Team Leader Polymer Synthesis RnD

Leading R&D Centre; Mumbai; On-site; INR 4,000,000 - 6,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Leading R&D Centre seeks an innovative Team Leader for Polymer Synthesis to head a talented group of chemists and materials scientists. You will drive design, synthesis, and scale-up of novel polymers, bridging bench-scale innovation and commercial viability.

You will manage project milestones, act as primary technical liaison across departments, and steer patent activity while aligning with senior leadership on strategic directions.

Qualifications

• 7–10 years of industrial R&D in polymer synthesis and materials development.
• Leadership/management experience of a technical R&D team (2–3 years).
• PhD preferred; Masters with substantial industry experience acceptable.
• Experience scaling bench processes to pilot and manufacturing scale.
• Strong interpretation of analytical data to define structure–property relationships.
• Familiar with DoE and IP considerations including patent drafting.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of scientists, chemists, and technicians.
• Define project scopes, allocate resources, and manage timelines for milestones.
• Serve as technical liaison between synthesis and Applications, Engineering, Quality, and Commercial teams.
• Prepare technical reports, updates, and strategic recommendations for leadership.
• Design and execute synthetic routes for novel polymers using multiple polymerization methods.
• Oversee characterization (NMR, GPC/SEC, DSC, TGA, FTIR, Rheology) of polymers.

Skills

Team leadership

Project management

Polymer synthesis

Scale-up of chemical processes

Macromolecular design

DoE and statistics

Education

PhD in Polymer/Organic Chemistry

Masters with 10+ years industrial experience

Tools

NMR

GPC/SEC

DSC

TGA

FTIR

Rheology

Job description

Role Summary

We are seeking an innovative and highly driven Team Leader for Polymer Synthesis to spearhead our advanced materials R&D initiatives. In this role, you will manage a group of talented chemists and material scientists, driving the design, synthesis, and scale-up of novel polymeric materials. You will bridge the gap between bench-scale innovation and commercial viability, ensuring that project milestones are met safely, efficiently, and to the highest scientific standards.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Project Management

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of scientists, chemists, and technicians, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture.
• Define project scopes, allocate resources, and manage timelines to ensure the timely delivery of R&D milestones.
• Serve as the primary technical liaison between the synthesis team and cross functional departments, including Applications, Engineering, Quality, and Commercial teams.
• Prepare and present comprehensive technical reports, project updates, and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.

Technical & Scientific Direction

• Design and execute innovative synthetic routes for novel polymers, utilizing various polymerization techniques (e.g., Free Radical, ATRP, RAFT, Anionic, Cationic, Ring-Opening, and Step-Growth).
• Oversee the structural, thermal, and mechanical characterization of synthesized polymers using analytical techniques such as NMR, GPC/SEC, DSC, TGA, FTIR, and Rheology.
• Drive the transition of new polymer technologies from laboratory scale to pilot plant and full manufacturing scale.
• Keep abreast of current scientific literature, market trends, and competitor activities to identify new technological opportunities and intellectual property (IP) space.
• Spearhead the drafting and filing of patents to protect proprietary technologies.

Desired Candidate Profile

Education: Ph.D. in Polymer / Organic Chemistry, or Masters degree with 10+ years of highly relevant industrial experience may also be considered.

Industry Experience: Minimum of 7 to 10 years of industrial R&D experience focused heavily on polymer synthesis and materials development.

Leadership Experience: At least 2 to 3 years of demonstrated experience leading, managing, or supervising a technical R&D team.

Technical Competencies

• Deep theoretical knowledge and hands-on expertise in diverse polymerization mechanisms and macromolecular design.
• Proven track record of scaling up chemical processes from bench to pilot scale.
• Proficiency in interpreting complex analytical data (chromatography, spectroscopy, thermal analysis) to elucidate polymer structure-property relationships.
• Experience with specialized polymer classes (e.g., elastomers, polyurethanes, biodegradable polymers, hydrogels, or high-performance thermoplastics) is highly advantageous.
• Familiarity with Design of Experiments (DoE) and statistical analysis tools.

Soft Skills & Attributes

Communication: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to translate complex scientific concepts to non-technical stakeholders.

Problem-Solving: Strong analytical mindset with the ability to troubleshoot complex synthetic and process challenges rapidly.

Adaptability: Comfort operating in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with shifting priorities.

Collaboration: A team player who builds strong collaborative networks across different business units and global sites.