Vice President, Research & Development

About Zep Inc.

Zep Inc. is a leading manufacturer of cleaning solutions for businesses and consumers with operations across the U.S, Canada, and Europe. Our purpose is to make the planet cleaner, safer, and more productive. To fulfill our purpose, we focus on understanding and solving cleaning needs for consumers, as well as business customers across a variety of segments including transportation, industrial, institutional, and food & beverage. We also have a strong presence in the consumer-packaged goods (CPG) segment, where we develop products to help consumers and businesses maintain a clean and safe environment. Our products can be found online and at retail shelves at outlets like Home Depot, Amazon, Lowe's, Ace Hardware, Grainger, HD Supply, Walmart, and many others. We market our products under well recognized and established brand names, such as Zep, Enforcer, Misty, TimeMist, TimeWick, and Country Vet. Zep was founded in 1937 and is headquartered in Atlanta, GA. In 2021, Zep became the official cleaning partner of Atlanta United FC.

Job Description:

Duties:

• Develop and articulate a comprehensive R&D vision and strategy aligned with the organization's mission and growth goals.
• Collaborate with the executive leadership team to ensure R&D efforts support overall business objectives.
• Translate strategic priorities into actionable R&D roadmaps and initiatives.

• Identify emerging technologies and industry trends to inform and advance the company's product strategy.
• Foster a culture of innovation and experimentation, driving groundbreaking research and solutions.
• Oversee and evaluate R&D projects, ensuring alignment with business objectives.

• Lead the entire product development lifecycle, from ideation through market launch, ensuring high-quality, customer-centric solutions.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams, including Product Management, Marketing, Compliance, and Sales, to meet market demands.
• Continuously analyze and improve existing products to enhance competitiveness and performance.

• Build, mentor, and manage a high-performing R&D team, fostering a culture of excellence and accountability.
• Implement best practices in engineering standards and development processes.
• Oversee R&D budgets, resource allocation, and operational efficiency.

• Ensure compliance with industry standards and regulations while maintaining ethical research practices.
• Protect and expand the company's intellectual property portfolio through patents and other mechanisms.

• Identify risks associated with R&D initiatives and implement mitigation strategies.

Experience and Qualifications:

• Leadership Experience: Minimum of 10 years' leading R&D teams, with demonstrated success in driving innovation and delivering impactful product solutions.
• Industry Expertise: Proven track record in related field, preferably in chemical industry.
• Process and Methodology: Proficiency in research and developmentmethodologies and project management techniques.
• Education: Bachelor's Degree required. Advanced degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field preferred.
• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across diverse teams.
• Financial Acumen: Experience managing R&D budgets and justifying major initiatives with ROI considerations.
• Team Leadership: Proven ability to recruit, mentor, and retain top technical talent while fostering a collaborative team environment.
• Experience with product safety analysis and providing expertise when requested.

Our Values

At Zep, we have developed a set of values focused on bringing even greater cohesion to our workplace. As part of this plan, we introduced a values framework called S.P.E.E.D. to align with our purpose of making the planet cleaner, safer, and more productive.

• Stewardship: We continuously improve the safety of our people and products, and we protect the planet by innovating solutions to reduce our environmental impact.

• Passion for Problem Solving: We listen to our customers and actively work to find solutions for unique situations. We think creatively to innovate and seize opportunities that will drive growth and make all our customers' and consumers' lives better.

• Empowerment: We encourage and lead our people to be accountable by equipping them to make decisions and own the outcome

• Expertise: We create innovative solutions and partnerships that are relevant to service our communities and customers.

• Doing the Right Thing: We expect our people to understand ethical boundaries and be inclusive of other backgrounds, ideas, and perspectives. Demonstrating honesty, respect and integrity in all actions is always expected.

Zep Inc. is an organization that is committed to diversity within its workforce and encourages all interested candidates, including women, minorities, & former military personnel to apply. It is the policy of Zep Inc. that all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability or sexual orientation.

As an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer, Zep Inc. provides full employment opportunities to all qualified persons without regard to race, creed, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, ancestry, or veteran status or any other distinction outlined in all applicable federal, state, and local laws.