Due to the continued success in the performance plastics industry our well-established client based in Kilrush, Co. Clare, has a brilliant opportunity for a Product Development Specialist. The successful candidate will report directly to the Marketing Director and will be expected to coordinate R&D projects through effective collaboration with operations, commercial team members, external customers, and external suppliers.
Responsibilities:
- Thoroughly utilise project experiences, expertise in materials, processes, techniques, and products to enhance or develop products, improve performance, and/or reduce costs to generate new sales, increase production efficiency, and/or support fundamental research within a major product or technology area.
- Conduct prototypes on prototyping, operational equipment, and in the laboratory.
- Utilise the R&D lab equipment to analyse materials and make informed decisions in product design.
- Manage multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring they are completed on time, within budget, and with clear documentation to meet business and customer objectives.
- Facilitate technology and knowledge transfer from other entities.
- Identify or develop test protocols to characterise the application performance of new or existing products.
- Demonstrate an open and collaborative approach in all areas of responsibility.
- Communicate technically with internal and external collaborators through clear verbal updates, written updates, presentations, and technical reports.
- Continuously and reliably bring projects to completion with little assistance from a supervisor.
- Utilise knowledge to advance projects and identify productive synergies.
- Keep project teams on track with project timelines and budgets.
- Utilise Gate Process, DOE, and Change Control methodologies in research projects.
- Stay aware of new technology applications and competing solutions in target markets.
Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications and Experience Required:
- Self-starter with a strong technical background. Curious and results-driven.
- Strong organisational skills to manage projects and enjoy the hands-on experience of seeing development projects from start to completion.
- Able to communicate internally and externally, understanding new concepts and technologies and applying them quickly.
- Efficiently work with multiple stakeholders in the organisation, being able to identify user needs and understand how to meet those needs through online content.
- A Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 4+ years of experience, or a Master's degree with 2+ years of experience, or an entry-level PhD degree in Materials Science, Polymer Science, Polymer Chemistry, Plastics Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or other related disciplines.
- Demonstrate experience in a body of technical work, including but not limited to: examples of experimental and/or test design, demonstration of familiarity with data analysis, interpretation of and drawing conclusions from a collection of basic data, and technical documents and/or patents.
- Demonstrated and proven end-to-end project management with the ability to organise, prioritise and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Oral, written, and visual communication skills.
- Curious and progress/results-driven.
- Confident, independently motivated self-starter.
- Ability to network/communicate within the group, outside the group, and across disciplines.
- Demonstrated aptitude to understand new concepts and technologies and apply them quickly.
- Demonstrate adequate knowledge of Health, Safety, and Environment protocols.
- Ability to communicate respectfully and collaborate in a team environment.
- High degree of professionalism and flexibility - equally comfortable working independently and as a team.
- Attention to detail.
To apply for this role, please email your CV to Warren.Brooks@eflexes.com
