Are you an experienced professional with a strong background in chemistry and R&D? Do you have the expertise and leadership skills to grow and strengthen the BRB Silicones Business Unit's R&D team? If you're ready for a challenge in an international and growing organization, we would love to hear from you!

As an R&D manager you will manage a team of research & development professionals, overseeing projects to develop new silicone-based polymers and emulsions for a wide range of markets and applications. You will solve technical problems and develop new solutions for a specific application or within a specific area of research. You will independently evaluate, select and apply standard scientific techniques, processes and criteria.

You will lead the Netherlands-based Silicones R&D team, collaborating with our global R&D centres in Malaysia and Canada. You will report to the Global R&D Manager, who is based in The Netherlands.

The main job responsibilities are:

• Managing research projects: Product development from concept development to commercialization, analytical method development as well as product improvement. Identify and generate new opportunities, translate results into practical applications.
• Documentation and Reporting: Prepare and manage various documents, reports, technical package and presentations. Ensure accurate and timely documentation of all relevant activities. Knowledge sharing for own field of expertise. Freedom to Operate (FTO) screenings to ensure property compliance.
• Business advice and stakeholder engagement: Responsible to keep track of the local R&D budget and WBSO subsidies. Provide specialist advice to internal and external customers. Contribute to stakeholder engagement through identifying their needs/issues /concerns and reacting to these.

You will have frequent and close contact with other internal departments to look at opportunities together. You ensure that others know what BRB is working on and what we are capable of, and in this way you stay ahead of what other companies are undertaking.

The team

The team you will manage is based at our European R&D Centre, located in the Netherlands. The team currently consists of 6 colleagues and the spoken language is English.

We are looking for a new colleague with the right drive, a chemical background and a high degree of enthusiasm. Someone who wants to learn and develop oneself and the R&D SIL team while actively contributing to the growth of BRB.

You are a self-starter and an entrepreneur with a strategic vision and a very good understanding of how to create value from technology. You have the ability to build strong working relationships within R&D, sales and customers. You understand the technical part but you are also able to see the commercial opportunities and challenges.

For the team, you are the people manager they can always rely on. You coach our ambitious team to grow as individuals, but also as a team. 

What else do you bring:

• 3+ years of relevant experience, including project and people leadership experience in an international environment; 
• Degree in the field of organic chemistry or related education supplemented by work experience in organic chemistry; 
• Proficiency in English, both written and oral is essential, knowledge of the Dutch language is beneficial;
• Excellent communication skills and cross collaboration spirit.

BRB is growing and if we want to meet all the growth expectations, the R&D department follows with ambitious growth plans as well, which will give you a variety of challenges. The acquisition by PETRONAS offers you the best of both worlds. The advantages of a large corporate organization, but the freedom to get started with your own ideas in an entrepreneurial environment. Besides the activities, we nurture your ambition.

We also offer:

• a good salary matching your knowledge and skills; 
• a position for at least 32 hours per week, but 40 hours is preferred given the workload; 
• bonus scheme of up to 2 months’ salaries, 8% holiday allowance, 29 vacation days and 2 extra days if you don’t have sick leave for a calendar year; 
• reimbursement of your daily travel costs, 21 cents per km with a maximum of 50 km for a single journey; 
• pension plan (defined contribution scheme) with only 4% employee contribution and WGA gap and supplementary insurance; 
• the ability to purchase up to 5 additional leave days per year; 
• company phone and laptop; 
• free fruit at our offices; 
• staff events with just a little more. For example, an annual company party, Christmas event and BRB treats to cake regularly for celebrating the birthdays of their employees; 
• the possibility to work hybrid (on a low scale) and flexible hours.

Are you excited about this challenging R&D Manager role and think you are a great fit? We would like to meet you! Apply for the position by clicking on the apply button. Do you have any questions, or would you like to know more? Please feel free to contact Ingrid Cornelissen, Recruiter.

Since we expect to be able to fill this vacancy ourselves, we only accept candidates who apply directly to us.