Manager Technical - Specialty Chemicals

About the job

Manager Technical – Specialty Chemicals

Location: Karachi, Pakistan

Function: Technical / R&D

Business: Specialty Chemicals

About the Role

We are looking for a Manager Technical – Specialty Chemicals to lead technical, R&D, quality, supplier, and customer-facing activities across our Textile and Adhesive Chemicals portfolio. The role will drive new product development, formulation optimization, quality assurance, process improvement, and technical customer support while partnering closely with Manufacturing, Sales, Supply Chain, and external stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead R&D and new product development initiatives, including formulation optimization, laboratory execution, scale-up trials, and technical documentation from concept through commercial batch release.
• Manage QC and QA activities to ensure product quality, regulatory compliance, and adherence to internal and customer specifications.
• Review testing protocols, approve batch releases, and drive continuous improvement in quality and testing procedures.
• Develop and optimize new formulations and product modifications to meet evolving market demands and customer requirements across Textile and Adhesive Chemicals.
• Build and manage strategic supplier partnerships for the development and induction of new raw materials, including regulatory approvals and required certifications.
• Identify and lead process improvement initiatives across manufacturing, quality, and logistics to reduce COGS, cycle time, and waste while maintaining product performance and quality.
• Source economical, quality-certified raw materials and suppliers while ensuring product functionality, quality, and compliance standards.
• Drive inventory optimization by utilizing slow-moving and obsolete inventory through blending and reformulation, and manage the rework of rejected batches.
• Provide national technical support through product trials, compliance certifications, customer troubleshooting, and complaint resolution.
• Partner with Sales and commercial teams to identify and support new business opportunities, translating technical capabilities into customer value and commercial growth.
• Conduct technical training for customers, sales teams, and university partners on textile chemistry fundamentals to strengthen product adoption and develop technical capabilities in the market.

Qualifications

• M.Sc. in Applied Chemistry or B.E. Chemical Engineering.
• 10+ years of total industry experience, including at least 5 years in a similar technical, R&D, or technical management role.
• Experience in Textile Chemicals, Adhesive Chemicals, or B2B Specialty Chemicals is preferred.
• Strong exposure to upstream supplier/partner management and downstream customer management.
• Working knowledge of SAP Quality Management (QM) module and MS Office.
• Exposure to QC/QA systems, quality standards, and process documentation will be an advantage.

What We’re Looking For

• Strong technical and analytical expertise with a solution-oriented mindset.
• Ability to translate technical requirements into commercially viable solutions.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Experience in leading cross-functional initiatives and managing external technical partnerships.
• A continuous improvement mindset with a strong focus on quality, cost optimization, and customer satisfaction.