Technical Product Manager, Polyurethanes

Title: Technical Product Manager, Polyurethanes

Type: Full-time

Location: Berkeley, CA

Supervisor: SVP Materials Commercialization


PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES


We seek an ambitious, mission driven, creative problem solver to join our team as a Technical Product Manager, Polyurethanes (PU). This role is focused on linking our PU platform with market relevant technical and commercial value propositions and requires both strong technical and market focused understanding of the polymer world of polyurethanes. This position is responsible for executing the commercialization of our current PU resins and materials delivering commercial PU products for internal and external customers. The successful individual will work closely with our strategic product manager to expand our PU product line into additional market sectors. Assessing inbound and outbound opportunities based on our PU materials strategy, working closely with our Material Science team, and taking an active role in managing our portfolio are key activities for this role. This is a highly collaborative role with significant provider and customer facing responsibilities. It requires establishing collaborative and trusting relationships with Checkerspot’s internal leaders and stakeholders as well as customers and custom manufacturing organizations.


KEY RESPONSIBILITIES


  • Lead projects to deliver commercial resin and PU products for internal and external customers
  • Guide associated regulatory, safety, product stewardship and LCA activities to enable our sustainability mission
  • Develop and implement commercial resin and resin conversion manufacturing plan including necessary supply chains and logistics
  • Identify commercial partners that meet our strategic B2B needs and facilitate mutual technology transfer
  • Support our business development and marketing team to develop business and sales models
  • Act as lead point of contact for external partners to commercialize manufacturing technologies
  • Mange commercial product lines working closely with sales and marketing team
  • Collaborate with technical marketing, engineering to integrate quality control and technical datasheet management
  • Help define opportunities for B2B development projects expanding our PU portfolio into adjacent market segments
  • Accountable for building a strong safety culture and actively pursue it daily; identify unsafe behaviors and conditions and intervene to mitigate incidents


KEY REQUIREMENTS

  • 10+ years of industry experience in Polyurethanes (PU) resins and materials
  • Experience in commercializing and / or managing commercial PU products
  • Strong technical background with MS or Ph.D. degree, or equivalent experience, in a material science, polymer science, or related engineering discipline
  • Track record of successfully working with customers and vendors
  • Experience with market-based information systems and data driven decision systems
  • Effective communicator, able to convey complex ideas in a clear, concise manner both verbally and in writing; comfortable in customer facing business and technical discussions
  • Experience building trusting relationships and influencing others (incl. executive audiences)
  • Strong people development and leadership skills; able to manage extended or virtual teams
  • Collaborative team player who is also an independent thinker
  • Self-starter with proactive approach to problem-solving who thrives and can multitask in fast paced and often ambiguous environments
  • Nimble business mind with a focus on developing creative solutions
  • Willingness to travel up to 30% of the time

For positions at Checkerspot in Alameda, please send your cover letter and résumé to careers@checkerspot.com with the position you are applying for in the subject line.