Research And Development Manager in Boyertown
Job Description
Global Advanced Metals (GAM) is one of the world's leading suppliers of tantalum based products across markets in electronics, aerospace, and medical. We are committed to the responsible supply of tantalum in all its forms and operate to high standards of sustainable development. GAM is growing and expanding production into niobium and tantalum alloy based products. We are a world leader and highly respected as an ethical company within the niche market of refractory metals.
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Position Summary:
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The R&D Manager – Capacitor Powders will have proven engineering, operations management, and material science experience with a record of commercializing new products. A successful candidate will bring a sense of urgency, scientific curiosity, an aptitude to identify market trends, an ability to convert voice of the customer to commercially viable new product development programs, and proven proficiency leading R&D teams to meet program objectives. This role requires attitudes of: safety first, communication skills, and technical capability. Responsible for the leadership and day to day management of Boyertown based R&D personnel focused on delivering capacitor powders and novel new powder technologies primarily targeting the electronics industry. Matrix responsibility to oversee the product development programs led in a Japan based R&D team. The position is an integral part of the global R&D team and will routinely interact with GAM’s production and R&D teams in the U.S. and Japan; the sales and marketing teams; production planning and ERP management; GAM senior management; outside suppliers and customers, and electronics industry organizations.
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Essential Functions:
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Management Proficiency:
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• Encourage, plan, lead, and safely conduct continuous improvement, incremental and step-out product developments, and maintain a positive working atmosphere. Anticipate and manage all operational risks such as environmental, health, and safety (EHS), regulatory, equipment specifications/operation, Capex, freedom to operate (FTO), quality, and costs.
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• Collaborate with process engineers and analytical chemists to improve existing chemical and metallurgical processes and introduce new products/processes.
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• Manage collaborative project research with other companies, universities, or government labs.
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• Effectively present the technical strength of GAM to prospective customers
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• Work both collaboratively and independently to creatively solve technical challenges and identify all critical product and production criteria.
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• Ensure timely documentation and prepare and present status of R&D projects.
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Technical Aspects:
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• Prioritizes technical projects and resources to meet short-term and long-term business goals.
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• Lead team to deliver projects under a gated product development process.
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• Understand and articulate customer product families, product roadmaps and overall market trends.
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• Apply a solid understanding of statistics, leveraging experience using design of experiments (DOEs).
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• Utilize knowledge in metallurgy to lead team in analytical characterization of metal powders.
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• Apply broad understanding of metal powder technologies (crushing, milling, screening, flow optimization) and metal powder handling safety.
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• Become adept with capacitor powder processing and lead new programs to advance fundamental understanding on powder formation mechanisms.
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• Develop plans for product and process scale-up on either current or newly specified equipment.
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• Able to understand chemical processes and develop appropriate capital investments to expand capabilities.
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• Working knowledge with other primary engineering disciplines through project work (e.g., mechanical, civil, electrical, instrumentation & controls).
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• Experience working with legal in managing intellectual property (IP) (e.g. FTO, estate management, prosecution, and writing applications).
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Business Acumen:
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• Proactively develop business justifications, evaluations of potential EHS issues; define FTO and new IP opportunities; work with finance on economic considerations, and move new product developments through gated product development process.
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• In cooperation with others, develop short-term and long-term strategies for R&D consistent with business needs.
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Minimum Requirements/Qualifications:
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• An advanced degree in chemical engineering, chemistry, material science or metallurgy with a minimum of 10 years of experience in R&D and operations and/or engineering.
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• Excellent analytical/problem solving skills with ability to analyze complex technical and operational data and develop effective solutions and continuous process improvements.
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• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate with and influence people at all levels in GAM, customers, suppliers and other external contacts.
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• Proven proficiency in managing and prioritizing detailed and complex projects/responsibilities.
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• Proven experience leading a vibrant R&D project deck.
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• Proven experience in complying with records maintenance requirements for quality and safety audits.
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• Proficiency with the MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc.) and statistical software (e.g. JMP, Minitab, Stata)
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• Able to travel up to 10% domestic and international
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• Due to the nature of our work, U.S. citizenship is required
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Competencies (in order of importance)
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• Technical Knowledge
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• Planning
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• Communication Skills
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• Organizing
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• Motivating Others
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• Negotiating
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