Associate Vice President – Raw Materials & Compound Development

Omni United (S) Pte Ltd; Singapore; On-site; SGD 150,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading tyre manufacturing company based in Singapore is looking for an experienced Associate Vice President – Raw Materials & Compound Development. This senior position involves leading the development and optimisation of tyre compounds, establishing a laboratory for material analysis, and driving innovation in polymer chemistry and sustainable materials. A PhD or Master’s degree in relevant fields with 15-20 years of experience is essential, along with strong leadership and technical skills.

Qualifications

• 15–20 years of experience in tyre compound development, rubber chemistry, or materials R&D.
• Proven track record in developing high-performance rubber compounds.
• Experience in building or managing laboratory facilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and optimisation of tyre compounds.
• Establish the company’s Raw Materials & Compound Laboratory.
• Drive research initiatives in polymer chemistry and sustainable materials.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Strategic thinking

Problem-solving

Education

PhD or Master’s degree in Polymer Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science

Job description

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and highly skilled leader to join our organisation as Associate Vice President – Raw Materials & Compound Development. This senior role is instrumental in enhancing tyre compound performance, strengthening raw material strategy, and driving innovation across the product portfolio.

You will lead compound development, oversee material optimisation, evaluate new technologies, and build critical capabilities—including establishing a Raw Materials & Compound Laboratory from the ground up.

Key Responsibilities

Compound Development & Technical Expertise

• Lead the development, optimisation, and performance benchmarking of tyre compounds, with a focus on tread properties, rolling resistance, durability, and material performance.

• Review existing compound formulations and recommend improvements based on testing results, chemical properties, and technical insights.

• Drive raw material selection, testing, validation, and integration into production.

Laboratory Setup & Capability Building

• Establish the company’s Raw Materials & Compound Laboratory, including planning, equipment selection, commissioning, methodology development, and team hiring/training.

• Define testing standards, analytical capabilities, and quality benchmarks for incoming raw materials and compound development.

R&D Strategy & Innovation

• Develop and execute the compound and raw materials innovation roadmap.

• Drive research initiatives in polymer chemistry, rubber technology, and sustainable materials.

• Introduce cost-efficient, high-performance, and environmentally aligned material solutions.

Supplier & Raw Material Management

• Build and manage strategic relationships with raw material suppliers.

• Evaluate and optimise supplier performance, ensuring quality consistency and continuous improvement.

• Collaborate with procurement on sourcing strategies and supply security planning.

Cross-functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Engineering, Quality, Procurement, and Manufacturing to ensure alignment between compound development and business goals.

• Provide expert support in solving material-related issues and improving production processes.

Leadership & Organisation Development

• Lead, mentor, and grow the materials and compound development team.

• Build organisational capability and technical excellence within the function.

• Promote a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and data-driven decision-making.

Qualifications & Experience

• PhD or Master’s degree in Polymer Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field.

• 15–20 years of experience in tyre compound development, rubber chemistry, or materials R&D.

• Proven track record in developing high-performance rubber compounds and implementing material optimisation initiatives.

• Experience in building or managing laboratory facilities is a strong advantage.

• Strong leadership experience in R&D, project management, and cross-functional collaboration.

• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills.

Key Competencies

• Deep technical expertise in rubber compounding and polymer chemistry.

• Ability to design and implement advanced testing and validation methods.

• Strong strategic thinking and business understanding.

• Structured, result-oriented, and able to manage complex multi-country projects.

• Strong leadership, team development, and stakeholder management capabilities.