Circular Jobs in Tennessee (NOW HIRING)

As the Technical Service / Application Development (TS/AD) Technical Leader, you will serve as the primary technical lead supporting regional and global strategic marketing initiatives for Eastman’s Specialty Plastics business, with a strong focus on blow‑molded circular plastic packaging applications. You will work directly with brand owners, converters, and blow molders to enable packaging solutions that align with brand circularity commitments. This role is located onsite at our Kingsport, TN headquarters.

In this role, you will build and sustain deep technical relationships across the value chain to support circular solutions, ensure packaging performance while meeting sustainability targets, and enable successful market adoption. The position requires strong technical expertise in blow molding processes including Injection Stretch Blow Molding and Extrusion Blow Molding combined with a working knowledge of recycling systems, compatibility with existing infrastructure, and evolving regulatory and brand‑owner expectations.

Key responsibilities include leading launch‑phase customer projects, providing advanced technical support and on‑site consultation, collaborating cross‑functionally with Sales, Marketing, R&D, Product Management, Quality, and Manufacturing, and translating brand‑owner sustainability goals into actionable technical solutions that drive business growth.

• Lead launch‑phase technical projects that enable blow‑molded circular packaging solutions, including validation and qualification of materials containing PCR and/or circular feedstocks, supporting brand commitments and regulatory requirements.
• Engage proactively with brand owners, converters, and blow molders to drive adoption of packaging solutions that meet sustainability targets, while maintaining required processing performance and package integrity.
• Support opportunity‑management processes that prioritize circular packaging initiatives aligned with business strategy (new business, protect, and grow); apply consultative selling skills to communicate technical value related to sustainability, performance, and total system compatibility.
• Collaborate closely with Sales, Marketing, R&D, Product Management, and Manufacturing to translate brand sustainability goals—such as increased recycled content, elimination of non‑recyclable structures, and improved recyclability—into differentiated polymer and application solutions for blow‑molded packaging.
• Serve as the technical authority on blow molding processes (e.g., extrusion blow molding, injection blow molding, injection stretch blow molding), especially as they relate to processing PCR materials, managing variability, and ensuring consistent quality; guide junior team members in resolving complex, high‑impact technical challenges.
• Design, execute, and interpret application and validation trials to assess PCR performance, recyclability compatibility, and processing robustness, translating results into scalable technical recommendations, specifications, and processing guidelines for commercial deployment.
• Conduct customer training, technical seminars, and conference presentations focused on circular packaging enablement, including PCR integration, and the intersection of polymer science, process capability, and recycling system requirements.
• Translate customer feedback, evolving brand circularity roadmaps, and regulatory or market trends into prioritized development opportunities; partner with R&D to advance material and application concepts that improve recyclability, circular content utilization, and overall lifecycle performance.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation and tools—including PCR processing guidelines, recyclability assessments, test methods, failure‑mode playbooks, technical reports, and application guides—to institutionalize circular packaging knowledge and accelerate response time to customer needs.
• Mentor and coach Technology and Business colleagues to strengthen organizational capability in circular packaging, recycled materials, and blow molding applications through knowledge sharing, internal training sessions, and best‑practice development.
• Represent Eastman externally at customer technical reviews, audits, industry forums, and sustainability‑focused conferences; support commercial discussions with data‑driven technical evidence that demonstrates alignment with brand‑owner circular commitments.

• Ph.D. with 10+ years of relevant industry experience or Master’s degree with 20+ years of relevant industry experience. Degree must be in Materials Science or Engineering, Polymer Science and/or Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, or a closely related field.
• Strong technical knowledge and commercial understanding of the polymers and plastics industry, with demonstrated experience in packaging applications. Hands‑on experience and downstream exposure across the value chain—including brand owners, converters, and blow molders—are highly preferred.
• Extensive experience supporting blow‑molded commercial packaging products (e.g., injection stretch blow molding, extrusion blow molding, injection blow molding), with a strong preference for applications involving circular packaging.
• Demonstrated understanding of brand‑owner circular commitments and compatibility with existing recycling infrastructure; experience balancing sustainability objectives with processing robustness and package performance is strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of structure–property–processing relationships in thermoplastic polymers, particularly as they relate to blow molding of virgin and recycled materials; familiarity with design of experiments (DOE), statistical analysis, and structured problem‑solving methodologies is preferred.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with brand owners, converters, and internal cross‑functional teams. Proven ability to build credibility, influence technical decision‑making, and establish trusted long‑term working relationships with customers.

• Base pay plus performance‑based incentive opportunities that let you share in our success.

• Comprehensive medical, prescription‑drug, and dental coverage—paired with a Health Savings Account option to help you save tax‑free dollars for care today or in the future.
• A robust menu of voluntary benefits—including vision, optional life, critical‑illness protection, and more—so you can tailor coverage to fit your life.
• Holistic wellness support: financial‑planning tools, family‑building assistance (adoption, pregnancy, and fertility resources), parental leave, and confidential Employee Assistance Program counseling.

• 401(k) with a company match—plus an additional annual retirement contribution from Eastman to accelerate your long‑term savings.

• Eleven paid holidays, one personal day, paid time off, and paid vacation to recharge, celebrate, or handle life’s moments.

• Access to mentorship, learning resources, and leadership programs that empower you to thrive in your current role and chart the next steps in your career.

Eastman Chemical Company is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, pregnancy, veteran status or any other protected classes as designated by law.