Product Development Leader.

A world leader in the development and production of plastic additives, colour masterbatch and compounds is looking to add technical professionals to support the development of their plastic additive portfolio. The company is well-established with an international distribution network and production facilities, the drive behind the organisation is focused on knowledge and technical expertise in innovative products for sustainable and specialty applications across various markets. The plastic additive business is currently in a growth phase and this hire is vital for the R&D team to effectively support customer and internal sales departments and positioning yourself at the forefront of product innovation. The Product Development Leader is a technical role requiring engineering and technically focused candidates in plastic/polymer or additive/masterbatch applications.

This position is an essential addition to the European team, it requires a strong technical focus in material engineering to advance their plastic additive portfolio and production technologies. The organisation is making progress in the plastic market and are looking to bring on skilled professionals with a background in chemistry or engineering with knowledge in plastic additives. The primary function of this role includes the product development of new and existing products along with providing technical support for both customer and clients. Technical knowledge will be at the forefront in bringing innovation and a new perspective to the company and the plastic additive portfolio. Successful candidates can have a background in plastics, polymers, or material engineering within the plastic industry across various segments including Medical, Packaging, Consumer, Textiles, Building and Construction.

The role

• Lead and drive innovation through internal and external resources – develop production technologies for assigned products.
• Stay up to date with technical developments along the supply chain.
• Collaborate closely with commercial teams and develop products to meet customer requirements.
• Support sales activity with technical expertise and communicate effectively with customers.
• Manage key suppliers for assigned functionalities – define new and support the existing supply chain.
• Analyse the total life cycle of products – maintain and trouble-shoot assigned products to ensure functionality and durability.

Required experience:

• Minimum of 5 years in-depth professional experience in a multinational environment preferably in specialty plastics, specialty masterbatches, specialty compounds, or specialty plastics convertors.
• Degree in Chemistry, Plastic Engineering, Polymer Engineering OR Material Engineering, but with more experience in Additives and Masterbatch.
• Experience in product development, technical service, project initiation and management, polymer chemistry and processing.