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.