Role Summary

We are seeking an innovative and highly driven Team Leader for Polymer Synthesis to spearhead our advanced materials R&D; initiatives. In this role, you will manage a group of talented chemists and material scientists, driving the design, synthesis, and scale-up of novel polymeric materials. You will bridge the gap between bench-scale innovation and commercial viability, ensuring that project milestones are met safely, efficiently, and to the highest scientific standards.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Project Management

- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of scientists, chemists, and technicians, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture.
- Define project scopes, allocate resources, and manage timelines to ensure the timely delivery of R&D; milestones.
- Serve as the primary technical liaison between the synthesis team and cross functional departments, including Applications, Engineering, Quality, and Commercial teams.
- Prepare and present comprehensive technical reports, project updates, and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.

Technical & Scientific Direction

- Design and execute creative synthetic routes for novel polymers, utilizing various polymerization techniques (e.g., Free Radical, ATRP, RAFT, Anionic, Cationic, Ring-Opening, and Step-Growth).
- Oversee the structural, thermal, and mechanical characterization of synthesized polymers using analytical techniques such as NMR, GPC/SEC, DSC, TGA, FTIR, and Rheology.
- Drive the transition of new polymer technologies from laboratory scale to pilot plant and full manufacturing scale.
- Keep abreast of current scientific literature, market trends,



and competitor activities to identify new technological opportunities and intellectual property (IP) space.
- Spearhead the drafting and filing of patents to protect proprietary technologies.

Desired Candidate Profile Education: Ph.D. in Polymer / Organic Chemistry, or Masters degree with 10+ years of highly relevant industrial experience may also be considered.

Industry Experience: Minimum of 7 to 10 years of industrial R&D; experience focused heavily on polymer synthesis and materials development.

Leadership Experience: At least 2 to 3 years of demonstrated experience leading, managing, or supervising a technical R&D; team.

Technical Competencies

- Deep theoretical knowledge and hands-on expertise in diverse polymerization mechanisms and macromolecular design.
- Proven track record of scaling up chemical processes from bench to pilot scale.
- Proficiency in interpreting complex analytical data (chromatography, spectroscopy, thermal analysis) to elucidate polymer structure-property relationships.
- Experience with specialized polymer classes (e.g., elastomers, polyurethanes, biodegradable polymers, hydrogels, or high-performance thermoplastics) is highly advantageous.
- Familiarity with Design of Experiments (DoE) and statistical analysis tools.

Soft Skills & Attributes Communication: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to translate complex scientific concepts to non-technical stakeholders.

Problem-Solving: Strong analytical mindset with the ability to troubleshoot complex synthetic and process challenges rapidly.

Adaptability: Comfort operating in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with shifting priorities.

Collaboration: A team player who builds strong collaborative networks across different business units and global sites.

📌 Team Leader Polymer Synthesis RnD (Mumbai)
🏢 Leading Ru0026D Centre
📍 Mumbai