Lead Scientist - Material and Process

Join the team behind iconic brands like Huggies®, Kleenex®, Cottonelle®, Scott®, Kotex®, Poise®, Depend®, and Kimberly-Clark Professional®. At Kimberly-Clark, it’s all here for you—innovation, growth, and the chance to make a real impact.

You were made to create Better Care for a Better World: exploring uncharted questions, engineering innovative solutions, advancing scientific understanding, and constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. You want to be part of a performance culture dedicated to solving real‑world problems with purpose and precision. You want to work in an environment that promotes sustainability, inclusion, wellbeing, and career development.

In this role, you’ll help us shape the future and improve lives for billions of people around the world.

It starts with YOU.

In one of our R&D roles, you’ll focus on winning with consumers and the market, while putting safety, mutual respect, and human dignity at the center. Job responsibilities include:

The Natural Solutions Business Unit is seeking a Lead Scientist to provide technical expertise and leadership in the areas of material and process learnings for innovative natural non‑wood fibers commercialization. With strong research capabilities, teamwork skills, and industrial experience, you will work with cross‑functional teams including Product Development, Supply Chain, Engineering, Operation, Statisticians, and analytical labs to bring fiber solutions from bench to commercialization.

Through collaboration and teamwork, you will use scientific research methods and statistical skills to understand fiber and paper fundamentals related to this innovative natural fiber.

• Apply deep understanding of fiber morphology, chemistry, bonding, and structure–property relationships to guide fiber process selection, treatment, and optimization.

• Translate tissue and nonwoven finished product performance requirements and user experience into actionable fiber design criteria.

• Lead fiber characterization and performance evaluation in manufacturing quality control, linking key process parameters to fiber properties.

• Lead/Support process scale‑up trials for the commercialization of natural non‑wood fibers using strong engineering fundamentals.

• Lead and/or support trials from bench and pilot scale through commercialization, including start‑up, scale‑up, and optimization support.

• Provide technical guidance for operators on trial execution.

• Use data analytics, statistics, and machine learning tools (preferred) to analyze products and process data and guide decisions.

• Communicate findings clearly using technical reports, visuals, data summaries, and presentations to support alignment and decision‑making.

• Collaborate cross‑functionally with chemistry, product development, engineering, operations, quality, EH&S, and supply chain teams.

• Work with external partners, including equipment suppliers and technical service providers, to scale and commercialize new technologies.

• Own defined project responsibilities, delivering results on time and within scope while managing technical risks.

• Demonstrate a strong commitment to safety, ensuring developed processes and products meet applicable standards and guidelines.

• Ability to travel up to 30%.

To succeed in this role, you will need the following qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree (MS or PhD preferred) or equivalent experience in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Pulp & Paper Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, or a related field and 3 years or more of experience.

• Demonstrated knowledge in areas such as biomass pretreatment and pulping, fiber characterization and structure–property relationships, and application of natural fibers in paper and/or nonwoven products.

• Proven ability to apply scientific methods, creativity, and sound judgment to solve complex technical problems.

• Experience working in cross‑functional, collaborative environments and driving technology from early concept to commercialization.

• Strong written and oral communication skills.

• Experience with data analytics, statistical analysis, or modeling applied to material or process development.

• Familiari…