Overview
Director of Research and Development Jobs in Solon, OH at Renegade Brands USA, Inc.
Title: Director of Research and Development
Company: Renegade Brands USA, Inc.
Location: Solon, OH
The Role
Renegade Brands USA, Inc. is an innovation-led laundry detergent development company
redefining what performance and sustainability look like in the global fabric care market. Our primary
mission is the development of next-generation laundry detergent solutions purpose-built for two
high-demand, high-performance sectors: elite sports and Commercial. These are markets that
demand the very best in soil removal, textile longevity, hygiene performance, and sustainability
credentials — and our products will set the standard.
As Director of Technology, you will be the most senior technical voice at Renegade Brands — but
this is emphatically not an office role directing others from a distance. You will be hands-on in the
lab: formulating, testing, and refining alongside the team, with a deep personal involvement in trials,
customer-facing technical work, and the day-to-day reality of product development. You will own all
QA/QC processes, regulatory compliance, toll blender management, and product integrity across
our growing portfolio, reporting directly to the COO.
Critically, we expect you to look ahead. By building strong supplier relationships and staying at the
leading edge of raw material science, you will bring new ideas and opportunities to the table
proactively — not waiting for briefs from sales or marketing, but anticipating where the market is
going and positioning Renegade Brands to get there first.
Core Pillars of Responsibility
1. Next-Generation Laundry Detergent Development: Sports &Commercial
▸ Hands-On Development: This is a bench role as much as a leadership role. You will be
personally involved in formulating, testing, and refining products in the lab — running trials,
troubleshooting formulations, and working directly with clients during product evaluation and
trial phases
▸ Proactive Innovation: Cultivate deep supplier relationships to stay ahead of emerging raw
material technologies and market trends. Bring new ideas and opportunities to the COO and
commercial team proactively — not in response to a brief, but because you saw what was
coming before anyone else did
▸ Sports Sector: Develop high-performance laundry detergent formulations specifically
engineered for elite athletic environments — targeting superior soil and odor removal, fabric
care under intensive wash cycles, cold-water efficacy, and compatibility with performance
textile fibres used across professional sports, athletic clubs, and sports equipment laundries
▸ Commercial Sector: Create premium-grade detergent solutions for the commercial industry
— hotels, resorts, and linen services — where whiteness retention, fragrance performance,
textile longevity, and cost-per-use efficiency are critical to client satisfaction and contract
retention
▸ Platform Architecture: Design next-generation formulation platforms (liquids, powders and
concentrates) that outperform legacy competitors in both sectors, with a clear pipeline from
proof-of-concept prototype to market-ready product
▸ Chemical Innovation: Stay at the leading edge of surfactant chemistry, enzymatic
technology, chelants, soil release polymers, and optical brighteners — integrating the latest
raw material advances into Renegade Brands’ formulations ahead of the competition
▸ Sustainability Leadership: Ensure all new formulations are designed to meet or exceed EPA
Safer Choice, Green Seal, or EU Ecologo standards — a non-negotiable requirement for both
the sports and commercial client base
2. Product Quality Assurance & Documentation
▸ Formulation Control: Own and maintain complete documentation of all product formulations
and changes. Implement and manage a formal approval sign-off process that assesses any
change for impact on regulatory status, performance, or third-party approval standing
▸ Raw Material Approvals: Maintain the approved raw material and supplier list; ensure all
materials meet specification before use and that supply chain changes are properly assessed
and documented
▸ Packaging Integrity: Maintain specifications and approvals for all packaging components —
bottles, closures, and label media — and ensure any changes are reviewed and signed off
▸ Label Text: Own the approval process for all product label text, ensuring accuracy, regulatory
compliance, and consistency across the full range before any changes go live
3. Regulatory Compliance & Safety Data
▸ Safety Data Sheets: Author, maintain, and update Safety Data Sheets (SDS) to current legal
standard for all products, ensuring they reflect the latest formulation and regulatory
requirements
▸ Label Regulations: Manage the regulatory content of all product labels, including
classification, hazard communication, and compliance with applicable domestic and
international requirements
▸ Green Certifications & Third-Party Approvals: Manage and maintain all third-party
certification processes including Ecolabel, Cradle to Cradle (C2C), OEM listings, and
