Application Development Representative Specialty Plastics

Eastman is a global specialty chemical company that produces a broad range of products found in items people use every day. With a portfolio of specialty businesses, Eastman works with customers to deliver innovative products and solutions while maintaining a commitment to safety and sustainability. Its market-driven approaches take advantage of world-class technology platforms and leading positions in attractive end-markets such as transportation, building and construction, and consumables. Eastman focuses on creating consistent, superior value for all stakeholders. As a globally diverse company, Eastman serves customers in approximately 100 countries and had 2015 revenues of approximately $9.6 billion. The company is headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA and employs approximately 15,000 people around the world.

Responsibilities

• Be the application development and technical expert in the film, sheet extrusion and packaging segment and its applications (including understanding competitive products)
• In-depth knowledge on co-polyester chemistry and how it relates to the end-use applications.
• Understanding of European sustainability drivers in the plastic packaging segment and develop innovative applications to meet these requirements.
• Promote an entire portfolio of solutions to meet the film extrusion & related packaging market needs
• Identify & document industry and customer specific unmet needs and product fitness for use criteria
• Work close to Technical Service colleagues promoting customer trials and evaluations.
• Provide technical product training to customers, distributors and sales & marketing teams
• Participate in, align with and influence the strategy of an industry segment team
• Become a core member an industry segment team (Application Development, Marketing, Sales, Technical Service, Product Management)
• Support market facing Stage Gate projects and lead related technical activities internally and externally
• Design and execute experiments aimed at developing applications
• Responsible for material recommendations converting the voice of the customer into “Critical to Quality”-parameters which drives product selection and development
• Help develop technical information for customer engagement
• Keep up to date with market / application and processing technology developments / competitive material and competing technology developments
• Define market specific unmet needs / deficiencies knowledgeable about industry relevant secondary operations
• Partner with Product Development team to deliver products meeting market needs and adding value to Eastman

Candidate profile

• MSc in Polymer chemistry & processing or Material Science preferred
• >10 years industrial experience with an in-depth knowledge of applications and market trends associated with the film, sheet, profile extrusion and/or packaging industry
• Experience in other plastic processing technologies & related secondary operations would be preferred
• Experience with polymer testing and characterization preferred
• Excellent customer facing experience
• Excellent communication and documentation skills
• Experience in delivering complex technical presentations
• Project leadership experience preferred
• Marketing and/or business acumen preferred
• Demonstrated strategic and innovative thinking with a desire to solve problems
• Fluency in English is mandatory and German a nice to have

Eastman is  committed to creating a powerfully diverse workforce and a broadly inclusive workplace, where everyone can contribute to their fullest potential each day