Polymer Chemist

Reed Scientific are recruiting for a Polymer Chemist  on behalf of a cutting edge Biotech company based on the borders of Cambridgeshire and Suffolk.

The role 
The Polymer Chemist will play a crucial role in driving innovation and the advancement of the entire product development life cycle. They will be responsible for the design, development, and scale-up of products, and overall daily project management with relevant personnel and cross-functional departments. They will also provide input and ideas to the research and development team and their initiatives.

This leadership position requires a strategic thinker with a strong technical background in polymers and/or chemistry, with a proven track record of successful product launches, and the ability to lead and inspire cross-functional teams.

• Develop and execute a comprehensive product development strategy aligned with the company's goals.
• Collaborate with executive leadership to establish long-term objectives and key performance indicators for the polymer division
• Support the scale up of formulations from lab scale to mid-and full-site commercial batches. Coordinate and work with all internal departments on the technology transfer for scale-up, commercialisation, and determine the appropriate design and product specifications to maximise ease of manufacturing and customer application
• Provide short and long term support for current products by qualifying alternative sources of raw materials and validating performance
• Lead and inspire a multidisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, and product developers to foster a culture of innovation.
• Innovate with polymers, catalysts, modifiers, and monomers in adhesives to fulfill unmet customer/application needs for developing differentiated products 
• Keep up with industry trends, emerging technologies, and market demands to identify opportunities for new product development.
• Work closely with the research and development teams and their process, ensuring the timely and cost-effective development of new and or expanded products.
• Conduct patent searches to monitor competitive innovations and collaborate and help generate intellectual property in the form of patents, formulation know-how, and trade secrets
• Identify potential risks and challenges in the product development process and develop mitigation strategies.
• Ensure compliance with industry regulations and standards.
• Represent the company in industry conferences, events, and forums.

Qualifications, experience and skills required

• MSc or PhD in Polymer Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related field, with 6+ years of industrial experience in product development roles
• Must be willing to collaborate and work in teams to advance ideas and projects
• Must possess excellent communication, organisational, analytical, and investigative skills
• Demonstrated ability to translate strategic vision into actionable plans.
• Must have a background in practical, hands-on formulation chemistry to use this knowledge in problem-solving
• Strong computer and organisational skills
• Experience of destructive and mechanical testing would be an advantage
• Must be able to travel to meet customers and do short work assignments as required by project scope

Salary: Negotiable, dependant on experience

Benefits: 28 days holiday including bank holidays, pension, share options, free parking, company laptop, flexible working