Catalyst & Polymerization Specialist

Develop new or improved end-use applications for polyolefin resins on various types of converting machines and provide effective assistance to customers and internal business groups to facilitate polyolefin resin sales. To enhance best practices, provide solutions to achieve customer satisfaction. All while sustaining a safe and healthful working environment that meets environmental, health, safety regulations, and company requirements.

Lead the development, evaluation, optimization, and commercialization of new and improved catalysts to support business growth, cost reduction, product quality, and competitive advantage. Generate, analyze, and interpret catalyst kinetic, physical, chemical, and performance data to establish catalyst activity, selectivity, stability, life, and operating envelopes. Develop predictive models and correlations to translate laboratory and pilot-scale catalyst performance into expected commercial-unit performance. Identify opportunities to improve catalyst performance, extend catalyst life, reduce catalyst consumption, improve process efficiency, and lower overall manufacturing costs.

Establish catalyst performance specifications and acceptance criteria in collaboration with R&D, Process Engineering, Operations, Quality, Procurement, and Commercial teams. Help advance catalysts that will afford better value creation and/or cost savings; to help improve the competitiveness of FPC’s product portfolio and product quality to meet customer’s needs.

Identify, evaluate, specify, and procure catalyst testing equipment, analytical instrumentation, reactors, and supporting laboratory systems to maintain contemporary and leading-edge testing capabilities. Develop equipment specifications, participate in vendor evaluations, and provide technical input during equipment selection and purchasing. Coordinate equipment installation, commissioning, qualification, and start-up to ensure systems meet technical, safety, environmental, and operational requirements. Develop, maintain, and improve laboratory procedures, test methods, operating instructions, and equipment-specific protocols.

Ensure catalyst testing equipment is properly maintained, calibrated, and operated within established specifications. Create and administer training programs for new reactors, testing equipment, analytical methods, and laboratory procedures. Train laboratory personnel and other technical staff on safe and effective operation of catalyst testing systems.

Provide direct technical support to production units during production-scale developmental trials of new, modified, or optimized catalysts. Develop detailed production trial plans, including objectives, operating conditions, sampling requirements, performance criteria, safety considerations, and contingency plans. Coordinate laboratory, pilot, and production-scale testing activities to ensure effective scale-up of catalyst technology. Work directly with Operations and Process Engineering to troubleshoot catalyst-related issues during production trials and recommend operating adjustments.

Monitor catalyst performance during trials and evaluate activity, selectivity, stability, product quality, throughput, energy efficiency, catalyst consumption, and other relevant commercial metrics. Analyze production trial data and compare results against laboratory and pilot-scale predictions to validate scale-up models and identify opportunities for improvement. Provide real-time technical guidance during trials and make recommendations regarding continuation, modification, or termination of test conditions when appropriate.

Lead…