The firm is establishing the 100,000-square-foot HQ at the Lakemont Business Park and moving from Charlotte.
A total of 18,500 square feet of lab space will be created to develop technology for cleaning and hygiene operations.
Ilham Kadri, Diversey president and CEO, said the campus will provide infrastructure, digital technologies and lab tools.
“This campus, which will be inaugurated in the first quarter of 2018, will be a customer-centric hub designed to continue exceeding our customers’ expectations through our sustainability and Internet of Clean vision.”
Diversey employs 8,600 people globally with customers in more than 165 countries and generated net sales of $2.6bn in 2016.
The firm was bought by Bain Capital Private Equity for $3.2bn from Sealed Air this year and recently made public an offer to acquire Zenith Hygiene Group to expand in Europe.
“South Carolina has become a magnet for high-tech and innovative companies, including those in the life sciences sector,” said Bobby Hitt, secretary of commerce.
“Diversey’s decision to locate their new headquarters in York County and create 400 new jobs serves as an opportunity for South Carolinians to show the world how special of a place our state is, and we are confident they will do just that,” said Governor Henry McMaster.