Director - NA Battery Center & Development Job

Job Title: Director of NA Battery Center & Development 
This position Manages a growing team of 10 scientists, chemists and contract employees whose work is of strategic importance and therefore highly visible.  Build and maintain an external battery network with the growing North American technical and business entities in order to provide strategic direction for our future participation in this market. 

Key Activities & Responsibilities:

Laboratory Organization & Management 

Actively recruit, interview and hire to build an effective and productive technical organization, with a One Arkema mindset, that complements our global battery initiatives.
Ensure technical competencies are aligned with business and project objectives as well as global battery strategies.
Help to deliver on the vision of a multi-BU NA battery application center; propose equipment and capabilities in coordination with other Arkema battery laboratories.
Help to coordinate the technical projects in an Arkema global context and with a One Arkema mindset and write technical reports with some regularity.
Communicate to management: progress on development projects, R&D expense versus budget reconciliations, significant technical or market findings, which may offer new business opportunities.

New Business Development 

Propose new business development initiatives, which leverage our technical resources and capabilities.
Promote and manage synergistic activities with other technical/business communities (within Arkema) for opportunity identification and/or enhancement of project progress.
 

ARKEMA Representation & External Networking

Position Arkema as the collaborator of choice in battery materials development.
Actively develop an external network with the existing and future North American battery market network including battery OEMs, tier one suppliers, co-developers, co-suppliers, government laboratories, start-ups, academics and other technical developers in the battery space.
Continuously look for opportunities for Arkema Inc. to compete for government grants and funding opportunities in the battery arena.   Identify potential research partners and participate in writing of the proposals.
Direct effective execution of development projects via: assignment of resources, leveraging outside resources, making available the required equipment and supplies, and periodic reviews with project teams.
Identify and establish joint R&D programs with universities, outside labs, development partners, and other Arkema labs to enhance our own capabilities and progress on projects.
Recommend, review and establish confidentially agreements (after counsel with our Patent Department) to ensure the Company’s confidential technical information is protected and only disclosed if for the benefit of the Company.        
 

Context and environment

Works closely with the Arkema NA and global management of the Arkema Corporate and BU battery initiatives.  Participate in preparation of budgets and technology plans, communicate progress and recommend significant changes in direction.  Works closely with the Arkema NA and global Arkema technical community to leverage capabilities and identify synergies internally and externally.  Works with peer group to ensure consistency in employee matters across King of Prussia, to coordinate capital spending and to share tools/facilities.  Work closely with other support functions such as ASR, the Pilot Plant, Process Technology, Central Engineering, HES, Patent, HR, Finance, Legal, Public Relations (Communications), Procurement and IS.
 

Required Education/Qualifications /Work experience

PhD in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or Materials/ Polymers Science or Engineering with 10+ years of experience in R&D in chemical industry; demonstrated technical and managerial excellence with proven success; demonstrated ability to work in a global context including international exposure in a globalized business and research environment; proven technology leadership, motivational, communication and negotiation skills.  Excellent understanding of business strategies and its financial aspects.
 

Building on its unique set of expertise in materials science, Arkema offers a portfolio of first-class technologies to address ever-growing demand for new and sustainable materials. With the ambition to become in 2024 a pure player in Specialty Materials, the Group is structured into three complementary, resilient and highly innovative segments dedicated to Specialty Materials - Adhesive Solutions, Advanced Materials, and Coating Solutions - accounting for some 80% of Group sales, and a well-positioned and competitive Intermediates segment. Arkema offers cutting-edge technological solutions to meet the challenges of, among other things, new energies, access to water, recycling, urbanization and mobility, and fosters a permanent dialogue with all its stakeholders. The Group reported sales of €9.5 billion ($10.6 billion) in 2021, and operates in 55 countries with 20,500 employees worldwide.

The diversity of its employees is an asset that the Arkema group wants to preserve. Its non-discrimination policy applies to recruitment, salary levels and career management. The Arkema group is committed to ensuring diversity among its employees.

Arkema Inc. provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Arkema Inc. complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence.