Product Development Intern
Solugen
14549 Minetta St.
Houston TX 77035
Position:
Intern, Product Development
About Solugen:
Solugen, Inc. is a revolutionary technology company seeking to use biology to transform and reduce the carbon footprint of the chemicals industry. Solugen was founded in 2016 and is a Series C venture-backed startup company supported by diverse long-term investors including Baillie Gifford, GIC, Temasek, BlackRock, Carbon Direct, Founders Fund, Fifty Years, Refactor, and Y Combinator. Located in Houston, Texas, Solugen has created the world’s first carbon negative specialty chemicals manufacturing facility: the BioforgeTM. This manufacturing technology leverages Solugen’s chemienzymatic process to convert biobased feedstocks into high performance products for water treatment, agriculture, infrastructure, and personal care. Solugen currently has 100+ full time employees.
Mission:
Solugen has a rich pipeline of high performance and carbon negative molecules launching on its BioforgeTM manufacturing platform. Each molecule is destined for a corresponding pipeline of products co-created by Solugen’s customers and product development teams. The Intern will have a critical role curating and translating this pipeline from the Proof-of-Concept stage into Sales Ready Products. This individual will assisting in creating and managing basic TEA (Technoeconmic Analyses) and economic analyses for the Product Development team to effectively utilize their resources. This person will collaborate with Product Development, Product Marketing, Business Development, Process Development, Supply Chain, Regulatory, and Sustainability. As products progress from conception to commercialization, this individual will champion the elimination or deeper investment of resources into each product.
Outcomes:
· Market analysis and/or voice of customers for our chemistry in new markets
· Finalize the technoeconomic analyses & market estimate to inform the decision in proceeding or killing projects
· Collect data needed for product requirement document
Competencies
Job Specific
● Analytical, curious, strong executive presence, ability to handle ambiguity, ability to work in unstructured and fast paced environment, strong public speaking capability
● Work closely with the Director of Product to develop product requirement document and work closely with R&D, regulatory, manufacturing, and commercial team to launch new products
● Take complete ownership of product commercialization and partner with marketing, regulatory, and commercial team in doing so
● Follows development of competing products and industry trend
● Ability to conduct white space analysis to recommend what products to be developed next by product innovation team
Company Specific
· Ability to be nimble with a willingness to embrace the speed and ambiguity of startup culture
· Passion for green chemistry and fighting climate change
· Comfort working in multiple roles
· Ability to self-manage and set priorities and schedule
· Creative problem-solving nature
· Appreciation and emphasis for safety above all else
· Respect for others
Qualifications:
● Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering.
● 0 – 1 yrs of relevant industry experience
● Excellent written and verbal communications skills
● Advanced skills with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Visio, and Project
● Persuasive presentation abilities
● Strong analytical thought process for analyzing product & market fit, market approaches, market wants and needs and measures of effectiveness
● A curious, creative & self-starter individual who can thrive in a dynamic start-up environment.
● Must be nimble and able to multi-task. Able to manage multiple project.
● Critical thinker who can utilize their experience and quickly draw conclusions based on incomplete data. He/she is not afraid to propose and try new ideas and methods.
● Comfortable working in multi-cultural and dynamic environment.