Technical Service & Development Professional, Plastics Additives

Milliken & Company is a global manufacturing leader whose focus on materials science delivers tomorrow’s breakthroughs today. From industry-leading molecules to sustainable innovations, Milliken creates products that enhance people’s lives and deliver solutions for its customers and communities. Drawing on thousands of patents and a portfolio with applications across the textile, flooring, chemical and healthcare businesses, the company harnesses a shared sense of integrity and excellence to positively impact the world for generations. Discover more about Milliken’s curious minds and inspired solutions at Milliken.com and on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.

POSITION TITLE  

Technical Service & Development Professional, Plastics Additives 

POSITION OVERVIEW 

This position falls within Milliken’s North America Plastics Additives business and reports to the North America Plastics Additives Technical Service and Development (TS&D) Manager. We are the leaders in specialty additives for polyolefins, with a portfolio of highly differentiated solutions that bring value in the markets we service. Our sales process is technical and complex, requiring active participation from our TS&D teams for successful business defense and growth.  

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

Your responsibilities are focused in the following areas: 

1. Be the focal point for all technical matters related to customer work:  

• Be the expert for questions related to our additives and the way they affect properties and processing conditions at our direct and indirect customers.  

• Develop deep relationships at key technical contacts at our customers 

• Understand the problems that need to be addressed, translate them into hypotheses and execute experiments (lab or plant trials) to validate them.  

2. Work closely with sales and marketing to optimize and accelerate our sales growth:  

• Study and stay abreast of new polymers, additives, and applications. 

• Help assess the value generated by our solutions to the customer. 

• Identify needs at customers that can be solved with our products and close business 

3. Support our business innovation process:  

• Be an active member of our global technical community by sharing learnings and solving problems together.  

• Assist the New Product Development team when new products are first introduced to customers. 

• Generate insights through deep market and industry knowledge.  

The position is remote, with an anticipated travel load of around 30-40% on average for a regular year, with certain months having higher demand than others. Expected travel includes: 

• Conferences and tradeshows 

• Customer visits and field trials  

• Regular visits to our Corporate Headquarters in Spartanburg, SC: 

• For R&D and Business meetings (around 7 times per year) 

• For key customer visits to our campus 

• When necessary for the successful completion of Laboratory work 

QUALIFICATIONS - REQUIRED 

• B.S or M.S degree in Engineering, Materials/Polymer Science, or another related technical field 

• 7 years of professional experience in direct customer support role or in a technical role in the plastics industry, preferably related to Polyolefins (PP/PE production, compounding, conversion, or additives / masterbatches) 

• Proven track record of managing technical work remotely.  

• High mechanical aptitude  

The successful candidate will have the following strengths: 

• Accountability, ownership, and drive to achieve deliverables, taking initiative to get things done 

• Resiliency and discipline to persevere in ambiguous and complex situations 

• Good relationship-building and influencing capability  

• Rigorous application of the scientific process  

• Skill in statistical and data analysis (Excel, JMP, PowerBI or similar tools)  

• Skill in presentation and written communication 

• Ability to work independently and in a cross-functional team environment 

• Ability to manage a variety of projects simultaneously  

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Milliken is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, including but not limited to lactation), sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression (including transgender status), ancestry, national origin, citizenship, age physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran or military status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.