Proposal and Contract Manager, Corporate Science & Technology at PPG INDUSTRIES INC in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Job Description:

Position Description

The Proposal and Contract Manager supports Corporate Innovation mission to promote innovation by securing external funding for strategically-aligned PPG R&D and technology demonstration projects. This is accomplished by interfacing with internal R&D organizations and SBUs, as well as government agencies, national labs, universities, and other companies to understand their technology needs/interests, to form strategic partnerships, and connect funding opportunities to PPG's internal competencies and technology priorities. The Proposal and Contract Manager will have high visibility with the management of the R&D, technical, business, and legal functions across all PPG business units and become conversant in the breadth of PPG's portfolio of technology capabilities and next-generation research priorities.

Principal Accountabilities

As a member of the S&T Life Cycle Management team, the Proposal and Contract Manager's key accountabilities include proposal development, contract negotiation and internal innovation.

Proposal Development: External R&D funding is awarded by submitting winning proposals to various external funding sources. The Proposal and Contract Manager drives all aspects of proposal development from topic selection through award. He/she understands all technical, legal, and administrative requirements of funding solicitations and assembles winning teams of collaborators to best respond. He/she works closely with subject matter experts and PPG management to align proposals with SBU objectives and funders' goals. The Proposal and Contract Manager identifies relevant funding opportunities, prepares proposal timelines, establishes team roles, assigns writing content, and provides extensive writing and editing assistance. He/she develops project budgets with principal investigators. The Proposal and Contract Manager ensures the proposal is accurate, competitive, on message, complies with PPG and funder policies, and is submitted on time. Oral presentations may be required. The Proposal and Contract Manager may provide proposal training within PPG.

Business Development: The Proposal and Contract Manager develops and maintains strong relationships with PPG researchers, external R&D partners, and external funding organizations to keep abreast of higher-risk, long-range, or even near-term technology needs and priorities that are aligned with PPG's interests and which could benefit from additional R&D funding and/or external partnerships to accelerate commercialization. He/she develops a network of external funding sources, maintains a current understanding of funders' needs, and continually seeks out relevant new external funding opportunities. The Proposal and Contract Manager prepares for, and presents at, funder and R&D partner meetings. He/she also communicates group successes through internal and external market vehicles (e.g. press releases, PPG Today), as well as coordinates award nominations for PPG researchers and technologies (e.g. R&D100, ACS awards). He/she will contribute to funding strategy development and will work with and/or manage external business development consultants.

Contract Negotiations: The Proposal and Contract Manager negotiates legal contracts/subcontracts with funders, companies, and universities to optimize PPG's IP position, financial terms, and flexibility to conduct relevant work. This includes preparing/submitting all documents and close interaction with the funders, subcontractors, principal investigators, PPG program managers, legal, and finance.

Internal Innovation: The Proposal and Contract Manager provides support for the internal innovation process by working with project proposal teams to develop time bound goals to reduce technical and commercial uncertainties for new growth adjacency ideas and/or attending CIC project proposal meetings to provide additional feedback and guidance to the proposal teams.

Required

• Bachelor's degree or higher in chemistry, polymer science, material science, engineering, physics, or related technical disciplines


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to convey complex technical concepts to non-technical audiences


• Strong interpersonal skills with ability to interact at all levels of PPG organization from individual contributor through executive


• Strong leadership skills to mobilize and manage diverse teams, effective project management and strong organization skills, and ability to meet firm deadlines


• Proven history of goal achievement and demonstrated ability to self-initiate to get things done in matrix organization


• Ability to create a vision and interface effectively with marketing, sales, technical, and manufacturing management, both within PPG and with partner organizations

• Work experience in R&D or technical support: BS/MS + 10 years of relevant experience or PhD + 1-3 years of relevant experience


• Broad knowledge of PPG's portfolio of technology capabilities and ability to quickly learn new technologies


• Experience working across multiple PPG business units and/or with government agencies would be a benefit


• Experience working on collaborative programs with government agencies, universities, and/or other companies would be a plus

• Must be a US Citizen


• Flexible and remote working options but must permanently reside in the United States of America


• Travel - up to 20% of the time

Success Factors

Prime Success Factors (focus on results, drive change, promote teamwork, build trust & respect, and understand market and customer perspective) plus the following: attend to detail, manage complexity, plan and organize, mobilize resources, take responsibility, influence decisions and actions, build strong work relationships, and learn continuously.

Application Requirement

Applicants must submit a writing sample in addition to the standard application. Describe a technical project you worked on, or a technical project you would like to undertake, as if you were persuading the reader to fund the project. Technical projects could include product, process, or method development/improvement, etc. Clearly communicate the goal of the work, the expected benefits, and the unique technical approach. Assume your reader is technical but not necessarily in your field of expertise. The document must be no longer than 2 pages using 8.5" x 11" format with 1" margins, no less than single spacing, and Times New Roman 12 pt font. Graphics may be inserted as appropriate .

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PPG pay ranges and benefits can vary by location which allows us to compensate employees competitively in different geographic markets. PPG considers several factors in making compensation decisions including, but not limited to, skill sets, experience and training, qualifications and education, licensure and certifications, and other organizational needs. Other incentives may apply.

Our employee benefits programs are designed to support the health and well-being of our employees. Any insurance coverages and benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents.

About us:

Here at PPG we make it happen, and we seek candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our values, with the commitment and drive to strive today to do better than yesterday - everyday.

PPG: WE PROTECT AND BEAUTIFY THE WORLD™
Through leadership in innovation, sustainability and color, PPG helps customers in industrial, transportation, consumer products, and construction markets and aftermarkets to enhance more surfaces in more ways than does any other company.. To learn more, visit www.ppg.com and follow @ PPG on Twitter.

The PPG Way
Every single day at PPG:
We partner with customers to create mutual value.
We are "One PPG" to the world.
We trust our people every day, in every way.
We make it happen.
We run it like we own it.
We do better today than yesterday - everyday.

PPG provides equal opportunity to all candidates and employees. We offer an opportunity to grow and develop your career in an environment that provides a fulfilling workplace for employees, creates an environment for continuous learning, and embraces the ideas and diversity of others. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, pregnancy, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, age, disability status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. If you need assistance to complete your application due to a disability, please email recruiting@ppg.com.

PPG values your feedback on our recruiting process. We encourage you to visit Glassdoor.com and provide feedback on the process, so that we can do better today than yesterday.
Benefits will be discussed with you by your recruiter during the hiring process.