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.