Radical polymers scientist H/F

Job description

SPECIALTY POLYMERS belongs to Solvay, a global multi-specialty chemical company with more than 27,000 employees, committed to developing innovative solutions for key societal challenges. With more than 1500 products and over 2 billion EU sales, Specialty Polymers, a core Solvay Global Business Unit (GBU), offers the widest range of high-performance polymers in the world. A portfolio that enables our customers to create advanced customized solutions that extend the limits of metal replacement in a wide range of areas from sustainable mobility, to hyperconnectivity and advanced consumer devices to batteries, electrification and efficient energy production, and many more. JOIN US When our science and innovation blends with your energy and passion, Solvay Specialty Polymers becomes the perfect fit to start your career. Join one of the world’s leading chemical companies in which vast international opportunities, motivating benefits and a fulfilling environment are waiting for you.

With over 1,500 products, Specialty Polymers offers the widest range of high performance polymers in the world, allowing tailormade solutions such as pushing the limits of metal replacement in the electronics, automotive, aircraft, and healthcare industries. The GBU has unparalleled expertise in three technologies: aromatic polymers, high barrier polymers, fluoropolymers.

Job Overview and Responsibilities:

The Radical polymers scientist is responsible for leading research and innovation projects and supporting plant manufacturing requests that support products development for Solvay Specialty Polymers for high growth markets. Position accountabilities are:

·  Demonstrating strong technical depth in the area of radical suspension/emulsion polymerization of vinyl monomers and of material science to ensure the product development activities are technically rigorous
·  Leading in the scale-up of recipes from research to commercial scale working in close collaboration with Process Technology, HSE and Manufacturing functions
·  Providing technical support to improve the current products and technologies in close collaboration with Process Technology and Manufacturing functions
·  Providing technical support to on-going plant operations and help for problem solving 
·  Demonstrating project management skills
·  Working with sales, marketing, customer technical development, customers, and suppliers to support the development of new products.
·  Assisting in the review and monitoring of patent/scientific literature relevant to our products/technology

Education and Experience:

Ph.D. in polymer chemistry and specifically in suspension/emulsion polymerization or related fields. Additional background in polymer extrusion and/or materials science is a plus.
Ideally, you have 3-5 years of industrial or thesis-related experience working in suspension/emulsion polymerization in laboratory, pilot plant or commercial-scale operations.

Skills:

·  Strong technical and problem-solving skills
·  Strong experience in working in a polymer synthesis lab is preferred
·  Strong attention to details
·  Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills
·  Strong organizational skills (own and others)
·  Strong communication and presentation skills (oral and written)
·  General comfort level with IT applications
·  Fluent French and English, written and spoken, Italian is a plus
·  Technical depth in the fields of suspension/emulsion polymerization and material science
·  Insight
·  Innovation 
·  Teamwork in multidisciplinary team and team leadership
·  Problem-solving
·  Collaboration
·  Open mindedness
·  Customer orientation
·  Achievement drive and motivation
·  Empowerment
·  Leadership
·  Learning and developing (self and others)