Product Development Specialist, Americas

UPM is a global, growing company innovating for a more sustainable tomorrow. We are frontrunners in developing renewable alternatives to fossil‑based materials.

Product Development Specialist, Americas – Mills River

What you will do

• Develop and implement new adhesive technologies across water‑based and hot‑melt systems, ensuring technical readiness for market needs.
• Support innovation and growth projects via Stage Gate methodology, driving the implementation of novel adhesive technologies from concept to launch.
• Coordinate with commercial and operations teams to identify, qualify, and commercialize new products to deliver both short‑term and long‑term business results.
• Engage with manufacturing teams and support required analytical work to quantify and define product specifications.
• Maintain and update a long‑term roadmap for adhesive and labeling technologies, aligning with business strategy and capability development.
• Collaborate within a regional and global network of technical experts to scale UPM’s adhesive and coating competence and share best practices.
• Partner with regional market organization to translate market needs into technical solutions for labeling applications.
• Provide expert guidance on adhesive formulation approaches, testing methods, and performance optimization across applications and end uses within the consumer and specialty market segments.
• Drive efficiency between market segments by identifying shared technology needs, overlapping opportunities, and cross‑application solutions.
• Advance the implementation of novel paper face stocks for adhesive laminates across consumer and specialty segments and ensure strong alignment during qualification and launch.

Who you are

• B.S. in polymer science or related field; advanced degree preferred.
• Proven formulation experience with pressure sensitive adhesives and understanding of manufacturing and conversion processes, with experience in water‑based adhesive formulation.
• Extensive knowledge of polymer characterization, viscoelasticity, polymer morphology, and structure‑property relationships (including rheology, spectroscopy, thermal analyses such as DSC & DMA, etc.).
• Experience in product development in chemical, packaging, or adjacent industries, using new product development methodologies and leading large‑scale projects (e.g., Stage Gate, DFSS).
• Ability to convert market needs into technical “critical to quality” product attributes and develop these into a product development roadmap.
• A proactive and engaging team player, leveraging a cross‑functional innovation team across a regional and global network.

This is what we offer to you

• A meaningful job : Our purpose is “We renew the everyday for a future beyond fossils”. Your work is impactful and transformative.
• A caring community : We support work‑life balance and well‑being for all employees.
• Development opportunities : International, multi‑business organization with ample avenues for personal growth.
• Responsible employer : Sustainability is at the core of everything we do, with science‑based targets and inclusive culture.
• Comprehensive benefit package : Medical, dental and vision insurance, paid time off and a 401(k) retirement plan.

Only candidates authorized to work within the United States without sponsorship will be considered.

UPM North America is an Equal Opportunity Employer.