Lab Manager,Agro

• Animate & manage a R&I team based in China, composed of experienced formulations chemists/interns/contract staff, making sure of their excellent performance while offering opportunities for them to develop their skills
• Inculcate a high performing culture with a strong drive towards innovation, scouting for new technologies to bring differentiating solutions to the market
• Set up and manage roadmap innovation projects in collaboration with business teams based in Asia and more specifically to cater to local customer needs in China
• Able to prioritize opportunities with internal stakeholders and allocate resources appropriately
• In charge of innovation projects around specialty surfactants and identify new technologies for agro applications
• Ensure those projects deliver technological and formulation solutions in line with customers' specifications and timelines expected with special focus on stability, performance, cost-in-use, safety, regulatory and other specificities as applicable
• Stay close to the lab and involve himself/herself in new activities as necessary
• Provide technical support to local customers (customer visits & trainings, calls, conferences etc.)
• Regular updates to internal stakeholders (R&I and business) and sharing with customers
• Interact, collaborate constantly with R&I teams in Asia and also other zones, to facilitate innovation transfers across zones, and speed-up innovation delivery
• As a project manager, involve deeply in all resources (outside of the team) that are key to project delivery, including synthesis & process, analytical, purchasing, manufacturing and quality, product stewardship etc
• Develop new methodologies and application tests relevant for the positioning of products in development
• Lead scouting-work activities to identify potential technologies and/or processes. Maintain a good balance in allocation of resources between the customer and innovation projects
• Keep an eye on competition and market trends and identify opportunities to play in the agro market
• Identify local academic labs to collaborate for developing tests/protocols for validation
• Ensure everyone is working in conditions meeting HSE policies and rules, as well as Quality policies and rules. Be pro-active to enhance safety standards
• Take care of patent and literature surveys (articles, patents, competitive watch) in considered segments & and participate to patents filing strategies
• Ensure data recording/experimentation using electronic lab note book and contribution to agro database

• Chemistry/ Physico-Chemistry MS Degree (Chemistry/Chemical Engineering) and a PhD (Physico-chemistry solvents /polymers/surfactants/ formulation science / surface modification/rheology soft materials) by preference
• Minimum 10 years' experience in formulation development; managed R&I innovation projects to develop differentiated and high-performing solutions
• Prior experience in Agro formulation development; managed R&I innovation projects on different Agro segments those including crop protection is a plus
• An experience in soft matter, surfactants, colloidal science is an added advantage
• Thinking out of the box, have a risk-taking ability with a strong innovative mindset
• Outward looking
• Have resilience and able to prioritize to handle multiple requests
• Strong customer orientation and customer intimacy with high reactivity and proactivity
• Team and people leadership skills
• Strong organizational skills, ability to manage a pipeline of several projects, short-term & long-term
• Strong focus on delivering targets with full rigor
• Highly collaborative with a good team spirit
• Good in communication and presentation skills
• Excellent stakeholder management skills and to be able to work in a matrix organization
• Fluent oral and written English is highly desired

• Competitive salary
• 16 weeks of maternity/paternity and co-parenting leave, according to local regulations.
• Training platform for all employees
• Free language courses (24 languages available)
• Free well-being sessions (physical and psychological)

• Syensqo is a science company developing groundbreaking solutions that enhance the way we live, work, travel and play. Inspired by the scientific councils which Ernest Solvay initiated in 1911, we bring great minds together to push the limits of science and innovation for the benefit of our customers, with a diverse, global team of more than 13,000 associates. Our solutions contribute to safer, cleaner, and more sustainable products found in homes, food and consumer goods, planes, cars, batteries, smart devices and health care applications. Our innovation power enables us to deliver on the ambition of a circular economy and explore breakthrough technologies that advance humanity.
• At Syensqo, we seek to promote unity and not uniformity. We value the diversity that individuals bring and we invite you to consider a future with us, regardless of background, age, gender, national origin, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, ability or identity. We encourage individuals who may require any assistance or accommodations to let us know to ensure a seamless application experience. We are here to support you throughout the application journey and want to ensure all candidates are treated equally. If you are unsure whether you meet all the criteria or qualifications listed in the job description, we still encourage you to apply.
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Solvay