R&D Associate - Performance Tapes

Avery Dennison Corporation (NYSE: AVY) is a global materials science and digital identification solutions company. We are Making Possible™ products and solutions that help advance the industries we serve, providing branding and information solutions that optimize labor and supply chain efficiency, reduce waste, advance sustainability, circularity and transparency, and better connect brands and consumers. We design and develop labeling and functional materials, radio-frequency identification (RFID) inlays and tags, software applications that connect the physical and digital, and offerings that enhance branded packaging and carry or display information that improves the customer experience. Serving industries worldwide — including home and personal care, apparel, general retail, e-commerce, logistics, food and grocery, pharmaceuticals and automotive — we employ approximately 35,000 employees in more than 50 countries. Our reported sales in 2024 were $8.8 billion. Learn more at www.averydennison.com.

Avery Dennison is seeking a Technical Associate to join our team. This role is based in Painesville, Ohio, and is part of the Materials Group - Performance Tapes R&D Team.

In this position, you will join a dynamic and cross-functional team to develop new and innovative products for our Performance Tapes division. You will lead major new product development from concept to commercialization resulting in the launch of new and innovative Performance Tapes products and platforms while collaborating with the marketing, operations, supply chain, and quality teams.

Your primary responsibilities and essential functions include:

• Lead technical projects while being accountable to delivering product attributes on time, while using good project management tools and demonstrating critical thinking.

• Present information and findings to cross-functional teams and leadership to drive business decisions.

• Act as an excellent listener and communicator amongst customers, internal cross-functional teams, and leadership.

• Use statistics, logic, creativity, and collaboration to push through technical and commercial hurdles to quickly deliver new products to the market.

• Carefully document and track project status and deadlines with Avery Dennison software and systems.

• Leverage past new product development experience through market research, design and execution of experiments, benchmarking, test method development, to performance in manufacturing and customer and end-user processes, analysis of suppliers and markets to identify trends and opportunities for marketplace advantage, and new product development, processes and services.

• Transfer knowledge to fellow scientists and business leaders via presentations, technical reports and day-to-day interaction.

• Act as a team role model of Avery Dennison’s values and positively influence team members to partner together to achieve individual and business goals.

• Partner with the Performance Tapes commercial team in order to translate customer requirements into product attributes

• Other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree in Polymer Science/Engineering, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering required. Master/PhD degree preferred.

• 7+ years of proven experience supporting/leading new product development in a manufacturing environment. 

• Understanding of different pressure sensitive adhesive formulations including emulsions, solvent acrylics, rubber systems, and silicone PSAs preferred

• Familiarity with the industrial tapes industry, especially in automotive, electronics, and general industrial tapes is preferred.

• Deep understanding of material science - physical property testing, formulation, curing chemistry, analytical testing (FTIR, DSC, DMA, Optical Microscopy) and experience with rheology is preferred.

• Strong project and time management skills.

• Ability to present complex data and concepts to stakeholders in a way that is easy to understand.

• Ability to interface effectively with multi-functional groups to define and execute overall requirements.

• Strong technical background, scientific and engineering knowledge with emphasis on analytical skills, critical thinking, problem solving, and statistical data analysis.

• Ability to travel up to 20%.

The salary range for this position is $115k - $150k / year.

The hiring base salary range above represents what Avery Dennison reasonably expects to pay for this position as of the date of this posting. Actual salaries will vary within the range, and in some circumstances may be above or below the range, based on various factors including but not limited to a candidate’s relevant skills, experience, education and training, and location, as well as the job scope and complexity, responsibilities, and regular and/or necessary travel required for the position, which may change depending on the candidate pool. Avery Dennison reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law. 

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or other protected status. EEOE/M/F/Vet/Disabled. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

If you require accommodations to view or apply for a job, alternative methods are available to submit an application. Please contact (440) 534-6000 or [email protected] to discuss reasonable accommodations.