customer approval listings — aligning with EPA Safer Choice, Green Seal, or EU Ecologo
standards where relevant
▸ Zero-Defect Quality Culture: Lead the implementation and maintenance of ISO 9001 and
ISO 14001 standards. Champion a culture of rigour and accountability across every batch
produced
4. Toll Blender Management & Supply Security
▸ Blender Auditing: Audit and approve toll blenders on a scheduled and ad-hoc basis; review
and sign off batch production cards prior to manufacture
▸ QC Specifications: Set and maintain QC specifications for blended products; monitor and
review QC data returned from blenders and maintain our own independent retained QC
sample library
▸ Change Management: Assess and approve any modifications requested by blenders,
ensuring no change compromises product performance, safety, certification status, or
approval standing
▸ Supply Security: Manage minor formulation maintenance changes to protect security of
supply when approved raw materials become unavailable — acting swiftly and within the
defined approval process
5. Supplier Engagement, Complaints & Cross-Functional Communication
▸ Quality Complaints: Act as first point of contact for all product quality complaints; investigate,
document, and resolve issues systematically, with full traceability and a customer-first
approach throughout
▸ Customer Trials: Maintain strong, professional relationships with customers during product
trials and evaluation phases — communicating technical information clearly, managing
expectations, and building the trust that turns a trial into a long-term partnership
▸ Supplier Negotiation: Participate actively in raw material supplier negotiations, bringing
technical and quality knowledge to commercial discussions
▸ Sales Team Interface: Communicate product quality, compliance status, and technical
updates clearly to the Renegade Brands sales team, ensuring they are equipped to represent
our detergent formulations with confidence
The Ideal Candidate: The “Deep-Bench” Technical Leader
Both areas of experience below are essential. Proven QA leadership — specifically, a demonstrable
track record of improving formal quality assurance systems — is the higher priority for this appointment.
QUALIFICATIONS
Degree in Chemistry or a closely related science required. Higher qualification or professional chartership a strong advantage.
EXPERIENCE
10+ years in a senior formulation, QA, or technical leadership role within laundry detergents or specialty chemicals, with demonstrable experience developing products for sports, commercial, or OPL markets.
FORMULATION SCIENCE
Expert-level knowledge of surfactant chemistry, enzymatic technology, chelants, builders, and soil
release polymers, with a proven track record of product development — taking high-performance detergents from concept through to commercial launch in demanding end-use environments.
QUALITY SYSTEMS — PRIMARY REQUIREMENT
A demonstrable track record of improving formal quality assurance systems at a senior level, with hands-on experience of ISO 9001 (Quality Management) and ISO 14001 (Environmental Management). Comfortable leading audits, writing procedures, and driving a Zero-Defect QA/QC culture. This is the single most important capability we are recruiting for.
HANDS-ON APPROACH
This is a bench role as much as a leadership role. We need someone who is genuinely comfortable
and energized by hands-on lab work, product trials, and direct technical problem-solving — not someone who manages from a distance.
PROACTIVE MINDSET
A natural innovator who builds strong supplier relationships, monitors the raw material landscape,
and brings new ideas and opportunities forward without being asked. Looks ahead, not just at the task in front of them.
CUSTOMER RELATIONS
Excellent customer-facing skills are essential. You will be involved in product trials, technical presentations, and complaint resolution directly with clients. The ability to build trust, communicate clearly under pressure, and represent Renegade Brands with confidence and professionalism is non-negotiable.
REGULATORY KNOWLEDGE
Confident with SDS authoring, US and international chemical labelling regulations, and green certification schemes including EPA Safer Choice, Green Seal, or EU Ecologo.
Why Join Renegade Brands?
▸ Mission: Lead the development of next-generation laundry detergents for two of the most
demanding and fastest-growing markets in fabric care — elite sports and commercial
▸ Leadership: A Director-level appointment with direct COO access, genuine authority over the
Technical Centre, and the autonomy to build something exceptional
▸ Innovation: A Speed-to-Field culture where your formulations reach the market in months, not
years — with the resources of a global player behind every decision
▸ Culture: A high-performing, professional environment in Solon, OH where technical
excellence and commercial impact go hand in hand
▸ Package: Competitive Director-level salary and comprehensive benefits package
- commensurate with the experience and scope this role demands
