Resin Specialist - BOPP Technology

Taghleef Industries Group; Terre Haute (IN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Taghleef Industries is seeking a Resin Specialist to lead resin technology for BOPP film production at our Terre Haute site. You will guide resin selection, optimize processing windows, and work with manufacturing, procurement, R&D, and product development to improve film performance and reduce costs.

The role requires 8–15 years in polypropylene resin technology, strong knowledge of resin manufacturing, and experience with major PP supplier partners.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Polymer Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Plastics Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Master's or Ph.D. in Polymer Science is preferred.
• 8-15 years of experience in polypropylene resin technology.
• Minimum 5 years supporting BOPP film manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of resin manufacturing technologies.
• Experience working with major PP resin suppliers.
• Preferred experience with Borealis, Braskem, ExxonMobil, INEOS, SABIC, Reliance Industries, TotalEnergies, CNPC, Sinopec.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the global technical expert on polypropylene resins used for BOPP film production.
• Develop deep understanding of resin structure-property relationships and their impact on film processing and performance.
• Recommend optimal resin grades for various film applications.
• Evaluate alternative resin technologies to improve competitiveness.
• Establish global resin selection standards and technical specifications.
• Support manufacturing in Terre Haute in resolving resin-related production issues.
• Analyze process variability caused by resin characteristics.
• Optimize extrusion and stretching conditions based on resin behavior.
• Improve line efficiency through resin optimization.
• Minimize waste, breaks, gels, fisheyes, and process instability.
• Participate in root cause analysis for major production problems.
• Act as the technical interface with global resin suppliers and procurement.
• Qualify new resin suppliers and new resin grades.
• Lead resin performance trials.
• Review supplier technical documentation.
• Benchmark supplier technologies and innovations.
• Build long-term technical partnerships with resin manufacturers.
• Support development of new BOPP film products.
• Recommend resin formulations for specialty applications including High Clarity Films, High stiffness films, Heat seal films, Label films, Capacitor films, Matte films, Metallizable films, Tobacco films, Sustainable film solutions.
• Provide technical support for issues including Melt fracture, Gels, Fish eyes, Stretching breaks, Low output, Haze, COF variations, Poor metallization performance.
• Monitor global resin technology developments and compare with current resin assets; recommend improvements for productivity.
• Evaluate new catalyst technologies.
• Investigate bio-based and recycled PP resins.
• Support circular economy initiatives.
• Identify opportunities for downgauging and improved sustainability.

Skills

Technical problem solving

Analytical thinking

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Effective communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in polymer/chemical/materials/plastics engineering

Master's or Ph.D. in polymer science (preferred)

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Full Time Technical

For more than 20 years, Taghleef Industries, Inc., has built a reputation as one of the world's largest and most recognized industry leaders in specialty BOPP (Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene) films. This reputation is a result of superior quality of our products and our people.

The Resin Specialist is the company's subject matter expert on polypropylene resins and related additives used in the manufacture of BOPP (Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene) films. This role provides technical leadership in resin selection, qualification, troubleshooting, process optimization, supplier collaboration, and new product development.

The Resin Specialist works closely with Manufacturing, Procurement, R&D, Product Development, Quality, and Commercial teams globally to maximize production efficiency, improve film performance, reduce costs, and accelerate innovation

Responsibilities:

Resin Technology Leadership

• Serve as the global technical expert on polypropylene resins used for BOPP film production.
• Develop deep understanding of resin structure-property relationships and their impact on film processing and performance.
• Recommend optimal resin grades for various film applications.
• Evaluate alternative resin technologies to improve competitiveness.
• Establish global resin selection standards and technical specifications.

Production Support

• Support manufacturing in Terre Haute in resolving resin-related production issues.
• Analyze process variability caused by resin characteristics.
• Optimize extrusion and stretching conditions based on resin behavior.
• Improve line efficiency through resin optimization.
• Minimize waste, breaks, gels, fisheyes, and process instability.
• Participate in root cause analysis for major production problems.
• Act as the technical interface with global resin suppliers and procurement.
• Qualify new resin suppliers and new resin grades.
• Lead resin performance trials.
• Review supplier technical documentation.
• Benchmark supplier technologies and innovations.
• Build long-term technical partnerships with resin manufacturers.

Product Development

• Support development of new BOPP film products.
• Recommend resin formulations for specialty applications including:
  • High Clarity Films
  • High stiffness films
  • Heat seal films
  • Label films
  • Capacitor films
  • Matte films
  • Metallizable films
  • Tobacco films
  • Sustainable film solutions

Technical Troubleshooting

Provide technical support for issues including:

• Melt fracture
• Gels
• Fish eyes
• Stretching breaks
• Low output
• Haze
• COF variations
• Poor metallization performance
• Monitor global resin technology developments and compare them with our current resin and assets and recommend improvements for productivity.
• Evaluate new catalyst technologies.
• Investigate bio-based and recycled PP resins.
• Support circular economy initiatives.
• Identify opportunities for downgauging and improved sustainability.

Testing & Data Analysis

• Melt Flow Index (MFI)
• Molecular Weight Distribution
• Ash Content
• DSC
• Crystallinity
• Rheology
• Correlate laboratory results with plant performance.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Collaborate closely with:

• Manufacturing
• Global Procurement
• Quality
• R&D
• Product Development
• Supply Chain
• Marketing
• Operations Leadership
• Provide technical training to plant teams worldwide

Requirements:

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Polymer Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Plastics Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Master's or Ph.D. in Polymer Science is preferred.

Experience

• 8-15 years of experience in polypropylene resin technology.
• Minimum 5 years supporting BOPP film manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of resin manufacturing technologies.
• Experience working with major PP resin suppliers.

Preferred experience with suppliers such as:

• Borealis
• Braskem
• ExxonMobil
• INEOS
• SABIC
• Reliance Industries
• TotalEnergies
• CNPC
• Sinopec

Technical Knowledge

Strong understanding of:

• Random copolymers
• Impact on copolymers
• BOPP extrusion
• TDO/MDO orientation
• Rheology
• Additive technology
• Slip systems
• Antiblock technology
• Nucleating agents
• Processing aids

Knowledge of downstream applications including:

• Packaging
• Labels
• Lamination
• Metallization
• Printing
• Heat seal technologies

Competency

• Technical problem solving
• Analytical thinking
• Project management
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Effective communication

Taghleef is a Drug Free Workplace - Must pass pre-employment drug screen and background check.

Taghleef offers a solid track record of growth and expansion in the food packaging industry as well as a competitive benefits package including paid time off, paid holidays, health/prescription, dental and vision insurance, both short and long-term disability coverage, basic life insurance, additional life insurance amounts available including spouse and dependent child coverage through payroll deductions, flexible spending accounts, company funded heath savings accounts, fitness reimbursement, tuition assistance and 401(k) with a company match.

• paid time off
• paid holidays
• health/prescription
• dental and vision insurance
• both short and long-term disability coverage
• basic life insurance
• additional life insurance amounts available including spouse and dependent child coverage through payroll deductions
• flexible spending accounts
• company funded heath savings accounts
• fitness reimbursement
• tuition assistance
• 401(k) with a company match.

Taghleef Industries, is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and provide equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other trait protected by law.