Learn more about Crayola’s creative solutions for greener tomorrows: https://aut.crayocom.cloud.sitefinity.com/about-us/sustainability
We offer competitive salary, outstanding benefits and the potential for advancement through the use of creative abilities. No phone calls please.
Search Firm Representatives - Please Read Carefully:
Crayola LLC is not seeking assistance or accepting unsolicited resumes from search firms for this employment opportunity. Regardless of past practice, all resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at Crayola LLC via e-mail, the Internet, or directly to hiring managers at Crayola LLC in any form without valid written search agreement in place for that position will be deemed the sole property of Crayola LLC, and no fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Crayola LLC as a result of the referral or through other means.
Search firms are essential to the recruitment and staffing efforts at Crayola LLC, and we value the partnerships we have built with our vendors. For this reason, Crayola LLC has established and regularly maintains a preferred vendor list. Please note that even preferred vendors need to have a written search agreement signed by Human Resources at Crayola LLC in place for the specific position in order for a fee to be paid for any candidate referrals.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
