Technical Manager – Polymers & Plastics

Position OverviewThe Technical Manager – Polymers & Plastics will be responsible for leading technical support, product and application development, customer trials, product approvals, troubleshooting, and the technical positioning of the company’s polymer portfolio.The portfolio includes commodity polymers, engineering plastics, speciality polymers, masterbatches, filler compounds, additives, recycled materials, and sustainable polymer solutions.The role will act as the key technical bridge between customers, suppliers, sales teams, and management, supporting business growth, customer conversion, successful product commercialization, and long-term customer satisfaction across multiple plastics applications.The ideal candidate will come from a plastic converting, plastics processing, compounding, recycling, masterbatch, or plastic technical service company, preferably one handling a broad range of products, processing technologies, machinery, and end-use applications.Key ResponsibilitiesTechnical & Application SupportProvide technical leadership and application support across PE, PP, PS, PVC, PET, EVA, engineering plastics, masterbatches, fillers, additives, recycled polymers, and specialty polymer products.Recommend appropriate polymer grades and technical solutions based on customer applications, processing conditions, machinery, and required product performance.Support customers in resolving processing and product-performance issues through practical troubleshooting and technical recommendations.Evaluate customer requirements based on parameters such as MFI/MFR, density, mechanical properties, thermal properties, processing behaviour, end-use requirements, and applicable regulatory standards.Plastics Processing & TroubleshootingProvide hands-on technical support across processes including blown film, injection moulding, blow moulding, extrusion, pipe and profile extrusion, sheet extrusion, thermoforming, compounding, masterbatch production, recycling, and packaging applications.Identify root causes of processing problems and recommend suitable adjustments to raw materials, formulations, process parameters, or product grades.Support customers during machine trials, production trials, grade changes, and new product introductions.Customer Trials & Product ApprovalsPlan, coordinate, and lead customer trials, product evaluations, technical validation, and approval processes.Attend customer production trials where required and provide technical guidance during processing.Document trial parameters, observations, results, corrective actions, and recommendations.Follow up with customers and commercial teams until technical approval and successful commercialization are achieved.Product Development & Technical PositioningWork closely with suppliers, customers, and internal commercial teams to identify new product and application opportunities.Support new product development based on market demand, customer feedback, processing challenges, and application gaps.Conduct product benchmarking and identify equivalent, alternative, or technically improved grades against competitor products.Prepare product comparison studies and substitution recommendations to support customer conversion.Translate technical product advantages into clear commercial value propositions for the sales team.Supplier & Compliance CoordinationCoordinate with suppliers regarding technical specifications, product performance, applications, and customer requirements.Review and manage technical documentation including TDS, SDS/MSDS, COA, FDA documentation, REACH, RoHS, and other relevant compliance certificates.Coordinate technical clarifications, product approvals, product modifications, and application-development initiatives with suppliers.Technical Documentation & TrainingPrepare and review technical reports, customer trial reports, product comparison sheets, application notes, case studies, presentations, and product recommendation documents.Deliver technical training to sales teams, distributors, and customers covering polymer properties, product applications, processing guidelines, troubleshooting, and performance benefits.Maintain accurate records of customer trials, technical observations, approvals, customer feedback, and product-development activities.Commercial & Cross-Functional SupportWork closely with sales and business development teams during customer visits, technical meetings, product introductions, and business-development activities.Support sales teams with grade selection, product comparisons, substitution opportunities, technical presentations, and application-based product positioning.Assist commercial teams in converting technical opportunities into sustainable business.Ensure technical activities are aligned with business objectives, customer satisfaction, product quality, QHSE requirements, and company policies.Qualifications & ExperienceBachelor’s Degree in Polymer Science, Plastics Technology, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Polymer Engineering, or a related technical discipline. Relevant technical diplomas combined with substantial industry experience may also be considered.Minimum 15 years of relevant experience within plastic converting, plastics processing, compounding, recycling, masterbatch manufacturing, or plastic technical service companies.Strong preference for candidates currently or previously working in a Technical Manager, Technical Service Manager, Application Development Manager, Polymer Processing Manager, Product Development Manager, or similar technical leadership role.Significant hands-on exposure to plastics manufacturing and processing environments is essential.Strong knowledge of commodity polymers, engineering plastics, specialty polymers, masterbatches, filler compounds, additives, recycled polymers, and their end-use applications.Practical experience across multiple polymer processing technologies such as extrusion, blown film, injection moulding, blow moulding, compounding, thermoforming, pipe extrusion, and recycling.Experience working across a wide variety of plastic products, machinery, processing technologies, and end-use applications is highly preferred.Previous experience supporting customer trials, product approvals, technical troubleshooting, application development, and grade conversion is essential.Technical CompetenciesAdvanced understanding of polymer properties, processing behaviour, material selection, application requirements, and product-performance evaluation.Strong practical understanding of polymer testing parameters including MFI/MFR, density, tensile strength, elongation, impact strength, flexural modulus, ash content, moisture, dispersion, and thermal properties.Strong troubleshooting capability across plastics manufacturing and converting processes.Ability to understand the interaction between raw materials, formulations, machine settings, processing conditions, and finished-product performance.Ability to assess competitor grades and recommend technically suitable alternatives or substitutes.Strong knowledge of customer trial methodologies, product qualification, technical approvals, and commercialization processes.