Technical Director, Pet Care - Minerals Technologies

Minerals Technologies Inc. (MTI) is a leading, technology-driven specialty minerals company that develops, produces, and markets a broad range of mineral and mineral-based products, related systems and services. MTI serves a wide range of consumer and industrial markets, including household and personal care, paper, foundry, steel, construction and environmental solutions around the world. The company reported global sales of $2.2 billion in 2023.

Job Summary:

This position is located in the Pet Care R&D group, which is part of our Pet Care Business Unit, Household & Personal Care business product line and within the Consumer & Specialties segment of MTI.  Our Pet Care Group is active in working with retail and branded customers to develop innovative  litter products in both the private label and branded space.   We are a global, leading supplier of scoopable cat litter with thirteen manufacturing locations worldwide. We formulate and manufacture cat litters using our expansive bentonite clay reserves, other complimentary minerals, and customer pleasing functional and aesthetic additives, including fragrances, odor control agents, anti-microbial additives, colored aesthetic granules, and additional additives focused on improving litter utilization  Our ideal candidate has the ability to develop technical data on our proprietary formulations to support our customers claims and initiate and enhance customer interactions.  The candidate is responsible for leading the development of both new products and modification of our existing raw material ingredients and finished products in innovative packaging concepts.

Compensation: $150k-$180k base with bonus potential

Location: Mississauga (Port Credit), ON, CAN or Hoffman Estates, IL, U.S. 

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the commercial and marketing team to develop product strategy, and,
  • Lead the on-site day-to-day activities of R&D team based in Hoffman Estates, Illinois to enhance our global footprint and product development.
  • Align project goals and objectives with the commercial team based on meeting the needs of our current and future customers, as well as to align our goals with trends in the litter category. Independently performs research activities and new product development in laboratory, pilot scale or field environment.
• Collaborate with our commercial/marketing teams and customers to obtain “Voice of Customer” in order to generate a pipeline of ideas and concepts that would add value to our customers as they commercialize their products with valid claims.
• Assist our commercial team with understanding new and innovative technologies, which can then be used to present to our customers.
• Work with our manufacturing teams to ensure manufacturing readiness, and successful product transfer from laboratory to manufacturing, and development of procedures to meet commercialization timelines.
• Recognizes, uses and follows all corporate safety policies and procedures.
• Monitors and provides guidance for the successful completion of multiple research and development projects, using Hoshin Kanri methodology.
• Responsible for leading staff, including recruitment, selection, performance management and all other aspects of people leadership.
• Creates a positive workplace environment that fosters continuous improvement and relentless problem solving.
• Leads and promotes activities relating to key company initiatives: EHS, OE, Expense Reduction, and NPPD.

OE/Lean

• Actively lead and participate in the implementation of continuous improvement processes such as 5S, Kaizen, Daily Management Control, Standard Work, Hoshin Kanri, TPM, and QFD.
• Ensure tracking, daily management and use of key performance indicators to promote improved operational and business results (Plan-Do-Check-Act).

Position Demands

Knowledge:  Incumbent must possess at least a Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline.  Advanced degree in Chemistry or technical field preferred with educational and/or work experience related to the Pet category and 5+ years research and development experience. Ideally the candidate would have experience with consumer pleasing fragrances and odor control with their use, efficacy, and formulation. Knows and applies the fundamental concepts, practices and procedures normal to Pet Care field of specialization. 

Skills & Abilities:  Ability to develop and clay-based cat litters  to develop new products and execute physical and chemical experiments and tests in a lab, pilot plant, or plant setting.  Ability to operate a computer and relevant software for the position requirements.  Speaks, reads, writes, and understands English language.  Effective Communicator.  Client-driven.  Fast, Focused and Fundamental.

Physical & Mental:   Extensive work in laboratory environment.  Occasional climbing, bending, kneeling and walking in an industrial plant setting.  Must be able to gather, organize and analyze data, raw conclusions, and manage a moderate level of stress.  Must wear safety equipment as required.  Able to lift a minimum of 25 kg without difficulty.  

General:   Ability to travel locally and internationally by air and car.  Infrequent travel, typically 5-7 times per year. Trips can range between 2 and 5 business days.

Working Relationships

Internal:  Business Management, Sales & Marketing, Manufacturing, Quality, Customer Service, R&D, Purchasing and Logistics, Finance, Human Resources, Engineering and IT.

External: Pet Care Group customers and material suppliers.  Maintains and develops contacts with relevant professional organizations (Universities, Research laboratories, and Industrial Associations)   

Minerals Technologies Inc. (MTI) is a leading, technology-driven specialty minerals company that develops, produces, and markets a broad range of mineral and mineral-based products, related systems and services. MTI serves a wide range of consumer and industrial markets, including household and personal care, paper, foundry, steel, construction and environmental solutions around the world. The company reported global sales of $2.2 billion in 2023.

MTI focuses on two major segments – Consumer & Specialties and Engineered Solutions. 

Our Consumer & Specialities segment offers technologically enhanced products to consumer-driven end markets plus specialty additives that become functional components in a variety of consumer and industrial goods. This segment includes our Household & Personal Care and Specialty Additives product lines. The Household & Personal Care product line provides mineral-to-market products that serve consumer-oriented end markets including Pet Care, Personal Care, Fabric Care, Edible Oil, and Renewable Fuel Purification. Our Specialty Additives product line provides mineral-based technologies serving Paper, Packaging, Sealants & Adhesives, Paint & Coatings, Ceramics, Plastics, Food & Pharmaceutical markets.

Our Engineered Solutions segment offers advanced process technologies and solutions that are designed to improve our customers’ manufacturing processes and projects. This segment includes our High-Temperature Technologies and Environmental & Infrastructure product lines. Our High-Temperature Technologies product line offers specially-formulated blends and technologies primarily for Foundry and Steelmaking industries. Our Environmental & Infrastructure product line provides waterproofing, water purification, remediation and other fluid management technologies for critical projects for Remediation, Water Purification, and Infrastructure.

MTI provides a business environment and promotes a culture that encourages all employees to contribute to our success. We have long been committed to the recruitment and advancement of the most talented and qualified people. We recognize that MTI’s ability to provide the highest caliber of products and services is enhanced by a workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities and countries in which we work.

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