CFT NPPD Manager

Ketjen is currently looking for a:

                                                NPPD Manager

We are looking for a Chemist or Engineer to lead the CFT New Product and Process Development team (NPPD) located in our Amsterdam Research Facility. The successful candidate will supervise research and exploratory work, new product development, and the operations of the NPPD labs. The NPPD Manager will ensure project management excellence in CFT R&D and manufacturing support projects and related work in collaboration with the respective Program Managers.

What you will do:

• Manage the CFT R&D and manufacturing support projects and related work in collaboration with the respective Program Managers.
  • Ensure timely execution of R&D plans, milestones, reviews and overall project success and new product commercialization. Prioritize project work when needed.
  • Work with the R&D director to staff the projects and prepare for portfolio reviews. Communicate the results of these reviews and changes in project staffing and objectives to the respective teams.
  • Liaise with Marketing, Technology, Technical Excellence, Sales, Manufacturing and other Ketjen stakeholders to ensure that the department projects continue to serve the objectives of the Ketjen CFT business.
  • Provide timely reporting of the projects’ progress and other department activities to all stakeholders.
  • Facilitate training and development of Project Leads.
  • Maintain our project management process and train new people as needed.
  • Select and implement tools for project management excellence.
  • Maintain and advance the department’s connection, knowledge and expertise to new technology developments and with world-wide experts in hydroprocessing and adjacent fields.
• Lead the NPPD team and ensure that staffing is maintained at the approved levels, while team members' performance receive the support they need to be successful.
  • Ensure safe and efficient department operations targeting zero accidents in close cooperation with the supervisor of pilot plant and scale-up operations.

• Ensure all actions items from safety reviews are implemented before the proposed work can proceed.
• Ensure experiments are done in a safe way.
• Monitor our incident reporting system and investigate, assign corrective actions and follow-up on any good catches or incidents.
• Make sure SCAN and our other safety procedures and systems are implemented and reinforced.

• Maintain and develop new research and development capabilities at NPPD
  • Participate and follow up on the actions of R&D skills and expertise gap analysis.
  • Advance initiatives on digitization and implementation of data-mining tools to enhance R&D output
  • Develop proactively new methods and capabilities as needed to execute the mission of the department.
  • Foster innovation and creative thinking on the exploration of new formulations, processes, and technologies.
• Manage the department budget staying within spending guidelines.
  • Assist the R&D Director with the annual AOP budget process.
  • Develop and propose the capital budget for the NPPD department.

Basic Requirements:

• PhD or MS degree in Chemical Engineering (preferred), Materials Science, Chemistry, or related disciplines from an accredited university.
• 7+ years of a combination of management and research experience with experience in management of technical or research teams.
• Strong expertise in heterogeneous catalysts, materials, refining technology and processes. Affinity with data-mining tools.
• Demonstrated commitment to safety, people management and development.
• Demonstrated experience in project and program management
• Strong teamwork and leadership skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience in managing supervisors, senior researchers, engineers, and large teams (10+).
• Experience with a stage-gating process for managing R&D projects.
• Experience in managing relationships with multiple stakeholders.
• Good networking skills and relationships with leading experts in the fields of interest for hydroprocessing catalysts and adjacent technologies.
• Knowledge and expertise in heterogenous catalysts, materials and processes.
• Knowledge of the hydroprocessing market and business.

More information:

This position is graded in 20-NL.013. For more information, you can reach Hirsa Torres Galvis, R&D Director (Hirsa.torresgalvis@ketjen.com).