Innovation Project Leader

Company: Eastman Chemical
Location: Kingsport
Posted on: June 2, 2021

Job Description:

Founded in 1920, Eastman is a global specialty materials company that produces a broad range of products found in items people use every day. With the purpose of enhancing the quality of life in a material way, Eastman works with customers to deliver innovative products and solutions while maintaining a commitment to safety and sustainability. The company's innovation-driven growth model takes advantage of world-class technology platforms, deep customer engagement, and differentiated application development to grow its leading positions in attractive end-markets such as transportation, building and construction, and consumables. As a globally inclusive and diverse company, Eastman employs approximately 14,500 people around the world and serves customers in more than 100 countries. The company had 2020 revenues of approximately $8.5 billion and is headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA. For more information, visit . Job OverviewAs Eastman transforms its portfolio and accelerates growth platforms, the need for world class innovation project leadership is of utmost importance to ensure effective and efficient execution. The Innovation Project Leader position resides in the Project Leader Center of Excellence and is responsible for leading growth efforts in Eastman's most strategic growth areas and working to ensure long-term innovation project leadership capability across Eastman through best practice sharing and coaching.MajorResponsibilities:Project/Platform Leadership - Lead top corporate growth projects or platforms, ensuring high quality decision making and speed of execution - Serve as the primary contact for project/platform related inquiries and ensure consistent and clear communication at all levels - Drive planning and execution by creating project plans and meaningful milestones, managing changes in team and scope, removing barriers and holding team accountable for on-time completion - Ensure team has necessary functional expertise, foster engagement and commitment to drive decisions and fully leverage strengths of team members - Collaborate across functions, including Business, Marketing, Technology, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Legal, Engineering, etc, driving accountability and a sense of urgency Capability Development & Coaching - Drive continual improvement and development of project leadership best practices and tools across Eastman - Coach and develop other innovation project leaders in the use of best practices and toolsQualificationsEducation & Experience:- Bachelor's or higher in an engineering or science-based field of study - Master's in Business Administration preferred - Proven track record (5+ years) of excellent project leadership and execution in a professional work setting with appropriate outcome/decision, including leading a cross-functional team, effectively planning/scheduling and regularly communicating with internal stakeholders - Substantial hands-on experience with a new product development methodology and stage-gated process, either serving on cross-functional teams or preferably leading innovation projects/programs - Market-facing and customer engagement experience is strongly preferred - Agile/SCRUM expereince preferredMost Critical Enabling Competencies:- Influential/Team Builder: Can effectively and efficiently influence global, cross-functional team members and stakeholders using hard and soft skills; Ability to develop a vision, gain buy-in, and energize a team to accomplish goals; Develop cooperative relationships with groups and individuals; Address and resolve difficult situations/conflict effectively using appropriate communication and interpersonal skills - Adaptable: Make timely and sound decisions under conditions of uncertainty while remaining flexible; Show resilience from failure by learning and adjusting future actions; Ability to navigate in areas where they have not had previous experiences and develop an effective competency quickly - Judgment: Demonstrate the ability to strategically think and assess challenges, then articulate a clear vision to overcome; Passionately objective; Ability to judge when barriers to success are too great to continue; Make judgment calls about when and why to diverge or converge and to what extreme; Effectively tailor the level and rigor of work to ensure critical hypotheses/experiments are in support of high impact choices - Effective Communicator: Able to write and speak effectively, clearly and confidently as dictated by circumstance and audience, including telling a compelling story and constructively delivering difficult information - Bias for Action: Convey a sense of urgency, drive issues to closure and persist despite obstacles or opposing viewpoints; Take a stand and resolve important issues, confronting problems early and challenging up as necessary - Business Acumen: Can provide relevant financial analysis and understand business implications of project/program; Identify and anticipate customer needs consistent with business strategy, creates value for customers by asking why and what if Eastman Chemical Company is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other characteristics protected by law. Eastman is committed to creating a powerfully diverse workforce and a broadly inclusive workplace, where everyone can contribute to their fullest potential each day.SDL2017

Keywords: Eastman Chemical, Kingsport , Innovation Project Leader, Other , Kingsport, Tennessee