Principal Metallurgist

Job content

Vacancy: Principal Metallurgist

Location

Billingham

Job Family: R&D

Together for a cleaner, healthier world.

Motivated by our vision, united by our values, we do what’s right. Make a difference, to create a cleaner and healthier world, today and for future generations.

At Johnson Matthey we are inspired by our vision for world that’s cleaner and healthier, today and for future generations. We harness our leading edge science and technology to deliver value for our customers and breakthrough results that enhance lives.

It’s an environment to bring out our best – where empowerment and support go hand in hand with stretch and challenge. Where difference matters and all voices are heard; be empowered to deliver, learn and grow.

The Role

Johnson Matthey are currently recruiting for a Principal Metallurgist. This is an exciting opportunity to join Johnson Matthey’s rapidly expanding Battery Materials business, which is a material science and electrochemistry-based business with global reach. This role will be at the heart of the activities focused on development and manufacturing of advanced materials for the fast-growing battery market, working in a lean team with a start-up mentality driving to become a world-class large-scale producer.

The purpose of this role is to take the scientific lead on the development of processes to produce battery grade metal solutions from a range of strategic feedstocks, for use in the manufacture of JM’s eLNO battery materials. These processes will be implemented in the expansion of commercial eLNO production, from an initial 10kT/a up to 100kT/a. Cost-competitiveness and industry leading quality control in large-scale production will be paramount for the success of the Battery Materials business.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with Site and group EHS standards and practices, ensuring hazards associated with all team activities are identified and managed and lead team activities for COSHH, task and area Risk Assessment and Incident Investigation
• Manage the process science team within the JMBM Metals team; developing and maintaining resource plans, coordinating the team to ensure efficient resource allocation and assessing and developing competency within the process science team to ensure capability to execute current and future workstreams effectively.
• Develop annual budget for activities in remit, managing activities and expenditures against budget.
• Develop and execute a programme of process development projects aimed at maximising viable feed materials for the eLNO process for future production assets, in alignment with the supply chain strategy.
• Prioritise and manage new ideas and technology development idea generation through design validation using JM’s NPI process and applying state-of-the-art process development tools.
• Assure suitable laboratory capabilities at Chilton for current and future process development activities in the Metals team, maintaining processes and procedures in adherence with Site EHS Standards.
• Develop and maintain register of risks and opportunities with respect to the IP of technologies included in the process development programme and manage these IP risks while seeking opportunities for IP protection for all activities in team.
• Ensure and demonstrate Freedom To Operate for all processes developed, by identifying and de-risking during process selection and process development.
• Assess and manage key technical risks within the process development programme.
• Develop, robustly validate and implement methods for simulating processes
• Central point of contact between the Metals team and onsite analytical teams ensuring analytical resources and capabilities are adequate to support the metals process development programmes.
• Develop and implement material characterisation techniques and characterise strategic feed materials to provide insight on process options and characteristics for use in plant design / process operating window definition.
  

Are you the ideal candidate?

• Educated to advanced degree level in metallurgy, chemistry or a relevant subject (or equivalent experience)
• Experience in leading scientific teams and managing, interpreting, and reporting scientific data sets
• Registered professional (CChem, CSci, CEng, etc.) or international equivalent
• Experience with inorganic hazardous materials
• Stringent attitude to working safely
• Self-starter and energetic – keen to learn about new processes, materials and technologies
• Ability to foster productive and inspiring working relationships across the business
• Strong team working ethic, with a willingness to share information freely
• Attention to detail and focus on quality of delivery
• Ability to manage and prioritise multiple activities and deliverables in the context of a high paced business environment where urgent demands may conflict with longer term priorities
• Delivery focussed to business-critical timescales and able to work under pressure
  

How To Apply

Internal applicants should advise their line manager before applying. If you have the necessary skills and experience to join our team, please apply online. For any queries or should you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application please contact UKRecruit@matthey.com

Closing Date: 30 June 2021

Johnson Matthey Plc is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief.