Director of Research & Development Minerals and Nutrients

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Job description

COMPANY OVERVIEW:
Balchem Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets specialty ingredients that improve and enhance the health and well-being of life on the planet, providing state-of-the-art solutions and the finest quality products for a range of industries worldwide. Our corporate headquarters is located in Montvale, New Jersey and we have a broad network of sales offices, manufacturing sites, and R&D centers, primarily located in the US and Europe. Founded in 1967, Balchem is a publicly traded company (NASDAQ BCPC) with annual revenues over $900 million and a market cap exceeding $5.0 billion. The company consists of three business segments: Human Nutrition & Health; Animal Nutrition & Health; and Specialty Products. Balchem employs over 1,200 people worldwide who are engaged in diverse activities, committed to developing the company into global market leadership positions. To learn more about our dynamic, stable and growing company, visit .

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Director of Research & Development Minerals and Nutrients leads a team of scientists and engineers, driving the successful execution of a portfolio of projects in new product development and process optimization. These projects focus on mineral chelates, choline, and other nutraceutical ingredients, aiming to deliver value-added innovations for human health. The Director oversees R&D activities at the research laboratories and pilot facility in Ogden, Utah. Working closely with Human Nutrition and Health (HNH) business segment leaders, the Director ensures alignment between project portfolios and commercial objectives, driving profitable growth. They manage the development process from bench scale through scale-up and commercialization and report directly to the Senior Director of R&D HNH, participating as a key member of the Leadership Team.

The Director is responsible for Balchem's core technology platform in chelated minerals, choline, and MSM. In this role, the Director and their team will continuously push the boundaries of this technology, working with Supply Chain and Operations to improve efficiency and reduce manufacturing costs.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Responsible for the safety of all R&D personnel and laboratories/pilot plants in Ogden, UT. Serves as the safety champion for the group, promoting a culture of safety and accountability for achieving the goal of zero injuries.
• Conducts regular project review meetings and reports on portfolio health, consistently seeking new ideas for product innovation and process improvement.
• Ensures projects are executed with the highest quality in the shortest time possible, collaborating with the commercial team to prioritize efforts and maintaining metrics on project execution.
• Collaborates with the M&N team's business leaders to ensure R&D projects align with commercial objectives.
• Builds and leads a team of scientists and engineers, ensuring they are staffed, equipped, and trained to execute projects effectively. Regularly conducts performance reviews, sets development plans, and adapts the team's skill set to meet evolving business needs
• Manages departmental budget, including personnel, equipment, and supplies. Submits capital requests for new equipment as needed and ensures physical facilities align with the long-term strategy.
• Provides high-level technical support for internal and external customers, addressing product and application knowledge.
• Collaborates cross-functionally with other R&D groups and departments to drive innovation, new product development, and resolve challenges within the product line
• Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• BS in Chemistry, Material Science, Engineering, or a related field is required. An advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) is preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in the chemical or materials industry in a technical leadership role.
• Proven success in leading teams to develop and launch new products and processes, including scaling from bench to commercialization.
• Strong leadership skills, with experience developing and managing teams to achieve high performance.
• Excellent problem-solving and innovation skills, with a history of addressing unmet customer needs through new product innovations.
• Outstanding communication and presentation skills, capable of engaging both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated agility in learning and the ability to thrive in a matrix organization.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work involves the use of typical food and pharmaceutical science lab equipment, computers, and instrumentation. Some business travel by automobile, bus, train, and plane is required.
• Occasionally, must be able to work on their feet for extended periods in the lab, pilot, and manufacturing plant.
• May be required to lift and carry large boxes or bags, and the work environment may occasionally be noisy, wet, slippery, and subject to temperature variations.

Balchem is committed to a workplace culture that values and promotes diversity, inclusion, equal employment opportunities, and a work environment free of harassment and hostility.

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