Product Development Operation Lead

As Product Development Operation Lead , you are responsible for leading technicians and operational staff while ensuring the safe, efficient, and reliable execution of photochromic dye development and scale-up activities. The Operations Lead works closely with scientists, engineers, manufacturing partners, and business stakeholders to deliver development objectives, maintain operational excellence, and support commercialization efforts. You play a critical leadership role in fostering a culture of safety, accountability, continuous improvement, and collaboration while ensuring compliance with all safety, quality, and regulatory requirements. You will operate at the Monroeville R&D Center and report to the Senior Research Manager.

Provide day-to-day leadership, coaching, development, and performance management for technicians and operational staff. Champion a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with all environmental, health, safety, quality, and regulatory requirements. Lead the safe and efficient execution of laboratory, pilot-scale, and process development activities. Coordinate personnel, equipment, materials, and resources to meet project priorities and business objectives. Support process scale-up, technology transfer, troubleshooting, and commercialization activities in collaboration with technical teams. Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, productivity, and operational effectiveness. Ensure operational readiness through effective equipment maintenance planning, SOP implementation, and resource management. Communicate operational priorities, project status, risks, and improvement opportunities to stakeholders and leadership.

Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical Technology, or a related technical discipline preferred. Minimum 2 to 4 years of experience in chemical manufacturing, process development, pilot plant operations, specialty chemicals, dyes, pigments, coatings, or related industries. Previous supervisory, team leadership, or operations management experience preferred. Demonstrated experience managing laboratory or pilot-scale operations. Strong knowledge of chemical process safety, laboratory operations, and regulatory compliance requirements. Proven analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving capabilities. Excellent communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence across functions. Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic development and manufacturing support environment.

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