Project Leader

Specialty chemical supplier is seeking an experienced Project Leader – Coatings Technology.

Master of Science or PhD, and 3 years of experience, relevant areas are: Chemical Engineering, Organic Chemistry, Polymer Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Coating Technology or similar.  At least 5 years’ experience working with coatings product development, project management and running production trials.

If you are a high-energy, self-driven individual with great communication skills, this could be an excellent opportunity for you!  Great benefits and relocation assistance available.  Must be US citizen or US green card holder.

Duties:

To execute, report and manage Stage Gate RD&I projects in own unit.  To set scope and develop project plan, business case and execution tactical plan in packaging for food and B&B, in line with the RD&I strategy, project and RD&I functional standards ensuring a successful delivery of the aimed project result.

• Use and improvement of methodologies and tools
• Identifies new product/process optimization and technical solutions and new application opportunities for own area/domain and shares these with management
• The Project Leader delivers on projects with substantial, complex scopes and high levels of technical difficulty, or ensures delivery of multiple projects of narrower scope. They lead by example across their areas of responsibility and develop talent in conjunction with the lab and team leaders.  They demonstrate effectiveness in selling a technical vision, has the ability to think strategically, and has proven success at managing stakeholders at all levels
• To guide and train team members in technical know-how within Packaging and B&B, that includes formulation, understanding of raw materials and testing
• To guide other technical leaders for projects and continuously teach project management within R&D
• Is ambassador for the project including communication, stakeholder management and providing the environment for success of the project

Sets objectives for project team members, provides clear, open and constructive feedback, tracking in Gantt chart format.

• Creates an open environment in the project team where all people can perform at their best and ensures an engaged project team
• Manages and plans relevant departmental budget and proactively manages the costs and acts in line with HSE and Compliance regulations
• Acts as a focal point and presents project progress, based on milestones, exceptions and deliverables on a regular basis to stakeholders
• Work independently and in collaboration with other team members, to actively contribute to in projects and lab work requests, with main focus on production and recipes within responsible product area
• Support and work globally where expertise is needed
• Handle complaints and deliver conclusive reports within time frame for these
• Capable of recommending full process routing for customers in trial situations in areas of technical expertise
• Expand and develop the team’s knowledge concerning the chemistry and formulation within the responsible product area
• Support production and procurement with recommendations of our recipes and raw materials
• Technical leader for StageGate Express projects, lead work within RD&I work stream, be able to execute projects (approx.. 1MY) independently
• Plan and run production trials at production sites
• Develop excellent working relationships and strong network with the RD&I neighboring functions like: Sales, Marketing,PSRA, Production, Purchasing, etc.
  • Partners with production / both sales and customers to develop project plans to resolve complex problems and can clearly articulate pros / cons or compromises required
• Manages multiple Stage Gate projects
  • Regularly engages with customers on technical issues
  • Acts as technical resource to commercial teams and customers in area of expertise
• Responsible for delivery of Stage Gate projects – large duration / regional impact / within 1 or 2 units / predominantly in own function / medium budget
• Defining project plan including scope, milestones and deliverables; managing execution and delivery within the agreed time, budget and scope
• Leading, coaching and appraising a medium sized team of indirect reports – assigned to a project. Providing feedback to hierarchical manager
• Key contact for multiple stakeholders, ensuring proper stakeholder management and delivery of value for the customer
• Ensuring end to end project management, incorporating relevant experiments, methodology and tools, intellectual property, knowledge development and customer needs, using company project management standards
• Teaching, guiding other technical leaders for projects to develop their project management skills
• To guide and train team members in technical know-how within Packaging, that includes formulation, understanding of raw materials and testing
• Defining project plan including scope,milestonesanddeliverables for medium sized projects; managing execution and delivery within the agreed time, budget and scope
  • Knows and applies project management and planning fundamentals
• Leading, coaching and appraising a small team of indirect reports – assigned to a project. Providing feedback to hierarchical manager
  • Solid skills and understanding of team motivation and engagement
• Ensuring end to end project management, incorporating relevant experiments, methodology and tools, intellectual property and knowledge development
• Clearly demonstrates leadership in areas of work, drives successful timely outcomes, moves quickly to address opportunities, seeks new ideas, eagerly seeks and accepts new responsibilities and ownership. Capable of organizing the activities of 1-5 people
• Can be focal point and lead projects across regions
• Understands safety and regulatory implications for customers and/or Production including raw materials, processes, and HSE profile of finished products
• Ensures safe operations at a project level
• Responsible for development of products, recipes, and product quality within RD&I, according to responsible product area
  • Detailed understanding of chemistry impact on formulation space and real world performance. Can own material slates and suggest consolidation within them
  • Is aware of key industrial and regulatory test requirements (FCN) impacting their segments and actively builds them into project planning. Actively informed about upcoming changes and can design testing and project plans accordingly
  • Deeper understanding of customer and end customer needs
• Responsible for clear documentation of own work in RD&I projects
• Responsible for running SG project activities, and participate in SG and SGE projects, according to the goals and priorities
• Responsible for delivering results of high quality in all performed tasks
• Read relevant literature like patents, scientific articles etc. for ongoing projects
• Actively and willingly share and expand own knowledge to support the RD&I community
• Ensure that all work is always carried out according to the valid SOP and that risk assessments, and that they are well understood. In case a SOP or risk assessment is missing or needs to be updated, ensure this is done and approved before any work is started.  When training others, ensure that it is done according to valid SOP and risk assessments
• Correct use of equipment and methodology. If any equipment or method is not working properly or needs to be repaired or updated, ensure actions are taken to correct it
• Support and trouble shoot production and / or customer issues
• Support to Integrated Supply Chain ensuring high quality of raw material and products
• Has good knowledge of and is compliant with company quality systems ISO
• Liability according to company’s “Code of Conduct” and reporting any suspected violations according to company’s SpeakUp! Procedure
• Responsible according to Life Saving Rules and the Golden Principle

**If you’d like to hear more about this opportunity and others we are currently working on, please contact Dave Maxwell at dmaxwell@cps4jobs.com.

JO:  188.23DM
#LI-DM1

Technical Qualifications:

• Degree within Chemistry, preferably Master of Science or Ph.D. and 3 years of experience, relevant areas are: Chemical Engineering, Organic Chemistry, Polymer Chemistry, Physical, Chemistry, Coating Technology or similar
• At least 5 years’ experience from working with product development, project management and running production trials
• Have a deep knowledge of our products, recipes, manufacturing processes, raw materials, and customers processes work
• Ability to travel as necessary (15%)

**If you’d like to hear more about this opportunity and others we are currently working on, please contact Dave Maxwell at dmaxwell@cps4jobs.com.

JO:  188.23DM
#LI-DM1