Materials Scientist, Technical Sourcing & Supplier Development

Job Description

With a strong background in chemistry or material sciences you will support our embellishment business to identify and develop our global base of suppliers for inks, films, adhesives and other critical raw material components. You will be the key technical liaison between our internal R&D and product development teams and our external suppliers, driving continuous improvement and ensuring our raw materials meet the highest standards of excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Drive Supplier Performance : Act as the primary technical liaison for our ink and chemical suppliers. Lead periodic technical reviews and collaborate with them to identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives that enhance quality, capability, and efficiency.

Lead Supplier-Facing Projects : Collaborate with internal stakeholders (R&D, Operations, Quality, Procurement) to define project goals, then translate those goals into actionable development plans and technical requirements for our strategic suppliers.

On-Site Supplier Engagement : Travel to supplier sites and our production facilities to conduct raw material evaluations, supervise pilot manufacturing trials, and work hands-on with their teams to resolve complex production and quality challenges.

Proactive Technical Scouting : Actively scout for innovative materials and technologies by building and maintaining strong relationships with a global network of new and existing material suppliers, research institutions, and universities.

Define Material Specifications : Develop and communicate detailed documentation for all material attributes, creating the technical datasheets that serve as the primary specification for our suppliers.

Formulation and testing : Apply your chemistry / material science knowledge to conduct rigorous hands-on lab testing of supplier-provided raw materials (coatings, inks, adhesives). Determine if performance requirements are met and provide detailed reports.

Manage Material Qualification : Own the end-to-end process for qualifying new materials from suppliers, including initial testing, prototype validation, and providing detailed feasibility reports to internal teams and feedback to the supplier.

Investigate and Troubleshoot : Lead technical investigations into both novel materials sourced from suppliers and existing proprietary materials, partnering with suppliers to enhance performance and resolve any quality deviations.

Qualifications

Requirements for the role :

Educational Background : Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, Material Science, or a closely related field.

A minimum of 1-3 years of experience in a technical role within the chemical, coatings, or printing ink industry.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to discuss complex technical subjects with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Fluency in English (verbal and written).

Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally to production and supplier sites (up to 30%) is required.

Additional requirements considered a strong plus :

Knowledge of Heat Transfer Label manufacturing processes.

Solid understanding of ink formulation, color chemistry, pigments, resins / binders, and solvents.

Experience working in a global, matrixed organization.

Additional Information

Additional information

Who we are! - Our Story :

Every voice. Every day!  Eight Values . One Team!

Being open to every voice, every day, brings our value of diversity to life and makes Avery Dennison a vibrant and engaging place to be. We understand diversity and equal opportunities as enrichment for our future-oriented work. Across our diverse, global team, every voice makes us stronger. When we listen to and learn from each other, there is no limit to what we can achieve together. Each of us is unique, and we appreciate bringing together different personalities and talents.

Avery Dennison is an equal-opportunity employer.

To find out more about  all our employee resources groups globally  as well as our  Diversity, Equity & Inclusion  approach, please go to  https : / / www.averydennison.com / en / home / about-us / diversity-and-inclusion.html

At Avery Dennison, we do what we love, and we love what we do - Just click here, and get to know us better :   Life @ Avery Dennison  ( linkedin.com / company / avery-dennison / life / emea )