Subject Matter Expert: Liquid Inks Product Development

Our prestigious Client is a Globally renowned leader in a diverse variety of Inks and Print Supplies. This includes an extensive range of specialty inks where their experts provide a world-class Product and Service offering. They offer products and technologies in distinct product categories, supporting their clients in securing the best printing outcomes. Their specialists are there to help their clients with innovative, tailor-made solutions. They combine their great innovative strength of a focused, agile company with the strong corporate culture and power of a multinational parent.

The role is based in a highly specialized Research and Development center. They believe in continuously training and developing their staff and pride themselves on the long-term retention of their people. The position reports to the Technical Manager, and your role will be to further develop the Company Product offering within the Liquid Inks category. This position is ‘hands-on’ and does not specifically require People Management skills – however, the role may require the provision of support, training, and guidance for junior technical staff within the Team.

Key Relationships: Works closely with Production, Technical, Sales, and Commercial teams

Purpose of the Job:

• To develop high quality and innovative products to meet business development needs.
• To lead short, medium, and long-term customer technical projects and development projects to manage technical risks and within agreed timelines.
• To meet and collaborate with customers, internal sales, and business development to recommend and formulate appropriate technical solutions.

Key Accountabilities / Measures of the job: Key Performance Indicators:

• Safety Commitment – Ensuring the Safety of Self and Others
• Responsible for the leadership and timely execution of development projects to deliver new liquid inks and features to meet market demand and exceed industry standards
• Identify relevant technologies and create novel new products via literature/patent search and in-house R&D.
• Ensure that activities of any technical team assigned to specific projects are coordinated and will deliver the required outputs.
• Communicate regular project status updates and documentation clearly and concisely to internal stakeholders and customers.
• Maintain accurate laboratory records.

Skills Required for the Job:

Application of industrial product knowledge and expertise. Effective communicator. Ability to work with customers, sales, and manufacturing teams to develop suitable products and resolve any performance issues. Ability to resolve problems across the specific product or application area, including an understanding of raw materials / ink chemistry / printing applications / technologies etc. Detailed knowledge of liquid inks formulation, printing, and end-use requirements.

Product Development and Formulation – Contribute to the development of, or personally develop, specific products to meet business requirements.

Project Management – Undertake specific projects, using appropriate tools where required, to improve efficiency, reduce cost, introduce a concept or make other notable changes. Be able to deliver a structured approach to managing projects.

Comprehensive understanding of product formulation of relevant products and how formulation changes affect the application performance. Extensive experience in the selection and qualification of new raw materials. Extensive experience in the surface coatings industry, with a proven track record in new product development. Experienced as a supervisor/project leader or equivalent.