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Materials R&D Team Leader

Lancaster, UK (in office, hybrid)

About the Role

As Materials R&D Team Leader you will lead the development and implementation of materials solutions for optical security products using a combination of bespoke organic and organometallic materials, 2D materials, quantum dots, metallic nanoparticles, commercially relevant solvents, inks and lacquers, and QBL bespoke materials analysis. You will be responsible for delivering solutions that are commercially viable, working closely with suppliers to ensure the availability of robust supply chains for our customers. You will be responsible for all QBL’s material laboratory efforts and will play a key role in the direction and development of our products at the leading edge of the industry.

As a small but growing team, you will be expected to be both hands on in the lab, and a strategic leader as we grow this function of the business.

Responsibilities:

• Managing a small team of product development scientists and associated staff
• Scaling up and delivering robust, high quality assured material pipelines that meet customer requirements and comply with all relevant regulations.
• Supporting customer trials, on customer sites where necessary, including planning and delivery of all material related requirements.
• Leading experimental design, execution, interpretation, and data analysis of customer-focused materials projects. In collaboration with technical colleagues from other QBL teams, reach sound technical conclusions based on fundamental scientific principles and propose future project work.
• Organise laboratory resources - people, equipment and materials, maintenance and upgrades.
• Responsible for the inventory of consumables (chemicals, solvent, substrates, PPE and other essential consumable items etc).
• Risk assessments, safe systems of work, COSHH assessments, and other necessary compliance procedures.
• Regular engagement with internal stakeholders including software development, commercial and sales, project managers and directors.
• Write and review scientific projects, scopes of work and laboratory reports on data, statistical analysis, conclusions based on scientific principles and literature and present clear and concise strategies for future work as directed.

Key Experience

• Commercial materials R&D experience - 5 years or more preferred
• Experienced with scaling up processes from laboratory to commercial production, with first-hand experience working in industries with highly demanding production requirements, and ensuring that materials comply with all applicable legislation and regulations for target markets.
• Experienced in a laboratory senior technical role / team management within a scientific industry (ideally R&D).
• Fundamental understanding of materials science (molecular, polymer, 2D materials or nanoparticles/quantum dots) including materials handling, deposition and disposal and laboratory testing methods for material evaluation.
• Highly competent with Health & Safety practises and procedures including supporting risk assessments, safe systems of work & COSHH assessments within an R&D scientific role (ideally working with chemicals, solvents, inks etc).
• Experience working collaboratively as part of a highly skilled cross-functional team, including world class physicists and engineers with excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Nice to have experience

• PhD in optical materials/nanomaterials/physics/chemistry or industrial equivalent.
• Experience with industrial print processes (including flexographic, lithographic and inkjet) would be advantageous.

If you are a driven and ambitious professional ready to take your career to the next level, we want to hear from you.