Director Of Research And Development

Role details

Job Title: Director of Research and Development

Job Description

The Director of Research and Development will lead hands-on, application-focused R&D activities to develop and commercialize advanced media and resins used in drinking water treatment and environmental remediation. This role centers on potable-water treatment solutions, including PFAS remediation, water softening, fluoride removal, and heavy-metal removal, with a strong emphasis on water chemistry, ion exchange, and contaminant removal.

The Director will work closely with the current Vice President of R&D as a technical partner and eventual successor, combining laboratory work, product development, customer support, and cross-functional collaboration to move treatment solutions from concept through advanced development and initial production.

Responsibilities

• Partner closely with the Vice President of R&D to learn the companys products, treatment media, technical processes, customer applications, and industry relationships.
• Lead applied research and development efforts related to potable-water treatment, environmental remediation, ion exchange, contaminant removal, and carbon block applications.
• Work hands-on in the laboratory with chemists and analysts to develop test methodologies, evaluate product performance, and investigate treatment solutions.
• Research chemical compositions, media, and resins capable of removing specific contaminants from drinking water and industrial water systems.
• Support the development and optimization of solutions for PFAS removal, water softening, fluoride removal, and heavy-metal removal, including lead, cadmium, chromium, and mercury.
• Troubleshoot production and product-performance issues such as media clumping, particle behavior, adsorption performance, chemical compatibility, and inconsistent product results.
• Recommend appropriate treatment media for customer applications based on water source, target contaminants, operating conditions, and performance requirements.
• Advance products through laboratory development, testing, initial production, scale-up, and advanced development before transitioning them to product or project management.
• Collaborate with external organizations and testing facilities on testing procedures, standards, certifications, and effluent analysis.
• Support relationships with industry and regulatory organizations, including EPA, NSF, WQA, IAPMO, and related bodies.
• Provide technical support to customers, commercial partners, Sales, and Business Development teams, including application guidance and solution recommendations.
• Communicate complex technical information clearly to both scientific and non-technical stakeholders.
• Supervise and provide technical direction to the wet-lab analyst responsible for testing, automation, documentation, and coordination with outside analytical laboratories.
• Establish clear technical objectives and provide forward-looking direction for R&D programs and product-development initiatives.
• Collaborate with Operations, Regulatory, Sales, Marketing, and company leadership to ensure technical projects align with customer needs and business objectives.
• Remain flexible and responsive in a small-company environment where priorities and technical challenges may change quickly, taking initiative to address emerging issues.
• Contribute to documentation of methods, test protocols, and results to support certifications, regulatory compliance, and product commercialization.
• Participate in occasional external meetings with customers, partners, and industry organizations to represent the companys technical capabilities and solutions.

Essential Skills

• Masters degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Materials Science, or a closely related scientific discipline.
• Approximately five or more years of relevant professional experience in water treatment, water chemistry, ion exchange, environmental remediation, adsorption media, filtration, or contaminant removal.
• Strong technical understanding of potable-water treatment and applied chemistry, including contaminant behavior and treatment mechanisms.
• Practical experience with ion-exchange resins, adsorbent media, filtration media, activated carbon, carbon block products, or closely related treatment technologies.
• Experience conducting or directing laboratory testing, method development, product evaluation, or application-based research in a water-treatment or environmental context.
• Experience moving a product or treatment solution from laboratory development into pilot testing, initial production, scale-up, or advanced development.
• Demonstrated ability to investigate technical problems and translate scientific findings into practical, commercially usable solutions.
• Ability to work onsite and remain hands-on in a laboratory and technical office environment.
• Strong skills in laboratory testing, data analysis, and performance evaluation of treatment media and resins.
• Ability to communicate technical information clearly and effectively to both scientific and non-technical audiences.
• Capability to provide technical direction and guidance to laboratory staff and contribute to a collaborative R&D environment.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant scientific or engineering discipline is welcome but not required.
• Experience with drinking-water treatment, municipal water systems, point-of-use or point-of-entry systems, industrial water, power-generation water systems, or nuclear-facility water applications.
• Knowledge of treatment solutions for PFAS, fluoride, lead, cadmium, chromium, mercury, hardness, and other regulated contaminants.
• Familiarity with EPA requirements and NSF, WQA, IAPMO, or related water-industry standards, testing protocols, and certification processes.
• Experience coordinating with external laboratories, certification organizations, or regulatory bodies on testing, analysis, and compliance.
• Prior customer-facing experience, including technical consultation, application support, or presenting scientific recommendations to non-technical stakeholders.
• Previous formal leadership experience or experience informally mentoring, directing, or providing technical guidance to laboratory employees.
• Experience troubleshooting issues involving particle size, media performance, adsorption, chemical compatibility, product clumping, or manufacturing processes.
• Experience in PFAS remediation, heavy-metal remediation, and advanced water-treatment technologies.
• Comfort working in a small, growing company environment with approximately 10 employees, demonstrating flexibility, initiative, and ownership.
• Interest in becoming the long-term technical leader of a specialty water-treatment organization, with a clear succession path to further R&D leadership.

Work Environment

This role is primarily onsite at an approximately 10,000-square-foot facility in North Carolina, offering a mix of laboratory work, technical research, documentation, internal collaboration, customer support, and coordination with external testing facilities. The Director of R&D will spend significant time in a wet-lab environment working with treatment media, resins, and analytical methods, as well as in a technical office setting for analysis, reporting, and cross-functional communication.

The company operates as a small, agile organization with around 10 employees, creating a close-knit, collaborative atmosphere where flexibility, initiative, and comfort with changing priorities are important. Travel requirements are minimal and generally limited to occasional visits for customer meetings, partner engagements, industry events, or technical discussions. The environment supports hands-on product development, direct access to leadership, meaningful technical autonomy, and a clear succession path to the current VP of R&D, making it an attractive opportunity for an experienced professional seeking long-term impact in the water-treatment industry.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Charlotte, NC.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $80000.00 - $120000.00/yr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Culture: Small, family-oriented team with a flexible, collaborative environment. Schedule: Monday through Friday, first shift. Core hours are 9:00 AM4:00 PM, with flexibility around start/end times. Typical schedules may be 8:00 AM5:00 PM or 8:30 AM5:30 PM. Weekends: No regular weekend requirements. Paid Holidays: 11 paid company holidays PTO: 1015 days, depending on candidate experience/tenure. Health Insurance: Medical insurance offered. Dental/Vision: Not currently offered. 401(k): Not currently offered. Bonus: Year-end bonus opportunity and should be highlighted as part of the overall compensation package.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Charlotte, NC.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 20, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Charlotte,NC.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [email protected] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.