Purpose of the job

Research, develop and deliver new products according to strategic plans.  Act as Project Manager and/or Technical Lead on assigned Product development projects.  Technically support other activities as assigned.

Collaborate in all R&D activities throughout product life cycle stages (planning, product design and development, validation, commercialization) of B&C paper products and support its portfolio management.

Main responsibility areas

• Lead workstreams to achieve project milestones
• Coordinate and support industrial scale trials. Monitor trends and live results. Log and record events and prepare summaries highlighting important technical aspects.
• Perform a wide range of established lab measurements. Develop protocols to measure important features and attributes of products.
• Coordinate and execute lab and pilot studies independently. Execute evaluation and testing and interpret results using rigorous scientific discipline (DOE, FMEA, APQP, etc). 
• Work closely with R&D team based in France and with Operations to scale new products up. Help establishing specifications and fit for use.
• Participate in preparing project schedules and budgets. 
• Properly document, record, publish, and communicate results and conclusions.
• Travel internationally and domestically as needed.  Occasional night and/or weekend work will be required.
• Research products and technologies new to Ahlstrom using means such as literature search, competitive intelligence, patent research and others.
• Participate in team, customer, and supplier meetings supporting projects and initiatives.
• Solve non‑routine problems related to product development efforts (raw materials, equipment, development, evaluation). Hazardous raw materials may occasionally be encountered.
• Generate innovative ideas. Prepare invention disclosures, and patent applications to protect intellectual property.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable Safety, Environmental, GMP, FDA Quality and other policies, practices and regulations.

Communication (position’s responsibility for communications both within and outside the organization)

Internally : Effective 360º communication is required with employees at all organizational levels and within and without the R&D department, business unit, and business area.

Externally : Occasionally, effective communication is required with customers, suppliers, industry and research organizations and occasionally regulatory associations.

Experience and education (minimum level of knowledge and skills to fulfill one’s responsibilities)

Work experience : 

• Junior Engineer Graduate or MSc. degree preferably in papermaking, chemical engineering, polymer science, nonwovens or textile technology.
• Technical expertise in papermaking, or at least in one area related to nonwovens, polymer/fiber science is required
• Few years of experience in related industries would be a plus.
• Knowledge in data analysis, clean data principles, statistical analysis, coding would be a plus
• Project Management skills
• Fluent English is required

Required competencies :

• Ability to analyze data and draw appropriate conclusions
• Ability to lead and execute technical plans at lab scale
• Ability to support product development projects at industrial scale
• Ability to communicate technical ideas and conclusions
• Project management skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work in an international environment
• Creativity and technical capability to generate innovative ideas 
• Judgment and ingenuity to solve non-routine problems
• Manage task implementation and establish priorities with multiple assignments.
• Ability to both lead and participate on teams
• Ability to complete tasks and projects using a matrix organization and compliant with appropriate policies.
• Advanced MS Office user.  Ability to learn and use various company network applications
• Must have knowledge of Ahlstrom Information Security policies and is for his/her own part responsible for ensuring information security when handling information and maintaining or using information systems or information networks

Ahlstrom is a global leader in combining fibers into sustainable specialty materials. Join our journey to create a more sustainable world with products and solutions that Purify and Protect, with Every Fiber, for a Sustainable World. Our three divisions, Filtration and Life Sciences, Food and Consumer Packaging, and Protective Materials, address global trends with safe and sustainable solutions.
We are deeply committed to building and maintaining safe and inclusive environment and culture, where everyone feels valued and respected. At Ahlstrom, we all have equal opportunities to belong and reach our full potential. 
Our net sales in 2024 amounted to EUR 3.0 billion and we employ some 6,800 people. Read more at www.ahlstrom.com