Director Of Application Development Jobs (NOW HIRING)

In this role you will develop new application concepts, incl. norm/standard setting, certifications and new application test methods to generate profitable business for Avient Protective Materials (APM). For this specific vacancy the focal area will be on ballistic protection applications in the APM Personal Protection segment, a.o. SB vest solutions, hard ballistic plates, stab-resistant solutions, and helmets. Based in Stanley (NC), or willingness to be there 3 days a week. Willingness to travel to Greenville (NC) occasionally, and travel to customers, end users and trade shows.

Our purpose at Avient Corporation is to be an innovator of materials solutions that help our customers succeed, while enabling a sustainable world.

Innovation goes far beyond materials science; it's powered by the passion, creativity, and diverse expertise of 9,000 professionals worldwide. Whether you're a finance wizard, a tech enthusiast, an operational powerhouse, an HR changemaker, or a trailblazer in materials development, you'll find your place at Avient.

Join our global team and help shape the future with sustainable solutions that transform possibilities into realities. Your unique perspective could be the key to our next breakthrough!

We believe that all of our global employees are leaders and that the six most important behaviors for driving our strategy and culture are the same no matter if an employee is a leader of self, a leader of others, or a leader of the business.

By playing to win, acting customer centric, driving innovation and profitable growth, collaborating seamlessly across Avient, and motivating and inspiring and developing others and yourself you will accelerate your ability to achieve Avient's strategic goals, to meet our customer needs, and to accomplish your career goals.

At Avient, we believe a wide variety of thoughts, ideas and backgrounds gives us the creativity to be successful in a rapidly changing world.  In support of this, we stress equality of opportunity for all qualified individuals in accordance with applicable laws. Decisions on hiring, promotion, development, compensation or advancement are based solely on a person's qualifications, abilities, experience and performance.

Avient is an equal opportunity employer. We maintain a policy of non-discrimination in providing equal employment to all qualified employees and candidates regardless of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, color, religion, national origin, disability, genetic information, protected veteran's status, or other legally protected classification in accordance with applicable federal, state and local law. If you need an accommodation because of a disability to complete an online application, please contact the Avient HR Team by emailing, ApplicationAccommodation@Avient.com.

Education and Experience

• Master's Degree in either mechanical or textile engineering, chemical technology or a related engineering field. Strong skills in mechanics and mechanical engineering is a plus.
• Significant (minimal 5 years) experience in customer and/or end user markets/applications in the field of ballistic protection in fiber-based hard and soft ballistic applications. Additional experience in textiles and textile engineering is a plus. 
• Broad understanding of processing and performance of fiber-based materials in ballistic applications, supported by a solid conceptual understanding of composite materials behavior, the mechanics thereof, and experimental testing methods, including ballistic tests.
• High drive to translate and implement new concepts and products into applications.
• Experience in guiding Product Development to develop new material concepts, by translating application requirements into product (material) requirements.
• Experience in guiding (materials) scientists in generation of mechanistic understanding to build the required competence, and in implementing the results in application development. 
• Experience in using a network of external institutes / facilities to support application development, preferably in the field of ballistics.
• Good connector between technical and commercial functions - bridging the gap

• Good communication, social and coaching skills combined with good analytical and conceptual capabilities.

Physical Demands

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; sit; walk; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; talk and/or hear.

• May occasionally be required to lift, push or pull up to 25 pounds.

• Specific vision abilities may require close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. 

• Requires the use of safety equipment as dictated by the work area such as safety glasses and shoes, dust mask, hard hat, respirator, face shield, hearing protection, chemical suit, gloves, aprons, etc. 

• The noise level in the work environment ranges from normal office noise levels to loud.

• Proper personal safety equipment needs to be used while performing this job and that equipment is dictated by the plant safety guidelines. 

Essential Duties & Responsibilities 

• Build up and maintain application and industry expertise and know-how and use this knowledge to develop new application concepts, supported by norm/standard setting, certifications and new application test methods.
• Roll out these concepts to customers and end users, thereby acting as knowledge holder supporting marketing & sales.
• Translate market trends and developments, as well as customer demands into application development initiatives. Ensure that these fit in the APM marketing and innovation long term strategies.
• Lead and execute application development projects either as project leader or as project member in a multidisciplinary team, including APM product and process development and technical centers, materials scientists, M&S and operations. 
• Connect externally to industrial partners, universities and external institutes for production of product prototypes and knowhow development, including testing, benchmarking and validation.
• Connect to end user institutes to demonstrate the value of our products in (new) end applications and support in setting application requirements.
• Maintain contacts with equipment suppliers in order to ensure the development of new equipment or the adaptation of existing equipment for the production and testing of new applications.
• Present results, new concepts and innovative product performance at customers, trade shows and conferences.
• Transfer new knowhow to M&S ADTS and in case of complex application issues, support M&S ADTS at customers. 
• Support and coach technicians in APM's innovation centers.
• Report general trends in application development (including competitor developments) and report on progress of own projects. 
• Be aware of and act on opportunities or threats in IP