Head of Application Technology Japan / Susonity (Onahama)

Title: Head of Application Technology Japan

Location: Onahama, Fukushima

Report to: Head of Innovation and Application (Japan)

Team: The position is a people manager position and will manage a team of approx. 5 members

Role Scope:

We are currently seeking a Head of Application Technology Japan for the Surface Solutions business.

 You will be heading an application group of about 5 team members in the field of inorganic pearlescent pigments and related functional materials. The team consists of a dedicated expert engineers for coating, printing and plastic applications. You will be reporting directly to the Head of Innovation and Application Japan. The job is based in Onahama, Fukushima prefecture, Japan.

Your responsibilities as Head of Application Technologies Japan will include:

Execution and accountability for the planning and successful execution of the team's new business programs in collaboration with the assigned sales and marketing department to expand our business and increase our market presence.

Responsibility and accountability for the technical customer support in Japan and Korea by close cooperation with our sales and marketing department

Technical support for a successful R&D program and the technical activity responsibilities required to make it a success.

Driving scouting activities with commercial and academic partners adding of new technologies to our competencies and licensing new products and technologies

Continuously improving scientific expertise of the responsible team by capturing external technical and industrial trends and developing internal capabilities accordingly

Driving process improvement initiatives in our Onahama production works including continuous improvement

Closely interact in a global team with peers by adopting and developing best practice sharing

Fostering a safe, collaborative, inclusive and efficient team environment and working culture. Fostering of future oriented team capabilities in areas like digitalization and sustainability

Candidate Profile:

M.Sc. in material science related fields, e.g. Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Physical Chemistry etc., MBA and or PhD is a plus, but not essential

5~10+ years’ industry experience in technical raw materials at least one of the fields coatings, plastics and/or printing, preferable for pigments and particle materials

Proven experience in leading team, project management and working in an international, cross-functional environment. (People Management experience is as MUST to have.)

Strong leadership skills to effectively execute projects for business expansion

Effective project management, planning and organizational skills

Strong communication skills (written and verbal in both Japanese and English), effective in scientific presentations and communication to customers

Recruiting contact: Maiko Yamasue