Job opportunities

Job description

The company is a leading European developer and manufacturer of high-quality and environmentally responsible chemicals for the fire safety industry, both passive (fire-resistant) and active (fire-extinguishing). This Belgian financially sound group has operations in Belgium, Germany, France, UK and Israel and employs around 100 people.

JOB PURPOSE

The innovation manager leads the creation of innovative solutions, advances product offerings, and drives technological progress. He/she is responsible for the innovation strategy, planning and execution of innovation initiatives that align with the company's goals, ensuring quality, compliance, and successful translation of ideas into practical applications.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Plan and budget for innovation projects in line with company goals
• Define project scopes, objectives and deliverables as per the project template presented in the innovation steering committee
• Communicate progress to the innovation steering committee
• Lead and mentor the innovation lab technicians and other innovation resources
• Oversee project execution and milestones based on simplified stage gate approach
• Drive innovation and new product ideas together with product management
• Allocate resources effectively and manage innovation budget and expenditures
• Stay updated on industry trends and evaluate new technologies
• Creation of Safety Datasheets for newly developed products
• Ownership of formulation of our products

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES

• Innovation leadership: inspire creativity and drive a culture of innovation within the team. Encourage experimentation and exploration of new concepts.
• Strong project management skills: plan and execution of innovation projects within clear scope and timeline. Ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive results.
• Technical expertise: strong technical knowledge relevant to the field of innovation. Providing expert guidance to team members during projects. Updated with emerging technologies and trends to inform decision-making
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively and pro-actively across teams and communicate complex ideas to stakeholders.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE

• Master’s degree in chemistry, biochemistry, engineering or a related field
• Proven experience (>10 years) in innovation management, product development, or a related role.
• Experience within the sector of inorganic chemistry and more specifically a proven knowledge in product development and innovation with surfactants. E.g.
  • Personal care and Cosmetics
  • Industrial/Household cleaning products
  • Detergents, soap industry
  • Paint industry
  • ....
• Familiarity with emerging technologies, such as biodegradable ingredients and green chemistry.
• Languages
  • Fluent in English (speaking & writing)
  • Fluent in Dutch is a plus