Section Manager

Section Manager – Personal Care At Nouryon, our global team takes positive action every day, to reach higher collectively and individually. We create innovative and sustainable solutions for our customers to answer society’s needs – today and in the future. We are looking for team members who bring ideas forward, champion others and work together to do better. Does that sound like you?

In your future role as a Section Manager – Personal Care, you will Lead part of the Personal Care R&D organization in the development of new products and/or redesign of existing products/processes/services in accordance with business and customer needs. The successful candidate will join the Nouryon team and be responsible for the research, development, and evaluation of sustainable polymers and/or surfactants to provide unique solutions to our personal care segments.

This may include the development, modification, and formulation of rheology modifiers, film formers, aesthetic enhancers, and surfactants for various applications such as hair & skin care products, moisturizers, conditioners, sunscreens, hair styling, and personal cleansing systems.

• Providing input to the business/R&D strategy and implementing strategy in own team
• Defining the plan and budget for own unit
• Attracting, leading, coaching, appraising and developing team members, ensuring short and long term resource planning
• Driving engagement and managing talent development and succession planning
• Driving knowledge management by keeping up with internal and external developments and ensuring development, transfer and retention of knowledge and information within the organization
• Participates in cross-functional teams, issues advice and/or customer at request or at own initiative
• Works with the marketing and commercial teams to help establish the company’s long term product development priorities
• Oversees key development projects, processes and performance reports, data and analysis
• Develops and maintains relations with internal and external suppliers and experts to stay abreast of new technologies which may translate to product development projects
• Prioritizes activities in accordance with business needs and optimises efficiency
• Drives best practices for products, processes and ways of working
• Supports platform development, deployment and technology ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements
• Is lead R&D contact for customers and attends customer meetings and develops overview and technology presentation
• Maintains company safety standards and supports company values
• Will have leadership responsibilities at the site level

• PhD in chemistry / chemical engineering with 7 years of experience or Master’s Degree in chemistry / chemical engineering and 10 years+ of experience or Bachelor’s Degree in chemistry / chemical engineering with 15 years+ of experience
• People / team leadership & development experience
• Project leadership experience
• Personal Care technical background (ingredients, test methodology, formulation know-how); biobased polymer and/or surfactant innovation background a plus; home care technical knowledge a plus
• Market and Product Insights, Business & Technical Communication, Technical Improvement & Innovation, Problem Solving, Work/Project Management, Organizational Savvy, Experimental Principles & Design, Knowledge of Intellectual Property Laws and Regulations
• Provide solutions for technical challenges based on scientific knowledge of polymers and surfactants for consumer markets
• Conduct research and development of experimental and commercial polymers and/or surfactants in the target home and personal care application areas
• Demonstrate knowledge of home & personal care polymers and surfactants to offer…