Director of Technology (Polymer)

As the Director of Polymer Technology at Zerocircle, you will be responsible for leading the material innovation program from lab discovery to industrial deployment. Your role will involve: - **Lead Advanced Polymer R&D**: Oversee the formulation, synthesis, and characterization of new materials derived from natural polymers, focusing on mechanical strength, moisture resistance, and sealability. - **Drive Scale-Up and Tech Transfer**: Translate lab-scale breakthroughs into scalable, commercially viable manufacturing processes. Establish process controls, documentation, and validation protocols. - **Integrate Chemistry and Engineering**: Bridge bench chemistry with process engineering to ensure reproducibility, performance consistency, and manufacturability. - **Guide and Mentor a High-Performing Team**: Lead a diverse team of scientists, chemists, and PhDs across material science, biopolymers, and packaging. Build an innovation culture grounded in rigor, curiosity, and shared purpose. - **Collaborate Cross-Functionally**: Partner with design, sustainability, and business teams to align R&D direction with product and market goals. - **Own External Collaborations**: Liaise with research institutions, technical partners, and manufacturing collaborators to accelerate development timelines. - **Establish Global Standards**: Build a materials roadmap that positions Zerocircle at the forefront of bio-based technology, with clear technical benchmarks for performance, circularity, and compliance. Your qualifications should include: - Scientist to Builder: Strong grounding in polymer chemistry, formulation, and testing with experience in driving engineering execution and technology transfer. - Natural Polymer Expert: Deep experience with polysaccharides, proteins, gums, or other natural polymer systems, including modification, blending, and film/coating development. - Scale-Up Proven: Demonstrated success in taking material innovations from concept to production, preferably in bio-based packaging, coatings, or advanced materials. - Engineering-Fluent: Understanding of pilot-scale and industrial-scale process design, including drying, extrusion, coating, and film casting technologies. - Leadership-Driven: At least 5 years leading technical teams with a track record of motivating scientists to achieve at the intersection of purpose and performance. - Mission-Led: Belief that material innovation can drive environmental restoration and desire to create measurable, global impact. At Zerocircle, you will be part of a company redefining what's possible with nature-based materials. Join us in building not just materials, but the foundation of a new material economy where every formulation has a purpose beyond performance.,