Director of Materials

Job Title: Isostatic Graphite Production and R&D Director

Location: United Kingdom

Salary: Competitive + Benefits Circa --> £150k + Bonus & Benefits

Our client is a leader in advanced materials manufacturing, with a focus on producing and innovating high-performance isostatic graphite for key sectors such as electric vehicles (EVs), defense, semiconductors, and renewable energy. We are seeking an Isostatic Graphite Production and R&D Director to lead our efforts in scaling production and driving research in graphite materials.

The Isostatic Graphite Production and R&D Director will lead the full production lifecycle of isostatic graphite, including hands-on involvement in critical processes such as kneading, molding, calcination, graphitization, and impregnation. The role requires expertise in handling raw materials like needle-shaped petroleum coke and managing technical challenges associated with transitioning precursor materials into high-performance isostatic graphite products.

This position will also oversee high-temperature processing and multiple rounds of impregnation to ensure product quality, durability, and scalability. The Director will champion sustainability efforts by implementing practices that reduce waste, emissions, and energy consumption in graphite production, while also focusing on sustainable raw material sourcing and minimizing the carbon footprint.

Stakeholder management is critical, as the Director will collaborate cross-departmentally with engineering, R&D, and production teams, manage client relationships in key industries such as defense and EVs, and coordinate supply chain operations. The role also involves balancing internal and external stakeholder priorities and leading complex projects from inception to completion, ensuring alignment with regulatory compliance and sustainability goals.

Role Overview:

As the Isostatic Graphite Production and R&D Director, you will be responsible for overseeing the production process and leading research and development initiatives. You will work on scaling production efficiently while maintaining high standards of quality, and explore new graphite applications in high-growth sectors. Your expertise in materials science and manufacturing will be crucial in addressing key technical challenges, particularly in isostatic graphite production for high-value industries.

• Direct isostatic graphite production operations, ensuring efficiency, quality, and safety standards are met
• Establish then Lead R&D initiatives to develop new graphite materials and improve existing production methods
• Manage cross-functional teams and collaborate with other departments to achieve company goals and Oversee project management for production and R&D activities

ROLE DETAILS

R&D

• Innovation Leadership: Establish a strong R&D division focused on developing advanced graphite materials, particularly isostatic graphite, to meet the growing demand from industries like electric vehicles (EVs), semiconductors, and defense.
• Material Advancements: Lead research efforts on transitioning from precursor materials to finished graphite products, including optimizing the isostatic pressing process for higher efficiency and product quality.
• Product Development: Explore and develop new applications for graphite materials, such as nuclear reactors, continuous casting, and solar energy applications, ensuring high performance and market competitiveness.
• Collaborative Research: Partner with academic institutions, industry leaders, and cross-functional teams to leverage cutting-edge research and apply the latest technological innovations in graphite production.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Implement robust experimental design and statistical analysis (DOE, ANOVA) to guide R&D projects, ensure data-driven decisions, and optimize production methods.

Founding and Growing the R&D Team:

• Team Building: Assemble a diverse team of engineers, material scientists, and technicians with expertise in graphite materials, ceramics, and high-temperature processing to support the company’s innovation goals.
• Talent Acquisition: Recruit top talent with specific knowledge in isostatic pressing, carbon materials, and high-temperature material sciences to bolster the R&D team.
• Fostering Collaboration: Encourage collaboration within the R&D team and between departments to foster a culture of innovation and knowledge sharing.
• Professional Development: Implement training and development programs to keep the team up-to-date with the latest industry trends, production techniques, and safety regulations.

Establishing the R&D Division:

• State-of-the-Art Facilities: Invest in advanced equipment and laboratories for material testing, simulation, and product development, creating a cutting-edge R&D hub for the company.
• Research Focus Areas: Prioritize research in areas such as improving yield rates, reducing production costs, and developing sustainable graphite materials for key markets like renewable energy and defense.
• Process Optimization: Streamline the R&D-to-production pipeline by integrating research insights directly into the manufacturing process, ensuring rapid innovation and deployment of new technologies.
• Clear Roadmap: Establish a clear research and development roadmap that aligns with the company’s strategic goals, ensuring that R&D activities support both short-term and long-term objectives.

HSE and Sustainability:

• Safety Protocols: Implement strict Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) protocols in both R&D and production environments to ensure a safe workplace and compliance with all regulatory standards.
• Sustainable Practices: Focus on sustainable graphite production methods, reducing waste, emissions, and energy consumption throughout the production cycle, including in high-temperature processes like graphitization.
• Environmental Responsibility: Adopt sustainable sourcing of raw materials (e.g., petroleum coke) and aim to minimize the environmental impact of manufacturing by utilizing cleaner, greener alternatives where possible.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure full compliance with environmental regulations, particularly in areas related to emissions and waste disposal, to support the company’s long-term sustainability goals.
• Carbon Footprint Reduction: Integrate R&D efforts with carbon futures initiatives, focusing on developing graphite products that contribute to the reduction of the carbon footprint in industries like EVs and renewable energy.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the full production process of isostatic graphite, including raw material preparation, molding, calcination, impregnation, and graphitization.
• Oversee R&D activities focused on improving production methods (e.g., pressing, extrusion, isostatic molding) and developing new applications for graphite materials.
• Drive process improvements to optimize efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness in graphite manufacturing.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams on projects that align with carbon futures and advanced energy markets, including EVs, semiconductors, and related applications.
• Create, Grow and Manage a team of engineers and scientists focused on scaling production and developing cutting-edge graphite materials.
• Identify technical challenges and implement solutions to ensure production scalability while maintaining high product quality.

Key Requirements:

• B.S. degree or higher in Materials Science, Physics, Chemistry, or Engineering. M.S. degree is preferred, but not required.
• 2 to 4 years of experience with graphite materials and production methods such as pressing, extrusion, and isostatic molding.
• Expertise in materials engineering, specifically with ceramics, carbon, graphite, and/or powdered metals.
• Experience in high-temperature materials processing is required.
• Project management experience is strongly preferred.
• Proficiency in experimental design, statistics, and data analysis (DOE, ANOVA) is a must.
• Ability to work in a team environment and within a matrix organization, as well as independently as a self-starter.
• Familiarity with Lean Six Sigma methods or operational excellence would be a plus.