We are looking for a senior technical leader to build and lead our global Technical Services function for Carbon Black in Inks, Paints & Coatings. The role will establish an elite, application-driven and customer-facing organization that accelerates product qualification and commercialization, solves complex formulation challenges, and translates market needs into clear R&D and product roadmaps. As the senior technical authority, you will represent the voice of the customer internally and connect Sales, Marketing, R&D, Quality, Manufacturing, Regulatory and Product Stewardship. Fluent German and English required for senior customer engagement and cross-functional leadership.
KRAs:
Technical Leadership & Customer Interface
Act as global technical authority for carbon black in inks and coatings Lead advanced troubleshooting (dispersion, flocculation, rheology, jetness, gloss, undertone, filterability, rub resistance) Design and execute DoE for customer trials and scale-up Provide authoritative grade selection guidance
Applications & Lab Excellence
Define global applications lab strategy and best-practice dispersion standards Standardize critical test methods and performance benchmarks Build structured application data systems for faster technical recommendations
Product & Portfolio Enablement
Translate Voice of Customer into clear NPI briefs and application specifications Partner with R&D on surface chemistry, structure optimization and dispersibility Develop application maps and recommendation matrices by segment
Quality, Complaints & Manufacturing Interface
Own technical complaint resolution and robust root cause analysis Strengthen plant alignment on critical-to-quality parameters Improve consistency, reduce Cost of Quality and enhance perceived product stability
Market & Technical Branding
Represent the company at conferences and customer technology events Develop technical papers, webinars and tools supporting Sales
Organization & Operations
Build and mentor a high-performance global team Establish KPIs, SLAs and global operating rhythm Manage lab budgets and technical investments
Candidate Profile
Master’s or PhD in Chemistry, Materials Science, Polymer Science or Chemical Engineering 10+ years experience in carbon black for inks and/or coatings Proven technical leadership in global customer-facing roles Deep expertise in dispersion science, rheology, color science and application testing Strong understanding of regulatory and product stewardship requirements Excellent stakeholder management and executive communication skills Experience in conductive coatings, EMI shielding, battery coatings or digital inkjet systems.