Reed Scientific are recruiting for a Leader in Product Development on behalf of a cutting edge Biotech company based on the borders of Cambridgeshire and Suffolk.
The role
The Senior Product Development Leader 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
