Technical Group Leader – Rubber

The Integrated Performance Solutions segment for the Consumer Products Division focuses on the sealing and dispensing needs of various sectors, including household, personal care, and beauty products.

The Technology Group Leader (TGL) is a player/coach that leads a team of technical project engineers/staff that is responsible for the development and commercialization of new rubber/elastomer products, and supporting existing products for the business. The TGL will also serve as the rubber/elastomer technical expert/liaison for the global business, share technology best practices, and drive successful project execution. The TGL will manage a resource pool of project development engineers and technical staff who will be responsible for successful project execution at the local level.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serves as a player/coach for the global rubber and elastomer technical team
• Lead a geographically diverse technical platform team that is responsible and focused on developing technical solutions and successful project execution
  (i.e. from ideation to commercialization)
• Properly manage and allocate technical resources that matches the needs of the global business
• Provide rubber/elastomeric subject matter expertise for internal and external stakeholders.
• Define standards (i.e. specs) and standardized evaluation methods and steer global products continuity (ideally interchangeability)
• Drive and leverage technical best practices across the global rubber manufacturing sites
• Provide product-line technical and application subject matter expertise to the global business
• Convert ambiguous customer needs into successful technical solutions
• Leverage material science and conversion technologies knowledge to successfully conduct product and manufacturing trials utilizing research labs, pilot assets and production lines.
• Leverage advances in new material and manufacturing technologies to deliver new solutions to defend our competitive advantage and satisfy unmet market needs
• Manage and provide rubber plant technical and laboratory resources/support
• Provide mentoring, coaching, and training to the rubber technical team as needed

KPIs/METRICS

• Deliver on key project milestones (concept, design, prototype, scale, commercialization)
• Successful new product commercialization (on-time/budget/cost/performance)

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelors or masters in a material science-related field with Chemistry or Chemical Engineering advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of materials industry experience in rubber manufacturing
• Minimum of 3 years leading a high-powered and geographically diverse technical team
• Experience providing solutions to complex technical problems, and success in developing and commercializing new innovation concepts from ideation to commercialization
• Experience building a culture of innovation and collaboration within customers and internal teams
• Experience in high-volume manufacturing environment
• Organizational-savvy and be comfortable with navigating organizations at all levels.
• Well-organized and self-directed and have a strong process and project orientation.
• Proficiency in the English language strong preferred.
• Ability to travel (~25%).

WORKING CONDITIONS

The nature of this role may require work hour flexibility including working outside the regular workday hours and weekends.  Regular day and overnight travel by car and/or air may be required. Typically works in an office with adequate lighting and ventilation and a normal range of temperature and noise level.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The essential duties, physical demands and work environment characteristics described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. If possible, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions where it may not cause undue hardship or safety risks to the company and / or the employee.