Head of R&D Digital Transformation _About_ _this_ _Position_ At Henkel, youu2019ll be part of an organization thatu2019s shaping the future through innovation, sustainability and collaboration. With our trusted brands like Persilu00ae, u2018allu00ae, Loctiteu00ae, Snuggleu00ae, and Schwarzkopfu00ae and our cutting-edge technologies, youu2019ll have countless opportunities to explore new paths and grow. This position is with our Adhesive Technologies business unit u2013 where we empower our people to transform industries and provide our customers with a competitive advantage through adhesives, sealants and functional coatings. Dare to learn new skills, advance in your career and make an impact at Henkel. What youu00b4ll do We are looking for a visionary Digital Transformation Leader with strong experience in innovation environments to scope, prioritize, and implement the digital modernization of our innovation functions. As a global leader in adhesives, sealants & surface treatments, we seek to accelerate innovation cycles, enhance product development and application engineering capabilities while strengthening collaboration and knowledge sharing across all functions. This role requires a strong blend of strategic thinking, technical expertise and change management skills to lead cross-functional teams. Responsibilities: Develop and lead Henkelu2019s Industrial Adhesive SBUs digital transformation strategy in alignment with business goals, focusing on operational excellence, innovation and customer value. Augment cross-functional collaboration between Henkelu2019s IT, centralized digital innovation teams and the Industrial adhesive SBUs Innovation and commercial teams. Champion the adoption of digital tools, data platforms, advanced modeling, predictive analytics and AI/ML models to increase the effectiveness of innovation functions. Oversee and drive change management strategies for digital initiatives, ensuring stakeholder engagement, effective communication, and smooth adoption. Consolidate and streamline internal access to product and application knowledge for customer support and innovation. Continuously monitor technological trends and assess their relevance to the business. If needed, build partnerships with external vendors, consultants, and tech providers. Champion a digital-first mindset across the organization and collaborate with leadership teams to drive cultural and operational change. Develop upskilling/training programs with global counterparts and create communication strategies to support digital adoption across all functions interacting with innovation teams. Increase customer technical intimacy through digital solutions, CRM enhancements, and data-driven service models. Track and report performance metrics, success factors, and KPIs related to digital transformation. What makes you a good fit Education and Experience: Masteru2019s or PhD in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Data Science, or a related technical discipline. 10 years of experience in R&D leadership, digital transformation, project management or innovation strategy within the adhesives, specialty chemicals, or process industries. Expertise in understanding digital tools used in research environments: ELNs, LIMS, modeling software, data lakes, and AI/ML platforms. Proven track record of managing complex, cross-functional digital programs and teams across global organizations. Skills and Competencies: Strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to communicate technical concepts to non-technical teams are important. Strong leadership, communication, and influencing skills at all levels of the business. Passion for driving innovation, customer-centric design, and continuous improvement through digital technology. This role can be filled in Germany or US. Some Benefits of joining Henkel Health Insurance : affordable plans for medical, dental, vision and wellbeing starting on day 1 Work-Life Balance: Paid time off including sick, vacation, holiday and volunteer time, flexible & hybrid work policies (depending on role), and vacation buy / sell program Financial: 401k matching, employee share plan with voluntary investment and Henkel matching shares, annual performance bonus, service awards and student loan reimbursement Family Support: 12-week gender neutral parental leave (up to 20 weeks for parents giving birth), fertility support, adoption & surrogacy reimbursement, discounted child and elderly care, and scholarships Career Growth: diverse national and international growth opportunities, access to thousands of skills development courses, and tuition reimbursement The salary for this role is $150,000.00 - $200,000.00. This is the range that we in good faith anticipate relying on when setting wages for this position. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and this range. This salary range may also be modified in the future. Henkel does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms or employment agencies. Unsolicited referrals and resumes are considered Henkel property and therefore, Henkel will not pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited referral. Henkel is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, and other legally protected categories. JOB ID: 25085069 Job Locations: Germany, North Rhine Westphalia, Du00fcsseldorf | United States, CA, Irvine, CA | United States, CT, Rocky Hill, CT | United States, MI, Madison Heights, MI | United States, NJ, Bridgewater, NJ Contact information for application-related questions: Recruitment-Germany@henkel.com Please do not use this email address for sending your application or CV. To apply, please click on the "Apply for this role" button below. Applications sent via e-mail will not be accepted. Application Deadline: As long as the vacancy is listed on our Career Site, we are happy to receive your application Job-Center: If you have an application already, you can create or log in to your accounthere (https://henkel.csod.com/ats/careersite/login.aspx?c=henkel&site=1&lang=en-US&returnurl/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/75713?c=henkel&lang=en-US) to check the status of your application. In case of new account creation, please use your email address that you applied with. 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