Application Development Manager, PU Elastomers APAC

Job Description:

Job Title:  Application Development Manager

Business: Global Elastomers

Job Holder: Vacancy

Reports to: Leon Chou                 

Location: ATC / China

Date: June 2025

Proposed Grade: H34/35

1. Job Purpose

To define and manage a portfolio of projects in the Specialty Elastomers & Footwear platforms in line with the business strategy and to lead a team of people to provide application expertise to the Huntsman PU business.

Although located in APAC, part of the developments will also benefit the Elastomers business in other regions.

2. Principal Accountabilities

• Ensure that all activities are conducted to the highest standards of Safety, Health and Corporate Compliance and that the technical behaviors demonstrate a commitment to the company’s safety culture.
• To efficiently manage a portfolio of development projects according to the project management process. This includes deciding on resource utilization to maximize value creation for the business. Projects will be mostly customer related, exploring potential new applications.

• To design, co-ordinate and execute several development programmes to deliver new technologies within an agreed time scale, propose potential applications and its value proposition for those new materials.  The job holder shall define the actual customer requirements as a basis for the design of experimental programs.
• To manage and develop a team so that product development according to the Project Management Process across a variety of Elastomers  projects.
• Build competence so that team can support and run customer trials with technical expertise .
• Maximize exploitation of existing and new technologies by managing identification and development of technology platforms.
• To ensure that Intellectual Property and both freedom to act  & patentability is investigated for all projects in close cooperation with the IP department.
• To manage a seamless integration with the Elastomers marketing and commercialization teams, to ensure most efficient project delivery.
• Ensure new technologies transfer and support on existing technology is provided to the other regions as appropriate.

3. Education and Experience

The jobholder will be a Master or equivalent with minimum of 8 - 10 years of professional experience, preferably in formulating products in the area of ACE & Footwear. The incumbent must have a good understanding of marketing concepts and the business process and shall possess managerial and leadership skills.

The role involves regular customer or other external contacts. A social and psychological approach including good presentation and human relationship skills, and the ability to work in different cultures and languages is essential (i.e. English mandatory).

Due to the requirement of comprehensive customer visits, the incumbent is expected to travel throughout Europe and the rest of the world.

4. Skill and Knowledge

• Expert knowledge in a single technology area; some knowledge of other technology and application areas
• He/she will have the ability to act as a formal or informal group leader
• Good communication skills
• Supervision skills

Additional Locations: