Application Development Specialist - Specialty Chemicals
Full Time
Houston, TX 77002
Posted
Job description
Position Overview
The Specialty Chemicals business unit is a fast-growing business within Ascend Performance Materials. Specialty Chemicals strategy relies on significant growth from new product and new application initiatives. The Application Development Specialist is responsible for identifying new product and application development opportunities and managing projects from idea through customer application testing. This role aligns with our Technology strategy to deliver a pipeline of new application projects that will drive significant margin growth. This role will require significant collaboration with internal business and laboratory colleagues, as well as strong ability to manage development projects with external partners. External market interaction will also be an important part of this role as we drive to gain more understanding of our customers’ needs across the portfolio.
Targeted Outcomes
- Grow new application space for Ascend products through targeted collaboration across key market areas.
- Improve customer sampling frequency by engaging in technical conversations with customers. Improve the rate of success with sample testing by gaining more understanding of the customer’s evaluation process.
- Develop deep customer relationships and understanding of current and prospective product applications.
- Utilize technical business cases to better understand potential value and help grow the pipelines at the various site locations.
Key Responsibilities
- Assist in building a pipeline of new projects centered around products and application initiatives.
- Grow pipeline and prioritize projects. Identify internal and external resources needed for each initiative.
- Identify outside vendors that can accelerate our technology initiatives and solve key problems.
- Manage vendor partnerships to deliver faster and more reliable results for testing and development projects.
- Represent Ascend and the Specialty Chemicals business unit at conferences and customer events. Present technical white papers as needed.
- Own and manage the content of technical data sheets for the Specialty Chemicals product line.
- Partner with product managers to drive strategic activities in key market segments.
- Utilize joint development projects to deliver faster commercialization rates.
- Translate customer and market needs into product and application development design targets that ensure a clear value proposition for our offerings
- Identify opportunities to protect new Ascend IP. Work with legal department to manage IP activity.
- Travel – Estimated at 30%
Reports To
- Technology Director, Specialty Chemicals, Houston, TX
- Location: Houston or remote
Required Skills and Competencies
- Inquisitive, self-motivated, and eager to learn new things.
- Ability to plan, execute, analyze, and report on technology projects and intellectual property strategy.
- Assessment of competitive and emerging technologies and make recommendations for business impact.
- Maintain awareness of ESH/regulatory requirements/changes.
- Great interpersonal skills with ability to communicate at all levels of the organization.
- Strong verbal and technical writing skills.
- Develop and deliver presentations and/or publications at respected industry and scientific associations.
- Collaborate and organize with a cross-functional team across Ascend sites.
- Solve problems in a scientific manner to support new or existing applications.
- Ability to gather competitive intelligence especially on competitors’ products and competitors’ product performance.
- Ability to integrate and influence across multiple functions within the organization to deliver results.
- The preferred candidate would have experience in one or more of the following market areas: Oilfield Chemicals, Paints and Coatings, Industrial Chemicals, Agricultural Chemicals, Mining Chemicals.
- MS or PhD in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science or related field.
- Minimum 5 years new product and application development experience in the Specialty Chemicals marketplace.
- Computer skills (Microsoft Office, etc.).
Skills Summary:
About Us:
Ascend Performance Materials is the premium provider of high quality chemicals, fibers and plastics. With world scale integrated manufacturing facilities we are able to develop new products from our core technologies, and provide flexibility to respond to the expanding needs of customers. Ascend has global sales and distribution facilities across the globe and six manufacturing facilities globally. As a privately-held company, our people do big things and make big decisions, often much earlier in their careers than at larger companies. Ascend Performance Materials offers team members the opportunity to contribute in big, meaningful ways—all within a stable and growing business.
Why work at Ascend?
Our vision is to be the recognized leader in the nylon 6,6 value chain, creating new possibilities with PA66 for everyone, everywhere, every day. We achieve that through living our Ascend values.
We care. We operate safely with high integrity for our employees, our customers and our communities. Our people are our greatest assets, and our Total Rewards Program extends beyond traditional benefits to include access to on-site medical clinics at our U.S. facilities, a global wellness rewards program and Performance Matters, an employee-driven recognition plan. Our Commitment to Zero demonstrates our belief that is it possible to operate with zero personal injuries, zero process safety incidents and zero environmental releases. And the Ascend Cares Foundation, led by Ascend employees, supports Ascend families in times of need, provides inspiring opportunities for community engagement and facilitates community leadership.
Customer-focused. We exist for our customers; they drive our actions. Their success is our success. Our plastics and chemicals are building blocks that help make everyday essentials safer and more sustainable, and we constantly strive to develop new and innovative products to meet the future needs of our customers. And that customer focus doesn’t only apply to the marketplace – it also applies to how we treat our colleagues and our fellow community members.
Better every day. We invest in our people and our processes to improve every day. A2E, our continuous improvement program, guides the way we do business. And this way of problem solving applies not only to our manufacturing practices but also to our commitment to developing our people. You’ll see it during your career at Ascend in our leadership development, skills training and mentoring programs
Agile. We think broadly and lead proactively in a constantly evolving organization and industry. Agility doesn’t mean simply working quickly – it means critical thinking, creative problem solving and novel approaches to everyday challenges.
One Ascend. All together, with a common set of goals and an eye toward the future. We don’t accept silos. We look for ways to share across departments, sites and geography. This means you won’t be boxed into a single role at Ascend – you could get the chance to work with teams across the globe to improve the way we serve our people, our customers and our communities.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, citizenship, genetic information or other protected status under federal, state or local laws.
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