Advanced Technologies R&D Manager

---

Job description

Job Summary
Advanced Technologies R&D Manager

Why Avantor?
Our more than 12,000 associates globally are passionate about setting science in motion to create a better world. By choosing a career with Avantor, a Fortune 500 company, you will make breakthroughs, make a difference-and make your mark. You will work closely with dedicated people who share your enthusiasm for innovation, excellence and achievement. Whether you want to help customers advance science or solve complex problems, Avantor is where you belong.

Consider a career with us at one of our offices, manufacturing and distribution facilities or innovation centers, or as part of our laboratory and clinical services teams working onsite at customer locations worldwide.

Location: Carpinteria, CA

Job Summary:

The Advanced Technologies R&D Manager manages a group of project and portfolio, performs planning, and execution of R&D Sciences product development projects. Plans and directs schedules and monitors budgets and spending. Ensures consistent practices throughout all phases of the project life cycle. Drives the development and manages the execution of high quality, integrated cross-functional project plans. Applies project management best practices in the development, initiation, planning, execution, control and closing of projects. Provides clear direction on product development requirements to meet expectations of external customers and business stakeholders. Interacts with research and development, marketing, manufacturing, and regulatory departments and with external stakeholders. Responsible for project performance, risk management, administration, financial management and issue resolution for functional group. Manage a team within a discipline or department, typically comprised of career/intermediate professionals or Supervisors.

Job Description:

• Lead a team in the research, development and commercialization of silicone-based products for target markets (e.g., Aerospace, Defense, E&E, etc.)
• Monitor & report on project progress, success, and emerging challenges. Allocate resources to achieve project deadlines. Provide guidance, in collaboration with functional leaders, to solve technical problems.
• Accept / evaluate project requests from internal and external customers. Assess priority of multiple competing requests.
• Build clear understanding of key project deliverables and associated timing.
• Make clear and effective requests of team members to take ownership of projects; drive collaboration and inspire team members to rapidly execute on project tasks and identify workflow improvements.
• Provide clear & constructive feedback on associate performance; engaging with team members to create meaningful development plans.
• Provide direction and guidance to scientists and other technical personnel, including managing and directing of day to day activities and performance.
• Comply with all safety, environmental, and quality policies and procedures, leading by example to foster employee engagement in the company's safety culture
• Develop innovative solutions to product development challenges.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with coworkers and customers to ensure timely and effective coordination of activities.
• Initiate and manage product development projects in collaboration with marketing, field applications and customers leading to evaluation and use of Avantor / NuSil products.
• Oversee the effective and efficient formulation development and optimization of Advanced Technologies products.
• Implement systems / processes that maximize effective coordination and execution of projects.
• Critically analyze patents and literature; supporting implementation of new products and technologies and the generation of new product ideas.
• Maintain close relationship with customers and to keep abreast of emerging market trend and opportunities.
• Prepare and deliver impactful presentations and technical literature to various stakeholders including customers.
• Collect voice-of-customers and translate into product requirements, participate in industry organizations and work with product development teams to identify market driven product requirements, generate insight, develop novel product opportunities and provide feedback on product performance
• Develop and optimize robust manufacturing processes for new products.
• Prepare pre-commercial / pilot Batch Records; working closely with the Manufacturing team to oversee pre-commercial manufacturing.
• Coordinate with the Purchasing department personnel for raw materials sourcing, and be able to identify issues
• Coordinate with Analytical and QC personnel for setting up test methods and specifications
• Performs other duties as assigned with or without accommodation

Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Good interpersonal and presentation skills.
• Basic understanding of silicone product technology.
• Ability to frame up, prioritize and deploy resources to execute projects according to value, cost and risk with limited supervision.
• Demonstrated leadership skills and the ability to work and communicate effectively with all levels of employees to plan, organize and complete multiple projects from inception to startup.
• Excellent project management skills with understanding of financial impacts of plans, decisions and actions.
• Ability to conceptualize technical solutions to scientific problems
• High level of influencing and persuading skills and high level of collaborative behavior
• Ability to communicate clearly the intended message in formal and informal settings to both a technical and business audience
• Ability to build relationships with other team members and gain commitment toward stated goals- facilitate collaboration.
• Flexibility to respond to changing priorities and shifting deadlines in a fast paced working environment
• Ability to find innovative and creative solutions to customer needs

Environmental Working Conditions:

• Typically works in a laboratory environment with adequate lighting and ventilation and a normal range of temperature and noise level.
• Work assignments are diversified. Examples of past precedent are used to resolve work problems. New alternatives may be developed to resolve problems.

• A frequent volume of work and deadlines impose strain on routine basis.

• The work environment is an office, chemical laboratory and pilot-plant settings.

• The duties of the job will require traveling up to 20% of the time, domestically and internationally

Qualifications:

• PhD or Master's degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, polymer engineering or other relevant technical area. Minimum 8 years of experience in research and development of polymeric materials with demonstrated ability to conduct and mange projects to achieve desired results.
• At least 3 years of technical project planning, management and execution experience demonstrating team leadership.
• Comprehensive industrial experience in materials chemistry and formulation development/characterization is preferred, with demonstrated ability to identify issues and implement effective solutions.
• Experience and understanding of silicone materials synthesis, characterization, and production is a plus.

DISCLAIMER:
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees assigned to this position.
Avantor is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

EEO Statement

We are an Equal Employment/Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state/province, or local law.

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Requests for accommodation will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.

For more information about equal employment opportunity protections, please view the Equal Employment Opportunity is THE LAW Poster, EEO is the Law Poster Supplement, and Pay Transparency Non-Discrimination Provision using the links below.

EEO is the Law

OFCCP EEO Supplement

PAY TRANSPARENCY NONDISCRIMINATION PROVISION

3rd party non-solicitation policy

By submitting candidates without having been formally assigned on and contracted for a specific job requisition by Avantor, or by failing to comply with the Avantor recruitment process, you forfeit any fee on the submitted candidates, regardless of your usual terms and conditions. Avantor works with a preferred supplier list and will take the initiative to engage with recruitment agencies based on its needs and will not be accepting any form of solicitation