Lead R&D Chemical Engineer - Specialty Chemicals

Placements24; Cape Town; Presencial; ZAR 1 800 000 - 2 500 000; Tempo integral

Vantagens oferecidas por esta oferta de emprego

Competitive base salary

Annual bonus

Health, dental, and life insurance

Professional development & conference/

Sabbatical program

Cape Town base

Resumo da oferta

Placements24 is seeking a Lead R&D Chemical Engineer to spearhead new product development and process innovation at our Cape Town facility. This senior role requires translating scientific concepts into commercially viable chemical products and scalable manufacturing processes.

You will lead a team of scientists and engineers, drive research initiatives, manage budgets, and collaborate with marketing, sales, and production to align with market needs.

Qualificações

• Ph.D. or Master’s in Chemical Engineering or Organic Chemistry.
• Minimum 10 years of R&D experience in chemical research, with a focus on specialty chemicals.
• Proven track record leading R&D projects and managing technical teams.
• Expertise in synthetic chemistry, reaction engineering, and process scale-up.
• Proficient with GC-MS, HPLC, NMR, and FTIR analytical techniques.
• Strong IP/patent landscape awareness.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and presentation skills.
• Willingness to work on-site in Cape Town, Western Cape.

Responsabilidades

• Lead R&D projects from laboratory scale to pilot plant and commercialization.
• Develop novel chemical synthesis routes and optimize processes for efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
• Conduct extensive literature reviews and patent searches to identify new research avenues.
• Supervise and mentor a team of R&D chemists and engineers.
• Collaborate with marketing, sales, and manufacturing to ensure market alignment and smooth scale-up.
• Ensure all R&D activities adhere to safety, environmental, and quality standards.
• Stay abreast of latest scientific advancements in specialty chemicals.
• Manage R&D budgets and resources to achieve project milestones.

Conhecimentos

Leadership

Communication

Presentation skills

Team management

Formação académica

Ph.D. or Master’s in Chemical Engineering or Organic Chemistry

Ferramentas

GC-MS

HPLC

NMR

FTIR

Descrição da oferta de emprego

About the Role

Our client, a globally recognized innovator in specialty chemicals, is looking for an exceptional Lead R&D Chemical Engineer to spearhead new product development and process innovation in their state-of-the-art facility in Cape Town, Western Cape. This senior leadership role demands a visionary individual capable of translating scientific concepts into commercially viable chemical products and manufacturing processes. You will be instrumental in shaping the future of our product portfolio, driving research initiatives, and leading a team of talented scientists and engineers. This is a critical position for someone passionate about cutting-edge chemical research and its industrial application, contributing to advancements in various high-tech sectors.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage research and development projects from laboratory scale to pilot plant and commercialization.
• Develop novel chemical synthesis routes and optimize existing processes for efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
• Conduct extensive literature reviews and patent searches to identify new research avenues.
• Supervise and mentor a team of R&D chemists and engineers, fostering a collaborative and innovative environment.
• Design and execute experiments, analyze data, and prepare comprehensive technical reports.
• Collaborate closely with marketing, sales, and manufacturing teams to ensure market alignment and smooth scale-up.
• Ensure all R&D activities adhere to strict safety, environmental, and quality standards.
• Stay abreast of the latest scientific advancements and emerging technologies in specialty chemicals.
• Manage R&D budgets and resources effectively to achieve project milestones.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Chemical Engineering or Organic Chemistry.
• A minimum of 10 years of experience in chemical research and development, with a significant portion in specialty chemicals.
• Demonstrated success in leading R&D projects and managing technical teams.
• Expertise in synthetic chemistry, reaction engineering, and process scale-up.
• Proficiency with analytical techniques such as GC-MS, HPLC, NMR, and FTIR.
• Strong understanding of intellectual property and patent landscapes.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and presentation skills.
• Experience in a fast-paced, innovation-driven environment.
• Willingness to work exclusively on-site in Cape Town, Western Cape to leverage lab and pilot plant facilities.

Benefits

• Our client provides a highly competitive compensation package, including an attractive base salary and annual bonus opportunities tied to R&D success.
• Employees benefit from comprehensive health, dental, and life insurance coverage.
• The company invests heavily in professional development, offering opportunities for advanced training, conference participation, and publication support.
• Generous paid time off, including a sabbatical program after a certain tenure, is also provided.
• This role is based in Cape Town, Western Cape, and offers the chance to work at the forefront of chemical innovation.