Material Characterization Team Leader

Ashland Specialty Ingredients, GPAre you the kind of person that is always thinking, sketching, seeking, and adjusting? Who needs to understand how things work and then figure out how they can work better? Are you a passionate, tenacious, solver who loves to work with others who share your drive? Are you positive, constructive, and ingenious? Are you always solving? Then we’d like to meet you and bet you’d like to meet us.

Ashland has an exciting opportunity for a Material Characterization team leader to join our Measurement Science group in R&D at our Wilmington, DE research center. This is a very visible, significant role within the Company and the R&D function. This position will report to the technical director of measurement science.

The responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to, the following:

As a hands-on material characterization team leader, you’ll lead a team of analytical and material scientists, ensuring the efficient execution of analytical projects, while also mentoring and developing team members, and collaborating with other departments to achieve business objectives and support Ashland’s growth/innovation strategies. The detailed job responsibilities are:
Technical:

• Hands-on skill sets in materials characterization, including SEC, microscopy, rheology, colloidal science, thermal and mechanical analysis
• Working knowledge of carbohydrate and polysaccharide chemistry and characterization.
• Hands on analytical method development, validation, optimization and transfer.
• Compile, analyze and interpret complex analytical data to develop structure/property/performance relationships. Draw meaningful conclusions to support decision-making.
• Identify and resolve analytical issues and challenges, ensuring the integrity and reliability of results.
• Prepare and present clear and concise reports/presentations on project progress and results to effectively communicate with internal and external stakeholders
• Plan, organize, and execute multiple analytical projects, estimate timelines and resources, and coordinate efforts to ensure timely and accurate completion.
• Perform and oversee the maintenance, calibration, and troubleshooting of analytical equipment.
• Ensure compliance with relevant regulations, safety guidelines and SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures).

Leadership and People Management:

• Provide technical guidance, mentorship, and coaching to analytical scientists in the materials characterization labs: SEC, microscopy, rheology, colloidal science, thermal and mechanical analysis, fostering a positive and collaborative team environment.
• Plan, allocate and prioritize resources (personnel, equipment, and budget) effectively to meet project deadlines, business objectives and growth/innovation strategies.
• Conduct performance reviews, set goals, and provide feedback to team members to ensure continuous improvement and development.
• Identify training needs and implement training programs to enhance team skills and knowledge.
• Improve the organization capacity and capabilities through building collaborative relationships, optimizing diverse talent and utilizing positive communications and influence with others

In order to be qualified for this role, you must possess the following:

• The ability to help the company drive greater value through understanding the business, making complex decisions and creating the new and different.
• PhD in Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Materials Science or a related field.
• Proven experience and track record in materials characterization and analytical chemistry, preferably in materials and additives industry.
• Expertise in various materials characterization techniques in materials characterization techniques in SEC, microscopy, rheology, colloidal science, thermal and mechanical analysis, fostering a positive and collaborative team environment
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Experience in project planning, execution, and management.
• Independent decision maker with a record of successful technical achievement
• Ability to travel within United States and overseas as needed for product support
• Must be…