Senior Manager, Material Science & Barrier Technologies

1KOMMA5° Commercial Solutions GmbH; Espoo; Hybrid; EUR 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Development opportunities

Remote work (1 day/week)

Sustainability commitments

Job summary

Huhtamaki is seeking a Senior Manager, Material Science & Barrier Technologies in Espoo or Hämeenlinna, Finland, with one remote-working day per week. The role leads the fibre-based packaging barriers roadmap and guides projects from concept to production, coordinating with suppliers, researchers and internal teams.

The ideal candidate holds MSc/PhD in chemistry-related fields, has extensive experience with WVTR/OTR testing and barrier analytics, and can lead cross‑functional initiatives across

Qualifications

• An MSc or PhD in emulsion chemistry, polymer science, surface chemistry, dispersion chemistry, coating chemistry or a related discipline is required.
• Applicants need expertise in fibre-based packaging barriers, coating formulations, barrier chemistries and application technologies.
• Strong experience in the design, execution and interpretation of laboratory, pilot and production-scale trials is required.
• Candidates must bring deep knowledge of barrier characterisation, including WVTR and OTR, together with material-performance testing.
• Experience of working with suppliers, converters and external innovation partners is required.
• The role requires independent project leadership, sound technical decision-making, ownership of work and the ability to balance strategic direction with experimental execution.
• Excellent communication skills are needed to translate complex technical subjects for diverse audiences and to build cross-functional relationships.
• Fluent English is required; no professional licence requirement is stated for the vacancy.
• Preferred: The employer ideally seeks 10 or more years of industrial experience in barrier materials, coatings, laminations, specialty chemicals or related technologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead the technology roadmap for fibre and barrier work across paperboard and moulded-fibre platforms.
• Convert technology-roadmap priorities into commercial development projects that contribute to short- and mid-term growth, while coordinating material-science work with fibre-forming technology development.
• Identify emerging fibre and barrier technologies, assess their potential and develop strategic partnerships connected with them.
• Assess and introduce coating, lamination and surface-barrier approaches suitable for the development work.
• Develop and maintain working relationships with suppliers, research institutions and technology partners worldwide.
• Direct material-development projects from their initial concept through industrial implementation.
• Design and carry out laboratory, pilot and production-scale trials, then use the results to prepare development plans.
• Serve as the specialist authority on barrier performance, test methods and material analytics, establishing robust protocols and scientific rigour for material assessment.
• Advance inventions, patents and intellectual-property work while coaching colleagues, sharing expertise, building capability and collaborating across materials, structures and manufacturing processes.

Skills

Barrier materials

Fibre packaging

Coating formulations

Material testing

WVTR/OTR

Lab to production

Supplier collaboration

Project leadership

Coaching

Education

MSc or PhD in chemistry

Polymer science

Surface chemistry

Coating chemistry

Job description

Official title: Senior Manager, Material Science & Barrier Technologies

Location: Espoo (Uusimaa) or Hämeenlinna (Kanta-Häme), Finland | Employment information: Full-time; one remote-working day per week

This senior material-science post combines roadmap leadership with hands-on development discipline. The appointed manager will evaluate technologies and partners, establish sound approaches to material testing, and move selected work from initial concepts towards industrial implementation. The remit covers paperboard and moulded-fibre platforms as well as coating, lamination and surface-barrier solutions. It also includes knowledge-sharing and collaboration across materials, structures and manufacturing processes, so the role is designed for a technically grounded leader who can connect evidence from trials with broader development priorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead the technology roadmap for fibre and barrier work across paperboard and moulded-fibre platforms.
• Convert technology-roadmap priorities into commercial development projects that contribute to short- and mid-term growth, while coordinating material-science work with fibre-forming technology development.
• Identify emerging fibre and barrier technologies, assess their potential and develop strategic partnerships connected with them.
• Assess and introduce coating, lamination and surface-barrier approaches suitable for the development work.
• Develop and maintain working relationships with suppliers, research institutions and technology partners worldwide.
• Direct material-development projects from their initial concept through industrial implementation.
• Design and carry out laboratory, pilot and production-scale trials, then use the results to prepare development plans.
• Serve as the specialist authority on barrier performance, test methods and material analytics, establishing robust protocols and scientific rigour for material assessment.
• Advance inventions, patents and intellectual-property work while coaching colleagues, sharing expertise, building capability and collaborating across materials, structures and manufacturing processes.

Qualifications

• An MSc or PhD in emulsion chemistry, polymer science, surface chemistry, dispersion chemistry, coating chemistry or a related discipline is required.
• Applicants need expertise in fibre-based packaging barriers, coating formulations, barrier chemistries and application technologies.
• Strong experience in the design, execution and interpretation of laboratory, pilot and production-scale trials is required.
• Candidates must bring deep knowledge of barrier characterisation, including WVTR and OTR, together with material-performance testing.
• Experience of working with suppliers, converters and external innovation partners is required.
• The role requires independent project leadership, sound technical decision-making, ownership of work and the ability to balance strategic direction with experimental execution.
• Excellent communication skills are needed to translate complex technical subjects for diverse audiences and to build cross-functional relationships.
• Fluent English is required; no professional licence requirement is stated for the vacancy.
• Preferred: The employer ideally seeks 10 or more years of industrial experience in barrier materials, coatings, laminations, specialty chemicals or related technologies.

Skills and Competencies

• The role uses fibre-based packaging-barrier expertise to guide the paperboard and moulded-fibre technology roadmap.
• Knowledge of coating formulations and barrier chemistries supports assessment of potential material solutions.
• Capability in coating, lamination and surface-barrier technologies is applied when solutions are evaluated and implemented.
• WVTR and OTR characterisation knowledge informs barrier-performance assessment and material-performance testing.
• Material analytics and robust testing protocols are used to maintain scientific rigour in evaluation work.
• Laboratory, pilot and production trial capability is needed to generate findings that can be converted into development plans.
• Supplier, converter and research-partner relationship skills support collaboration with external organisations.
• Technology scouting, partnership development, project leadership, intellectual-property work and cross-functional coaching all support the role's development remit.

Benefits and Employment Information

• The employer describes the work as meaningful because it focuses on packaging solutions intended to protect food, people and the planet.
• Huhtamaki lists development opportunities and support for employee growth.
• The published employer commitments cover sustainability, diversity and inclusion, together with psychological and physical safety.
• This Senior Manager, Material Science & Barrier Technologies vacancy is full-time and includes one remote-working day per week; the vacancy does not publish a salary.