Director of Carbon Products
About the Position
Origin Materials is seeking an experienced industry professional to develop new businesses in the polymer & rubber filler, activated carbon, and agriculture products with special focus on qualifying and marketing Origin’s hydrothermal carbon material.
The successful candidate will be a dynamic leader, able to develop and communicate a compelling vision for Origin’s participation in these markets. This leader will also be responsible for working through all aspects of strategy development and implementation, including clear articulation of critical success factors, and development of contingency plans for possible disruptive outcomes, to achieve the vision. These responsibilities will include prioritizing and managing a portfolio of project opportunities using both internal and partner resources to deliver results that maximize return on invested assets
This leader will be comfortable working through internal and external partnerships to accomplish goals and will be skilled at creating and sponsoring cross functional teams that collaborate to address stakeholder needs. In realizing their vision, the Carbon Products Director may utilize their experience in both direct people management and/or influence management to effectively execute a portfolio of project activities necessary to develop and grow new businesses for Origin’s materials. To this end, their effectiveness in training and developing people in order to delegate and thus multiply their own capabilities will also be important. The position requires a leader with a strong technical background, and understanding R&D processes, to enable the creation and management of technical programs to demonstrate the effectiveness of Origin’s materials in target applications. This will include administrative responsibilities for budgets and timelines and accountability for results.
This Director will have a track record of effective communications with a style that is sophisticated yet accessible to a wide variety of constituents. They will have accountability for effective communications to C-suite and partner organizations within Origin as well as with their external network of customers, regulators, and partners.
The successful candidate will have a strong history of fostering a culture of transparency and living core values of safety, ethical business practices and environmental stewardship.
This leader will report to Origin’s Chief Technical Officer with accountability for results to Origin’s Technical Development Committee (including Origin’s CEOs, CTO and CFO) which is responsible for prioritizing new business development ideas based on the best available market and technology information.
You will be responsible for:
- Development and qualification of a hydrothermal carbon based products: fillers, agriculture, restoration, activated carbons.
- Representing Origin’s interests in conversations across customer and partner organizations including technical development teams as well as leadership teams at compounders/formulators, carbon black companies, tire companies, and automotive companies.
- Developing cogent business plans and budgets for new carbon businesses that align with company strategies.
- Managing product development activities within an open innovation environment.
About You
You:
- Focus
- Solving customer problems
- Building impactful profitable businesses
- Knowledge:
- Expert working understanding of financial fundamentals including a thorough understanding of balance sheets, profit and loss responsibilities and assessing the potential real options value and costs of scoped opportunities.
- Working knowledge of chemistry, chemical engineering and formulation sciences and experience in their application in R&D, process development and commercialization of carbon black or similar fillers
- Detailed functional experience in the development and commercialization of carbon black or related filler products, with special emphasis on compounding including understanding of: carbon black and non-carbon filler markets, carbon black manufacturers, supply chain, formulators, tire manufacturers, rubber goods manufacturers, filled plastic manufacturers.
- Working knowledge of intellectual property management and options to extract business value from IP
- Skills - This role requires technical and personal skills including:
- The essence of portfolio management and technical project management including judgement in choosing opportunities, prioritizing development options and selecting partners
- People leadership including training, developing and motivating employees
- Effective communication skills with both internal and external stakeholders
- Interpersonal skills and track record of networking, team building and collaboration with team members across multiple disciplines and geographies, including effectiveness in working remotely, particularly if not located in the Sacramento area
- Influence management and communication skills to convey important information with an urgency and impact so that the right decisions are made from the available information
- Demonstrated Abilities - The successful leader will have an established track record of:
- Successful new business development activities, starting with crafting and articulating a compelling vision which is elaborated in credible strategy elements, including contingency plans, and executed with commercialization of new products.
- Partnering with government, trade associations, and product certification bodies for the development and adoption of regulations and operating practices and for attracting investment in opportunities
- Technology development and commercialization, including internal and/or external networking and team building to achieve shared objectives
- Ability to work independently with minimal oversight and to proactively identify opportunities for impact and pursue them
- Judgement in being able to deliver the level of detail required for different levels of decisions and at different stages of product/process development
- Effective communications with internal and external stakeholders with a wide variety of backgrounds and expectations
Your Experience:
Have to Have it:
- Technical degree in Engineering, Chemistry, or related science with 10+ years of relevant experience in the carbon black, formulations, or chemicals market space with substantial experience in enabling commercial penetration of new filler materials
- 2+ years of validated experience in the commercial value chain for carbon or non-carbon filler products, including working knowledge of standards and qualification practices for new materials in this market space
- 10+ years of experience across the new product/process R&D, demonstration, and commercialization spectrum
- Experience outsourcing work including developing and managing third party contracts for the delivery of essential work products
- Experience with the financial fundamentals necessary to turn interesting technology into commercially significant business results.
Bonus:
- MBA preferred
- Industry experience developing and commercializing agriculture products, activated carbons, or fuel pellets
- Project management and the use of Stage Gate or similar tools
- Engagement with regulatory agencies, Open Innovation and third-party contract Development and Manufacturing Operations