Manager R&D Functional Chemistry

We are currently hiring a Manager, R&D Functional Chemistry

Location: Hoya Vision, 7000 Sunwood Dr NW, Ramsey, MN 55303

What's in it for you?

• Health/Dental/Vision/Disability Insurance
• Tuition Reimbursement
• 401K plans
• PTO and Paid Holidays
• And more!

What you'll do:

• Manage a high performing team of Chemists, Materials Scientists and Engineers driving projects from conception to implementation following stage gate processes
• This includes setting goals, managing achievement and conducting performance assessments while assisting in the development of career paths.
• Provide direction into chemistry and technology areas in alignment with business strategies.
• Lead the development of new functional polymeric chemistries and matrices to enable active chemistries
• Work with Category and Product Management in the marketing and strategic road mapping for functional lens areas
• Collaborate on joint projects throughout Hoya locations to bring new products to the market. Includes international locations in differing time zones.
• Partner with lens process engineering and lamination operations to prototype and scale up
• Support lamination operations, by assisting with chemistry expertise, materials characterization and test data analysis
• Emphasize the safety of all employees and customers of our products. Ensure and maintain compliance with all relevant safety and operational hygiene standards
• Work to expand and maintain company Intellectual Property. Includes leading generation of new Intellectual Property through inventorship or management and support of technical efforts.
• Assist in assurance of required product quality through development phases. Support maintenance of ongoing quality through launch and standard production.
• Experience developing products in a medical device environment (ISO13485 and ISO14971) is a plus.
• Act as "voice" of R&D in supplier and customer interactions.
• International travel required (<15% of time) to support collaboration.

Qualifications:

• Master's Degree in organic, polymer or materials chemistry; PhD in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or a relevant technical discipline is preferred.
• Minimum 5 years industrial experience managing an R&D team Demonstrated ability to successfully manage projects and programs through phases of Stage Gate.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office
• Ability to learn new software programs as required for data collection through various measurement systems
• Demonstrated ability to foster and guide ideation for new products. Includes internally generated ideas and from outside the company (universities, start-up, established suppliers)
• Understanding of the intellectual property filing and prosecution process
• Proven scientist, team player and comfortable to operate hands on and drive innovation at the leading edge.
• Must be able to operate effectively in a dynamic environment, across a global and multicultural footprint, and be comfortable in both technology, process, materials and chemical fields.
• Specific and comprehensive understanding of urethane and acrylic polymer chemistry is required. Solid understanding of thermoset and thermoplastic resin materials is strongly desired. A solid understanding of active chemistry including photochromism, electrochromism and other active species chemistry is strongly preferred.
• Understanding of relevant metrology tools including GPC, rheology, DSC, DMA, IR spectroscopy
• A strategic mind, able to analyze facts and think logically
• Minitab experience is desired
• Excellent communication and reporting skills in English. Japanese language is a plus.

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