R&D Director - Chemical Manufacturing

This is your opportunity to change the world by leading the commercialisation of a chemical technology that will reframe what can be achieved in several key sectors.

Against the backdrop of critical global issues like climate change and resource shortages, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have the potential to deliver a step-change in applications like carbon capture and water harvesting.

But MOFs have always been held back by the cost and difficulty of manufacturing at scale.

Until now.

Our proprietary and patented process finally delivers the industrial scale, cost-effective MOFs that real world applications demand.

Having just secured significant new funding, we’re looking for an experienced chemical R&D leader that knows how to prioritise ‘needs’ over ‘wants’ to successfully deliver the commercial products the market needs.

The Company

Promethean’s mission is to help decarbonise the world and accelerate the energy transition by unleashing the untapped potential of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) in key applications.

MOFs have shown significant potential for several decades but have failed to gain traction due to inefficient processing methods, a lack of manufacturing scale, and high costs.

Through our proprietary manufacturing processes, Promethean is pioneering the development and industrial scale manufacture of MOFs.

MOF-based carbon capture is more energy-efficient, cost-effective, and has smaller physical and environmental footprints than existing technologies. MOFs also have an increasingly important role to play in other energy transition applications, such as water harvesting and gas storage.

Join us in the fight against climate change – we are just getting started!

The Role

We have an exciting opportunity for an industrially experienced technical leader to join the Promethean team. The role reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer. This innovation leadership role has the primary responsibility of leading our research and development efforts in the pursuit of commercialising our novel materials to help meet our aggressive growth targets.

Key Areas of Responsibility

• Key member of the company’s leadership team, helping set, shape, and deliver the company’s strategy, mission and vision.
• Lead, develop, and mentor the company’s R&D team to ensure the company achieves its strategic growth goals and the team continues to develop professionally.
• Develop and maintain the company’s intellectual property portfolio, ensuring upkeep of existing patents, the filing of new core-IP, and the protection of valuable know-how.
• Ensure safe operation of the company’s laboratory facilities through a systematic use and upkeep of standard operating procedures, risk assessments, and equipment maintenance. Ensure compliance with all relevant operating laws and regulations, particularly with respect to environmental, health and safety of the R&D team, its processes and equipment.
• Be responsible for the implementation of an effective stage-gate commercialisation process, helping the organisation adopt a systematic approach to derisking product development.
• Instil a professional, customer-focused approach to product development, driving urgency, agility, and a clear prioritisation of ‘needs’ versus ‘wants’.
• Develop operational excellence in the field of product development, ensuring experimental design planning leads to robust, reliable and repeatable products that can be successfully transferred to manufacturing and ultimately be sold to our customers.
• Represent the company at conferences and tradeshows, delivering technical presentations and participating in the company booth.
• By developing a clear understanding of customer priorities and needs, develop and present technical proposals for commercial R&D projects, including cost analysis and budgeting.
• Work with internal team to report on costs against budget during each project and after completion.
• Identify sources of, and lead bid submissions for, non-dilutive funding to help advance the company’s research and development aims.
• Manage Promethean’s publicly funded grant R&D projects (e.g. UKRI-funded), ensuring all key work is completed, milestones are met and delivered, and technical and financial reporting is adequately provided to the relevant funding bodies.
• Own and manage the R&D capital expenditure process with regard to advancing and/or improving R&D equipment.
• Work with the Company’s accountant and lead the collation of information to support the company’s R&D Tax Credit submission each year.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Required:

• Degree-level qualification or higher in chemical sciences.
• 7 years of industrial experience in the chemical industry, with 5 years demonstrated experience leading/managing a research and development team focused on product development and bringing those products to the market.
• A working knowledge of stage-gate/commercialisation processes.
• Track record of successfully delivering projects, using project management discipline, understanding critical path and prioritisation of essential versus ‘nice to haves.’
• Proficient command of spoken and written English, including the ability to write and compile technical documents.
• IT skills: competence in using Microsoft Outlook, Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
• Communication and interpersonal skills: ability to discuss technical issues in a professional manner in a commercial setting (both internally and externally).
• Ability to work in a commercial setting, e.g. appreciation of confidential or proprietary information and ability to meet commercial targets and timescales.
• Willingness to travel (<10% of time).

Promethean Offers:

Our evolving total compensation philosophy is designed around performance-based remuneration - competitive base pay, variable pay that rewards both individual and company performance, and comprehensive benefits that currently include:

• Private medical insurance (with vision and dental provisions).
• Company matched pension.
• Company sick pay.
• Flexible approach to working hours.

Promethean also provides both formal and informal learning opportunities within a diverse, inclusive, and rewarding work environment. We offer the chance to work within a small yet growing agile company and directly and visibly contribute to its growth and success. A unique opportunity to help the planet and its people through the successful deployment of our pioneering technology.

Promethean is committed to diversity in our workforce and providing equal opportunities for employment. We encourage every employee to bring their whole self to work each day, not only deliver more value, but also have a more fulfilling career.