Position: R&D Manager

Department: Research & Development

Working Location: Manufacturing Site based in Hat Yai

Industry: Medical Gloves / Rubber Products Manufacturing

Position Overview

The R&D Manager is responsible for leading and managing research and development activities for the company's glove products and related rubber technologies, with a strong focus on product innovation, formulation development, process improvement, product quality, cost optimization, and regulatory/customer requirements.

The position leads the R&D team in developing new products, improving existing products, and supporting manufacturing sites in solving technical and production-related challenges. The R&D Manager works closely with Production, Quality Assurance, Regulatory Affairs, Engineering, Marketing, Sales, and Supply Chain to ensure that new and improved products meet customer expectations, quality standards, regulatory requirements, and business objectives.

Candidates with direct experience in the medical glove, examination glove, surgical glove, nitrile glove, latex glove, or rubber manufacturing industry are strongly preferred.

Key Responsibilities

R&D Strategy & Team Management

• Develop and implement the R&D strategy, roadmap, and annual action plans in alignment with the company's business objectives.

• Lead and manage R&D activities related to medical gloves, examination gloves, surgical gloves, nitrile gloves, latex gloves, and other rubber-based products.

• Manage, coach, and develop R&D personnel to build strong technical capabilities and a culture of innovation.

• Set team objectives, KPIs, priorities, and performance expectations.

• Allocate R&D resources, equipment, manpower, and budgets effectively.

• Establish and maintain R&D procedures, work standards, technical documentation, and laboratory practices.

• Monitor R&D project progress, timelines, budgets, and deliverables.

• Report R&D performance, technical issues, project progress, and recommendations to senior management.

New Product Development

• Lead the New Product Development (NPD) process from concept development through laboratory testing, pilot production, validation, and commercialization.

• Work with Marketing and Sales teams to understand customer requirements, market trends, and emerging product opportunities.

• Translate customer requirements into technical product specifications and development objectives.

• Develop and evaluate new glove products, materials, formulations, technologies, and manufacturing processes.

• Lead product trials and coordinate pilot production with manufacturing plants.

• Evaluate product performance, functionality, durability, safety, and customer requirements.

• Establish product specifications, testing methods, and acceptance criteria.

• Support product scale-up from laboratory or pilot scale to commercial production.

• Ensure successful product transfer and technical handover to manufacturing sites.

Glove Formulation & Material Development

• Lead research and optimization of latex, nitrile, polymer, chemical formulations, and other raw materials used in glove manufacturing.

• Develop and optimize formulations to improve product performance, quality, cost, and manufacturing efficiency.

• Evaluate alternative raw materials and suppliers to improve product competitiveness and supply security.

• Conduct formulation trials and analyze the impact of raw material changes on glove properties.

• Support the development of formulations for different glove applications, customer requirements, and market segments.

• Investigate opportunities to reduce chemical usage, production costs, waste, and environmental impact.

• Maintain technical knowledge of rubber chemistry, compounding, dipping processes, and glove manufacturing technologies.

Product Improvement & Cost Optimization

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives for existing glove products.

• Identify opportunities to improve:

• Product quality

• Strength and durability

• Barrier performance

• Comfort and fit

• Chemical resistance

• Powder-free performance

• Surface characteristics

• Defect rates

• Production yield

• Manufacturing cost

• Conduct technical investigations to identify root causes of product quality issues.

• Develop and implement corrective and preventive actions.

• Work with Production and Engineering teams to optimize manufacturing parameters.

• Lead value engineering and cost reduction projects without compromising product quality or regulatory compliance.

Technical Problem Solving & Manufacturing Support

• Provide technical support to manufacturing plants for product and process-related issues.

• Investigate production problems, customer complaints, and product deviations.

• Lead Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and technical problem-solving activities.

• Analyze production data, laboratory results, and product performance information.

• Recommend technical solutions and coordinate implementation with relevant functions.

• Support troubleshooting related to dipping, compounding, curing, leaching, chlorination, polymer coating, stripping, washing, drying, and other relevant glove manufacturing processes.

• Support production trials, process validation, and technical improvement projects.

• Work closely with Engineering and Production to improve process stability and product consistency.

Product Testing & Laboratory Management

• Establish and maintain appropriate laboratory testing procedures and product evaluation methods.

