COMPANY DESCRIPTION NatureWorks LLC is a company dedicated to meeting the world s needs today without compromising the earth s ability to meet the needs of tomorrow. NatureWorks LLC is the first company to offer a family of commercially available, low-carbon-footprint Ingeo lactides and biopolymers. As the world s first and largest producer of performance driven bio-based materials, we work with converters, brand-owners, and retailers around the world to help introduce innovative eco-friendly products made with Ingeo lactides, plastics, .and. fibers. For more information, visit www.natureworksllc.com. PURPOSE The Research .and. Applications Engineer has responsibility for leading product and applications research and development supporting NatureWorks biopolymer product lines. In a project leadership capacity, this individual will plan, develop, coordinate, and execute a number of large and significant projects. The Research .and. Applications Engineer will conceive plans and conduct research in opportunity areas of considerable scope, importance, and complexity. Incumbent will translate market needs into critical performance requirements for product and application concepts and subsequently validate and develop such concepts into commercial products. This individual will identify technology needs as well as establish plans to develop technology with internal and external resources. On occasion the Research .and. Applications Engineer will be required to operate both polymer processing equipment and related testing equipment to insure timely results. The Research and Applications Engineer will play an active role on the Technology team. POSITION DESCRIPTION Essential Accountabilities: 1. Applications Development ? Identify opportunities through discussion with customers as well as fellow technical and commercial personnel, and translate those opportunities into fitness-for-use criteria. ? Study and characterize the nature, structure, and physical properties of polymers, compounds, and alloys, and their responses to various processing conditions such as temperature, shear, and applied force. ? Interface with material suppliers and users of products in order to gather specific information; providing feedback on new and existing design applications. ? Develop capabilities in different polymer processes and apply to new products and processes. ? Identify application solutions based on fitness-for-use criteria for through a combination of empirical, experimental, and modeling methods. ? Reduce the fitness-for-use criteria to fundamental polymer characteristics using existing or developing new knowledge of polymer structure-property relationships. ? Develop correlations between materials properties, process parameters, and product measurements, thereby striving to create clear cause and effect understandings. ? Presenting results in a clear and concise matter to multidisciplinary teams and making recommendations with respect to material formulation and/or process modifications. ? Establish, vet, and execute project plans and follow up on communication, logistics, coordination, and execution of agreed actions. ? Recommend materials for reliable performance in various environments. ? Support in the investigation and analysis of new materials, equipments, and processes, as needed. ? Prepare reports of materials and study findings for the use of other (internal and external) scientists and commercial stakeholders. 2. Project Leadership ? Leads project teams of highly qualified professional personnel engaged in complex work. ? Apply professional principles, practices, and techniques to manage projects and have overall accountability for project goal, scope, and plan, including deliverables, cost, profitability, schedule, and quality. ? Responsible to thoroughly understand and communicate stakeholder requirements to appropriate team members, and manage all requirements accordingly to realize each for the stakeholder. ? Establish clear ownership for project tasks, ensure that team members have the tools needed to complete tasks, and provide guidance, direction, and coaching to the staff working directly with them on projects. ? Establish, vet, and execute project plans and follow up on communication, logistics, coordination, and execution of agreed actions. Working Conditions/Physical Requirements: ? This position works in an office environment with time spent in a Modern R.and.D Lab with state-of-the-art equipment. ? This position requires operation of heavy equipment such as extruders and of instruments suitable for the characterization of polymers. ? Monday through Friday day shift. ? Requires use of office equipment such as computers, fax machines, telephones and copiers. ? Required sitting and computer-related activities for extended periods of time. ? Incumbent will need to be able to manage materials, equipment parts, and other items weighing up to 50 pounds. ? Incumbent may need to travel domestically and/or internationally in support of project work, though likely on average less than 10% of the time.