Scientist - Food Packaging Applications (8-15 yrs)

The key outcomes expected from one in this role would be:

1. Materials Development & Scale-Up:

- Lead research and development efforts in creating new materials and structures for food packaging applications with a focus on sustainability and performance.

- Drive successful scale-up of materials from lab-scale innovations to commercial production.

- Explore new and alternative materials, including bio-based, biodegradable, and recyclable options, that align with food packaging standards and environmental concerns.

2. Materials Characterization & Structure-Property Relationships:

- Conduct extensive research on the structure-property relationships of materials, surface interactions in novel structure creations, prototype generation of novel structures and ensuring they meet the necessary performance, food safety and quality standards.

- Use advanced characterization techniques to evaluate the mechanical, chemical, and thermal properties of packaging materials.

- Creation of novel material structures with high barrier properties, shelf life, product safety, and home composability for food packaging.

3. Performance Studies and Product Establishment:

- Work with business development team to test and standardize material structures for specified packaging category.

- Work closely with processing engineers to optimize material processing techniques for during packaging performance trials and ensuring seamless transition using novel material structures

- Collaborate with manufacturing teams to integrate new materials into existing production lines or additive manufacturing technologies

- Facilitate with other converting partners (printing/slitting/custom packaging) to provide packaging solutions to brand owners.

- Understanding of end-of-life concepts for flexible food packaging

- Work with customers on sustainable partnerships to establish the circularity and regenerative solutions

- Involve in end-of-life regulatory compliances to ensure product marketisation.

4. Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration:

- Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including chemists, biologists, engineers, and product designers, to drive innovation in packaging materials.

- Work closely with regulatory and quality assurance teams to ensure materials meet global food safety regulations and compliance standards.

- Work with finance and logistic teams to ensure timely supply of materials to customers satisfaction.

5. Market and Application Insight:

- Understand market trends and customer needs in compostable/ home compostable food packaging to give state of feedback to material and application development.

- Conduct market research and competitor analysis to ensure the company's packaging solutions remain competitive and innovative

- Pro-active and able to convince team and customers on the emerging trends and our solutions leading to aggressive business growth.

Skills & Experience :

- Ph.D. in Material Science with a focus on Chemistry and Biology.

- Deep understanding of material science, applications, and characterization techniques.

- Proven experience in developing and scaling new materials for industrial applications, preferably in food packaging.

- Strong knowledge of structure-property relationships for packaging materials, including mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties.

- Hands-on experience with processing techniques, ability to collaborate with manufacturing or vendor teams for scale-up, customer focused packing demonstration and standardization, and assisting customers during packaging establishment.

- Ability to work in cross-disciplinary teams and lead projects from concept to commercialization.

- Strong analytical skills and ability to perform detailed research and technical documentation

- Experience in bio-based, biodegradable, or recyclable material for food packaging applications.

- Familiarity with global food safety regulations and standards for packaging materials.

- Knowledge of sustainability practices and environmental impact assessments for materials.

- International and multicultural experience preferable.