• Ensure R&D testing is conducted accurately, consistently, and according to established standards.

• Review and approve R&D test results and technical reports.

• Monitor laboratory equipment, calibration, maintenance, and testing capabilities.

• Ensure laboratory activities comply with relevant quality, safety, and regulatory requirements.

• Evaluate glove properties including physical, chemical, biological, and performance characteristics as applicable.

• Develop new testing methods where required to support product development and customer requirements.

Quality, Regulatory & Customer

Requirements

Work closely with QA, QC, Regulatory Affairs, and Customer Service to ensure products meet applicable standards and customer requirements.

• Support compliance with applicable international standards and regulations for medical and industrial gloves.

• Support technical documentation required for product registration, customer approval, certification, and regulatory submissions.

• Provide technical information and documentation for customer audits and regulatory inspections.

• Support investigation and resolution of customer complaints related to product performance or technical specifications.

• Ensure product development activities are properly documented and traceable.

• Stay updated on changes in relevant standards, regulations, technologies, and market requirements.

Cross-functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with:

• Production

• Quality Assurance / Quality Control

• Regulatory Affairs

• Engineering

• Supply Chain / Procurement

• Marketing

• Sales

• Customer Service

• Sustainability / ESG

• Manufacturing Plants

• Act as the technical point of contact for R&D-related projects.

• Communicate technical concepts and recommendations clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Coordinate cross-functional product development and improvement projects.

• Support customer meetings, technical presentations, and product discussions when required.

Innovation & Technology Development

• Monitor emerging technologies, materials, manufacturing processes, and market trends in the glove and rubber industry.

• Identify opportunities for new product technologies and manufacturing innovations.

• Conduct technology benchmarking against competitors and industry best practices.

• Evaluate new equipment, materials, chemicals, and technologies for potential implementation.

• Establish partnerships with universities, research institutions, technology providers, and suppliers where appropriate.

• Lead innovation projects that strengthen the company's product portfolio and competitive advantage.

• Explore opportunities to improve sustainability through material innovation, energy efficiency, waste reduction, and environmentally friendly technologies.

Intellectual Property & Technical Knowledge Management

• Support the identification and protection of new technologies, formulations, processes, and product innovations.

• Coordinate with relevant functions regarding patents, trade secrets, technical know-how, and intellectual property.

• Maintain appropriate technical databases and R&D knowledge repositories.

• Ensure lessons learned and technical knowledge are documented and shared across relevant teams and manufacturing sites.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Successful completion of R&D and new product development projects according to agreed timelines.

• Number of new products successfully commercialized.

• Product development success rate and customer approval rate.

• Improvement in product quality and performance.

• Reduction in product defects and customer complaints.

• Improvement in production yield and process stability.

• Successful implementation of cost reduction and value engineering projects.

• R&D project cost and budget performance.

• Successful completion of product trials and technology transfers.

• Compliance with applicable quality and regulatory requirements.

• Number and impact of product/process innovation initiatives.

• R&D team capability development and performance.

Experience

• Minimum 8–10 years of experience in Research & Development, Product Development, Process Development, or Technical Engineering.

• Minimum 3 years of experience in an R&D leadership or managerial position.

• Strong preference for candidates with direct experience in the glove manufacturing industry, particularly:

• Medical gloves

• Surgical gloves

• Examination gloves

• Nitrile gloves

• Latex gloves

• Industrial gloves

• Rubber dipping products

• Experience in rubber compounding, latex/nitrile formulation, dipping technology, or glove manufacturing processes is highly preferred.

• Experience working with large-scale manufacturing plants or multinational organizations is an advantage.

• Experience managing new product development and commercialization projects is required.

• Experience working with international customers and regulatory requirements is an advantage.

Technical Knowledge

Strong knowledge in several of the following areas:

• Rubber and polymer technology

• Natural latex and synthetic latex

• Nitrile / NBR technology

• Rubber compounding and formulation

• Chemical raw materials used in glove manufacturing

• Dipping technology and manufacturing processes

• Glove product development

• Product testing and characterization

• Process optimization

• Root Cause Analysis

• Statistical analysis and experimental design

• Quality management systems

• Product validation and commercialization

• Medical device or PPE-related product requirements