Head of Development – Plastic Raw Material Compounding

Department:

Reports To:

Location:

Position Overview

Head of Development

Key Responsibilities

1. Product Development & Innovation

• Lead the design and development of new plastic compounds (PP, PE, ABS, PC, Nylon, TPE, etc.) to meet specific customer and market needs.
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of 

  post-consumer waste (PCR) recycling

   and its integration into formulations.
• Formulate and test new materials to enhance 

  mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties

  .
• Oversee 

  color and additive masterbatch

   development for performance improvement and cost optimization.
• Identify, evaluate, and implement new 

  technologies, additives, and polymers

   to maintain a competitive edge.

2. Process & Quality Optimization

• Collaborate with the production team to 

  scale up formulations

   from lab to commercial production.
• Optimize compounding parameters to ensure 

  consistent quality, productivity, and cost efficiency

  .
• Troubleshoot technical issues in compounding, extrusion, and product performance.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation for 

  formulations, test data, and process conditions

  .

3. Leadership & Team Management

• Lead and develop a team of R&D engineers, chemists, and lab technicians.
• Foster a 

  culture of innovation, discipline, and continuous improvement

  .
• Mentor team members on 

  formulation techniques, testing methodologies

  , and problem-solving.

4. Customer & Market Interface

• Work closely with sales and marketing teams to 

  translate customer needs into technical solutions

  .
• Provide 

  technical support

   for customer trials, audits, and product troubleshooting.
• Participate in 

  technical presentations, customer audits, and new product introductions

  .

5. Compliance & Documentation

• Ensure compliance with standards such as 

  RoHS, REACH, UL, ISO, and GRS

  .
• Maintain accurate formulation records and safeguard 

  intellectual property (IP)

  .
• Enforce 

  safety, health, and environmental protocols

   in the R&D laboratory.

Qualifications & Experience

• Education:

   B.E./B.Tech/M.Tech in Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering, or Materials Science.

• Experience:

   10–15 years in polymer compounding, formulation, and R&D; minimum 5 years in a leadership role.

Technical Skills

• In-depth knowledge of 

  polymer chemistry, additives, and fillers

  .
• Hands-on experience with 

  twin-screw extrusion

  , mixing, and polymer characterization (MFI, tensile, impact, DSC, TGA, etc.).
• Familiarity with processing methods such as 

  injection molding, blow molding, and extrusion

  .

Soft Skills

• Strong 

  strategic thinking and leadership

   abilities.
• Excellent 

  communication and customer orientation

  .
• Effective 

  project management

   and cross-functional collaboration.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Turnaround time for 

  new product development

  .
• Improvement in 

  cost and performance

   of existing compounds.

• Customer satisfaction

   and success rate in product trials.
• Strength of 

  innovation pipeline

   and IP generation.

• R&D cost efficiency

   and team productivity.