Director of Research

Company: American Chemet
Location: East Helena
Posted on: March 20, 2023

Job Description:

Job Description:

Job Description SUMMARY Directs and implements American Chemet research and development policies, objectives, and initiatives to deliver new and improved products to meet customer needs or to improve manufacturing capabilities. Ensures research and development activities maintain the organization's competitive position and profitability. Consults with top management along with research and development team and makes recommendations based on research findings and product performance. Provides technical support for the continuous improvement of American Chemet. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.Directs and conducts research and development activities to deliver new and improved products to meet customer needs as defined by the Sales Department or as initiated within the Research and Development Department or through contact with any outside source.Directs and conducts research and development activities on manufacturing processes to deliver improvements in manufacturing capabilities.Consults with top management and research and development team and makes recommendations based on research findings and product performance.Coordinates and oversees interface between Research & Development and Sales, Production, QC Lab, Engineering, and Purchasing personnel.Prioritizes research and development projects as outlined in the R&D Standard Operating Procedure in the ISO 9001:2015 system. Requires communication and cooperation with Sales and Production departments to ensure project priorities are properly set and supported. Maintains safety and environmental programs within the Research & Development Department. Participates in the STOP program, including performing STOP audits as required. Requires continuing education on changing regulations and training of company personnel.Maintains and enhances department motivation and morale. Requires communication with department staff to promote both company and personal growth. Cultivates an atmosphere of creativity and teamwork. SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES Manages Research & Development Manager, Supervisors, and Technicians. Is responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of this unit. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the company's policies and applicable laws. Responsible, with Vice President Operations, for establishing the Research & Development Departments organizational structure; recruiting and training of personnel; and enhancing morale and motivation by establishing and maintaining meaningful jobs and empowerment systems, competitive salary and benefit systems, and the consistent application of fair personnel policies. SAFETY POLICIES AND PRACTICES The employee performing this job must be knowledgeable of and follow the company's safety policies and procedures. QUALIFICATIONS To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE Masters Degree (M.S.) in Chemistry, Extractive Metallurgy, Material Science, or related fields and 10 years of industrial experience. Five years Supervisory experience also required. MATHEMATICAL SKILLS Ability to apply advanced mathematical concepts such as exponents, logarithms, quadratic equations, and permutations. Ability to apply mathematical operations to such tasks as frequency distribution, determination of test reliability and validity, analysis of variance, correlation techniques, sampling theory, and factor analysis. COMPUTER APPLICATION SKILLS Windows, Word, Excel, Microsoft Outlook, PowerPoint, FAX. Proficiency in these applications is required to assume the position. Must be proficient in technical writing. Must possess excellent verbal and written skills. REASONING ABILITY Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables. Must be able to engage in independent thinking. Must be internally motivated, proactive, and able to perform the duties with a minimum of supervision. PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, and talk or hear on the phone to receive and convey instruction to and from company personnel. The employee is occasionally required to use hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, and telephone; weigh, handle, and titrate samples of products; reach with hands and arms to handle and inspect equipment or materials; climb into a forklift or on production equipment; stoop or crouch to access chemical reagents and other laboratory equipment; and smell to identify materials. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance, color, and peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. WORK ENVIRONMENT The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; moving mechanical parts; high precarious places while inspecting production equipment; fumes and/or airborne particles of copper or zinc dust; outside weather conditions; extreme cold; extreme heat; and the presence of high voltage electrical equipment. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. PI207644008

Keywords: American Chemet, Billings , Director of Research, Executive , East Helena, Montana