Lead Scientist/Engineer

SUMMARY:
Our client, a Global market leader, seeks an experienced Scientist/Engineer, to manage and lead teams and stakeholder involved in research in product and process improvement / optimisation for new and existing applications.

POSITION INFO:
Minimum Job Requirements:

• Bachelors Degree in Sciences, Chemical Engineering or Analytical Chemistry essential.
• M.Sc an advantage.
• Post Graduate qualification, an advantage.
• Min 7 years research experience within the manufacturing industry.
• 1 year management/supervisory experience and advantage.

• Plan and direct research activities for the programme to ensure efficient utilisation of resources including raw materials, energy, water, research equipment and people.
• Execute research deliverables for the programme on a quarterly basis considering available resources (equipment, people and raw materials), product development priorities and customer demands.
• Manage and develop performance objectives for the programme.
• Execute research activities and customer investigations in accordance with approved project management systems and using approved SOPs.
• Initiate and lead trials, customer trials, customer complaints investigations, trouble shooting, process and product improvement projects.
• Ensure that research activities and customer investigations are carried out in accordance with approved experimental design, data is subjected to correct statistical analyses and interpretation of results is based on sound scientific foundation.
• Maintain and manage accurate records of project specific and abstract research and project data.
• Ensure that data, project close out reports, post completion verification, technical and safety procedures are captured and stored.
• Plan and execute Global projects in partnership with Technical teams in other regions. 
• Implement and maintain all laboratory quality management systems, including ISO 17025.
• Provide regular progress report to the customers through relevant forums such as  plant reviews, weekly project and quality meetings, clusters, and monthly and quarterly reports. 
• Ensure compliance with equipment maintenance and consumable stock procedures in the laboratory.
• Align section strategy with Regional and Group strategies.

• Overall responsibility for the operation of a laboratory section.
• Manage implementation and adherence to approved safety and quality procedures.
• Identify resource gaps (analytical techniques, equipment, skills, etc.), in order to improve quality and safety in the laboratory section.

• Contribute towards Capex requirement for section as well as input to annual budget.
• Allocate resources in accordance with approved budget and research targets.
• Deliver on annual targets for project delivery in terms of Nett Present Value and sundry income (if required).
• Review monthly financial expenditure for their department and ensure that costs are kept to within budget.

• Execute and lead implementation of safety processes and procedures in the department.
• Ensure compliance with all safety procedures in the lab and provide ongoing training of the junior team members on the safety standards.
• Work with Supervisors and Safety Representative to continuously improve safe operating practices and safety risk assessments.
• Assist Departmental Manager to implement systems to adhere to regulations in terms of legal licenses and other OHS Act requirement.
• Conduct risk assessments – baseline, issue based, process risk and continuous risk assessments.
• Address and close all safety related issues from housekeeping and safety inspections. 
• Ensure that hazardous materials are handled correctly according to each material’s requirements.
• Maintain upkeep of ISO standards and SDS for all chemicals used in the laboratories.

• Lead investigations to address customer complaints, customer audits, and any problems relating to product issues.
• Execute projects to develop new products by understanding customer requirements, commercial aspects of bringing products to market and the technical/scientific components of full-scale manufacturing of the products.
• Conduct investigations into customer complaints on product quality or consistency and report timeously thereon.
• Roll out scientific standards for developing products to customer specifications and for the investigation of product defects.

• Lead and enable a team of Scientists and junior staff members including their performance and development.
• Mentor, motivate and develop subordinates within the department and provide day to day guidance.
• Participate in peer reviewing of internal reports.

• Chemistry.
• Bio Refinery Science.
• Industrial Biotechnology.
• Environmental Science.
• Research Methodology.
• Scientific and technical report writing.
• Project resourcing.
• Data interpretation.
• Root cause analysis.
• Deviation management.
• Hazardous materials management.
• ISO systems.

• Analytical thinking.
• Proactive and taking Initiative. 
• Planning and organising.
• Building relationships.
• Persuasiveness. 
• Assertiveness.
• Communication.
• Organisational awareness.

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