Head of Development - Plastic Raw Material Compounding

Department :

Research & Development (R&D)

Reports To :

[Managing Director / Technical Director]

Location : Panipat

Position Overview

The

Head of Development

will lead the R&D and product development activities of the compounding division. This role focuses on designing, formulating, and optimizing polymer compounds to meet evolving customer and market requirements. The incumbent will play a strategic role in aligning innovation and technology with business goals, ensuring product quality, process efficiency, and compliance with global standards.

Key Responsibilities

1. Product Development & Innovation

Lead the design and development of new plastic compounds (PP, PE, ABS, PC, Nylon, TPE, etc.) to meet specific customer and market needs.

Demonstrate a strong understanding of

post-consumer waste (PCR) recycling

and its integration into formulations.

Formulate and test new materials to enhance

mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties

Oversee

color and additive masterbatch

development for performance improvement and cost optimization.

Identify, evaluate, and implement new

technologies, additives, and polymers

to maintain a competitive edge.

2. Process & Quality Optimization

Collaborate with the production team to

scale up formulations

from lab to commercial production.

Optimize compounding parameters to ensure

consistent quality, productivity, and cost efficiency

Troubleshoot technical issues in compounding, extrusion, and product performance.

Maintain comprehensive documentation for

formulations, test data, and process conditions

3. Leadership & Team Management

Lead and develop a team of R&D engineers, chemists, and lab technicians.

Foster a

culture of innovation, discipline, and continuous improvement

Mentor team members on

formulation techniques, testing methodologies

, and problem-solving.

4. Customer & Market Interface

Work closely with sales and marketing teams to

translate customer needs into technical solutions

Provide

technical support

for customer trials, audits, and product troubleshooting.

Participate in

technical presentations, customer audits, and new product introductions

5. Compliance & Documentation

Ensure compliance with standards such as

RoHS, REACH, UL, ISO, and GRS

Maintain accurate formulation records and safeguard

intellectual property (IP)

Enforce

safety, health, and environmental protocols

in the R&D laboratory.

Qualifications & Experience

Education :

B.E. / B.Tech / M.Tech in Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering, or Materials Science.

Experience :

10–15 years in polymer compounding, formulation, and R&D; minimum 5 years in a leadership role.

Technical Skills

In-depth knowledge of

polymer chemistry, additives, and fillers

Hands-on experience with

twin-screw extrusion

, mixing, and polymer characterization (MFI, tensile, impact, DSC, TGA, etc.).

Familiarity with processing methods such as

injection molding, blow molding, and extrusion

Soft Skills

Strong

strategic thinking and leadership

abilities.

Excellent

communication and customer orientation

Effective

project management

and cross-functional collaboration.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Turnaround time for

new product development

Improvement in

cost and performance

of existing compounds.

Customer satisfaction

and success rate in product trials.

Strength of

innovation pipeline

and IP generation.

R&D cost efficiency

and team productivity.