Sustainable Natural Rubber Lead

Requisition ID: 126830 
Sponsorship Available: No 
Relocation Assistance Available: No 

Goodyear. More Driven.

About the Position

This position will provide leadership in supply sustainability and business continuity of natural rubber through external partnership on novel natural rubber alternative technologies, critical value chain integration of these alternatives as well as the enrichment of internal natural rubber flexibility guidelines and implementation. This position requires a highly motivated associate to identify natural rubber alternatives that can be delivered in various time and technology horizon and manage the entire portfolio. The position is also responsible as technical lead for working with external partners on current sustainable natural rubber projects, exploring and identifying other relevant sustainable natural rubber alternatives, and recommend best overall strategy. The position requires a broad technical breadth for integrating Natural Rubber flexibility in different compounds and product lines. This technical knowledge base should also be leveraged within the structure of polymer and compounding councils and this associate will be required to work closely with the cross-functional teams to manage these technical releases and changes in implementation. The successful candidate will be high energy and naturally inquisitive with an innovative mindset.

Why Join Us? At Goodyear, we are committed to innovation and excellence. Join our team to contribute to the future of tire technology and make a meaningful impact in the industry.

Primary Responsibilities

• Identify natural rubber alternative concepts and suitable partners to collaborate.
• Develop roust portfolio and recommend strategy with best options and priority to invest.
• Serve as the principal investigator of the current sustainable natural rubber projects.  
• Lead additional natural rubber alternative projects and collaborate with external and internal team members to develop and release the technologies. 
• Work with Goodyear government relations and/or external consultant to leverage relevant government grants.
• Support the submission of concept paper and grant proposals with Goodyear sustainability grant specialist, technical subject matter experts and external collaborators.
• Manage government grant projects when granted with regular updates and adhere to grant guidelines and reporting to government agencies with our external collaborators.
• Collaborate with global cross-functional experts and material councils. Responsible for internal and external stakeholder communication and updates.  
• Maintain and communicate technology and competitive intelligence and patent landscape. Publish time relevant White Papers accordingly.
• Drive IP position through patent / trade secret applications.

Required Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Material Science or Chemical Engineering related discipline required.
• Masters, or PhD desired.

Required Experience:

• Expert in both technical depth and breadth for natural rubber grades, their usage and applications in compound technologies across product lines and the performance tradeoffs, structure property relationships, and manufacturing impact.
• Ability to develop hypothesis and construct rapid learning design studies for critical proof-of-concept.
• Strong technical leadership and communication skills – demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally, gain acceptance, input and alignment, and manage internal and external stakeholders.
• Knowledge in agriculture science and engineering and/or working experience on Dandelion or Guayule rubber is an asset.
• Experience in technical principal investigator and managing technical projects.
• Experience in managing open innovation is an asset.

#LI-RB3

Goodyear is one of the world’s largest tire companies. It employs about 74,000 people and manufactures its products in 57 facilities in 23 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to www.goodyear.com/corporate. 

Goodyear is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to that individual's race, color, religion or creed, national origin or ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, genetic information, ethnicity, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you need reasonable accommodation to complete the online application, or any other part of the employment process, please contact the Goodyear Candidate Care Line at 330.796.4500.

Click here for more information about Equal Employment Opportunity laws, and here for additional supplementary information.