Job Details

Candidates MUST HAVE: PVC compounding and calendar/extrusion processing and 7 years of experience with plastics, polymers or composites

Relocation Package Offered

Job Summary:

The Technical Director is responsible for managing and driving the product development process, leading/supporting the business development team, supporting daily technical service, and acting as a resource to the operations team on an as-needed basis. As new market opportunities are identified, this role will develop products through a stage-gate-like process: formulation design, composite composition design, and scale-up into production, ultimately resulting in profitable new business. This includes working with the commercial group to understand customer needs and industry trends and then formulating, tweaking, and making equipment adjustments to deliver the ideal product.

Job Duties:

• Define R&D and product development strategy; identify, develop and commercialize products for new markets.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams including business stakeholders, technicians, quality assurance, and release documents, design, test, and deliver innovative solutions and enhancements.
• Manage formulation recipes and ensure that product and engineering changes are processed in accordance with the quality management system.
• Oversee new product testing to ensure that all products meet quality, regulatory and customer requirements.
• Manage all regulatory, quality and compliance requirements and ensure documentation is up to date and in line with current legislation.
• Lead the technical team by inspiring and motivating; upgrade the team; ensure personal development training plans are in place.
• Report on the status of new product introduction (NPI) and research projects to senior management meetings as required.
• Manage the NPI process and prepare information for reviews and capex approvals in accordance with business strategy.
• Visit current and target customers to identify customer needs and requirements as part of the NBD process.
• Works with sales/business development team and customers to complete customer enquiry processes:
• Identification of all customer requirements, product development project scope of work, standards and best practices to be followed.
• Develop cost models for new products.
• Assemble all stakeholder inputs.
• Determine the required schedule for completion.
• Plan, execute, and close process qualifications.
• Represent company on trade and regulatory bodies, both nationally and internationally.
• Design budget requirements for all new product development projects.
• Review current and proposed formulations and identify applications to utilize better practices to improve quality, delivery, and/or cost.
• Train stakeholders on process validations, applications, and best practices.
• Support operations and procurement to drive continuous improvement both internally and externally through supply chain.
• Liaise with customers, commercial and marketing to establish and maintain product and technology roadmaps.
• Provide engineering and technical support across the business – operations, procurement, finance, marketing and commercial.

Job Specifications & Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in chemistry, materials science, engineering, or a related discipline.
• Minimum seven (7) years of experience with plastics, polymers or composites.
• Solid understanding of PVC compounding and calendar/extrusion processing is highly desirable. TPO experience is a bonus.
• Five (5) years of experience in a supervisory role.
• Proven ability to start projects and take them to completion, including concept-to-prototype design and final production.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Change agent; proven ability to lead and influence in order to drive organizational change.
• Sense of urgency; self-starter, self-motivated to take initiative by spearheading new ideas and demonstrating the ability to work autonomously.
• Ability to meet deadlines and manage potentially competing and changing priorities.
• Must be financially and commercially skilled in budget management/control.
• Proven track record of leading multi-discipline teams to deliver NPI programs on time and within budget.
• Must be practical; hands-on with a 'can-do' attitude.
• Skilled at promoting a teamwork culture and building effective relationships across the business.
• Ability to understand customer needs and turn those requirements into innovative, strategic solutions.
• Must be flexible with the ability to travel approximately 20% for customer meetings, trade shows, supplier visits etc.