Process & product development manager HPC

Job content

Power in space. Vision at night. Coatings thinner than human hair. Umicore is a world leader in germanium material solutions for the space, optics and electronics sectors – enabling every day cutting-edge technologies. We guarantee our customers secure access to supply, plus recycling technologies that give materials a new lease of life. To produce materials with even higher performance, and provide recycling to new markets, we cannot stand still. We need to find new ways to do things, discover new solutions and develop new processes. Which is where you come in.

Within the operational unit HPC (High Purity Chemicals), we produce germanium-based high purity materials that serve as core material for glass optical fibers. The increased roll-out of optical fiber cables is crucial for the deployment of 5G and later 6G networks, enabling people to connect around the globe. We strive to provide outstanding materials, at the same time maintaining a consistently high quality throughout the production line. And we go even further!

We close the material loop if possible and identify recycling opportunities wherever we go. The HPC operational unit is our recycling engine for a wide variety of input streams from our customers, suppliers and internal recycling, which we transform into high quality end products.

Your assignment will be to develop new and improve existing processes and products within the HPC unit. This entails improving the current product quality and hydro- and pyrometallurgy based flow sheet, developing processes for the recycling of new Ge feeds and developing new high purity materials. You will handle projects from early R&D, in close collaboration with Umicore’s R&D department up to final industrialization. You will be part of the Ge solutions R&D team of the business unit Electro-Optic Materials and will work in close collaboration with the operational staff of HPC and CRD

• You hold a Master/Ph.D. in Chemistry, Materials science or related field. Pyro and/or hydro metallurgy background is a strong plus.
• You have minimum 3 years hands-on experience in project management and can work according to a well-structured project management methodology
• You understand sophisticated process flow sheets as well as do hands-on process development
• You work and can define clear goals and priorities and can handle stress adequately.
• You have excellent reporting skills and are able to present results in a clear and concise way.
• You have eye for detail but can also take a high-level perspective when appropriate
• In view of the international environment we operate, good English communication skills are required. The knowledge of Dutch is an advantage. Or you are willing to learn it quickly.

We aim to lead the way. Not just for our customers, but for our employees too. That is why we strive to create a collaborative environment in which we can all succeed, and a culture through which we can all share ideas, develop our expertise and advance our careers. We engage in building an inclusive work culture that offers equal opportunities for all employees irrespective of their diverse backgrounds. As you would expect from a world-leading organisation, we will also reward your contribution with a competitive salary and benefits. With all this and more, imagine what you could do?