Product Developer (Fat Liquors)

Will you join the R&D Department as Product Developer Fat Liquors?
Fat liquors are one of the most important product groups in the leather making industry. They are being sold to tanneries all over the world. Royal Smit & Zoon develops fat liquors that contain high quality properties, which determine the ultimate properties of leather. As a Product Developer Fat Liquors you are responsible for projects in which new fat liquors are being developed as well as translating this into superior leather qualities and manufacturing.

What you will be doing?

• You will lead the development and technical readiness of improved and new products through Stage Gate; bring new ideas and product developments from ideation through scoping, feasibility, development, process scale up to market readiness in a multifunctional team;
• You generate new product ideas to feed the innovation pipeline, develop opportunities to better meet the market’s and customers’ unmet needs; Connect and engage x-functional colleagues to deliver holistic, bankable innovation;
• You anticipate on hurdles and resolves them timely: keep team focused on success criteria and deliverables, including timelines and business case validity;
• You ensure strong communication and technical documentation throughout projects on progress and decisions made. Role modes the culture of continuous learning, inclusion and knowledge transfer across the globe through effective technical reports and sustainable, productive interactions that build capability across regions;
• You give support externally and internally by responding timely and accurately to complaints and questions from customers and in analyzing the chemical component in the production process and competitors;
• In this role you will report to the R&D Team Lead.

What we ask of you?

• You have a Master or PhD degree in Chemical Engineering, physical-colloid chemistry, polymer chemistry or similar;
• You have a minimum of 3 years relevant work experience in chemical product and formulation development in the chemical industry, such as the textile, emulsion, polymer, coating, lubricant, personal care industry with demonstrated experience in surface chemistry;
• You have strong project management, technical reporting and documentation skills;
• You enjoy working in the lab;
• You recognize yourself in the following characteristics: innovative, result oriented, hands-on, open-minded, proactive, connected, persistent, systematic, personal growth, agile;
• You have good communication skills in English (written and spoken) speaking Dutch is a plus.

What we offer you
A 7th generation family-owned business.
Family values, beliefs and ambitions represent the driving forces behind a culture of sustainability. The drivers of this family business are a long-term commitment, a minimum of hierarchy and the speed of implementation. Royal Smit & Zoon is flexibly seizing the opportunities of the changes taking place worldwide, meanwhile creating strong and sustainable value for their employees, stakeholders and for society.

You can contribute in creating a socially and environmentally more sustainable leather value chain.  The head office is located in Weesp (municipality of Amsterdam), which is easily accessible by public transport. Royal Smit & Zoon offers a professional working environment in which ambitions to grow and attention for colleagues are central. A thirteenth month, profit sharing, hybrid home working policy and discount on sports facilities are part of your job offer.

About Royal Smit & Zoon
Acknowledged as one of the world’s leading suppliers of chemicals for tanning, wet-end and finishing phases, Royal Smit & Zoon produces sustainable chemical solutions for the leather industry and has, since the start in 1821, grown into a worldwide renowned player. This family owned business provides the leather sector with an ample range of products, all complying with the international regulations and specifications, to be effectively used in different end sectors such as footwear, leather goods, apparel, automotive, and furnishing. The company is fully committed to the promotion and improvement of the whole leather value chain in order to make it better, entirely sustainable, safe, and eco-friendly.

In 2021 King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands granted Smit & Zoon the Royal predicate for our efforts of seven generations of entrepreneurship, innovation and focus on sustainability in the leather value chain.

Royal Smit & Zoon is active in more than 70 countries around the world. In addition to our headquarters in Weesp, we have offices and factories in Amersfoort (the Netherlands), Germany, Italy, India and China. In the Netherlands we have about 150 colleagues, worldwide we work with almost 400 employees.

Our mission is to create a socially and environmentally sustainable leather value chain, together. In other words, to create value for customers and society through product and process innovations, and to make people more aware and familiar with sustainable solutions throughout the leather value chain. With this mission we help society as a whole, by offering leather not only as a sustainable basis for all kinds of beautiful products, but also by taking care of our planet and next generations to come.

Apply?
Are you interested? Then apply via the button below and send your CV. For more information, contact Mark Letter (Talent Acquisition Manager) at [email protected] or via 06-281 361 19.   

Unsolicited introductions of candidates through recruitment agencies or third parties are not appreciated. Therefore, sent CVs and applications from candidates will be considered direct applications.