Principal Scientist

We Make Life More Rewarding and Dignified 

Location: ​Ballina​
Department: ​Research & Development 

Hollister’s Continence Care Research and Development division is seeking a skilled Principal Scientist with deep expertise in polymers, materials characterisation and their properties under extrusion and moulding. The ideal candidate will have a deep materials science background with  hands-on experience with sourcing, optimising and developing materials for heat-sealing, casting, blowing, extrusion and injection moulding. They should also have extensive experience of different technologies and material characteristics for effective bonding and high-speed automation of such materials.

This position will be a member of the Technology Development team within Continence Care Research and Development, and it will be a visible, cross-functional role requiring solid interpersonal and communication skills as well as a desire to coach and mentor.  

The Principal Scientist conducts high-level analyses of data, interprets results, communicates findings, supports the successful completion of global projects, supports the technical component of product development and drives innovation.  The position operates under minimal supervision and plays a leadership role in the selection and optimisation of materials used in Continence Care products.

This position requires an MSc or a PhD in Polymer Science, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related field, with 10+ years of experience in an industry setting, demonstrating leadership on technical projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead the identification/sourcing, design, development, and optimisation of polymeric formulations, with a focus on extrusion, heat-sealing, casting, blowing and insert moulding applications and technologies.
• Oversee and conduct research on polymer materials to improve product performance, durability, and stability.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including engineering, clinical sciences, quality, and manufacturing, to ensure smooth product development and commercialisation and support with Root Cause Investigations.
• Provide technical leadership in the selection and development of polymer materials, technology, equipment and processes.
• Stay abreast of emerging trends and technologies in material and polymer science to drive innovation in our product pipeline.
• Develop and execute experimental plans, including formulation testing, stability studies, and material performance evaluations.
• Generate technical reports, patents, and peer-reviewed publications to communicate research outcomes and protect intellectual property.
• Engage with suppliers and external partners to source materials and collaborate on technical projects.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and internal quality standards in all product development efforts

Essential Functions of the Role:

• On-site, laboratory-based role requiring ability perform experiments / run relevant tests

Work Experience Requirements:

• 10+ years in Polymer R&D and Manufacturing settings

Educational Requirements:

• PhD in Polymer Science, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related field

Specialized Skills/Technical Knowledge

• Designs and executes complex experiments to study research objectives.
• Fully competent in the principles and practices of polymer formulations, adhesives and associated chemistry.
• Recommends new scientific methods and tools to study product properties.
• Mentors on subject matters related to principles and practices on formulations and testing.
• Develops detailed reports documenting experimental or clinical studies.
• Demonstrates advanced analytic and structured problem-solving abilities.
• Demonstrates an ability to apply new approaches to problems.
• Demonstrates an ability to generate intellectual property from a material or process perspective
• Demonstrates an ability to scale up technologies from lab studies to a pilot line and to large volume production
• Demonstrates an interest in and understanding of industry developments and trends (i.e. is a member of professional organisations, attending several meetings and/or workshops per year).
• Demonstrates understanding of the capital budgeting process.
• Demonstrates a strong knowledge of market and customer needs

Local Specifications:

• Fluency in English 

About Hollister Incorporated
Hollister Incorporated is an independent, employee-owned company that develops, manufactures and markets healthcare products worldwide. The company spearheads the advancement of innovative products for ostomy care, continence care and critical care, and also creates educational support materials for patients and healthcare professionals. Headquartered in Libertyville, Illinois, Hollister has manufacturing and distribution centers on three continents and sells in nearly 80 countries. Hollister is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Firm of John Dickinson Schneider, Inc., and is guided both by its Mission to make life more rewarding and dignified for people who use our products and services, as well as its Vision to grow and prosper as an independent, employee-owned company, and in the process, to become better human beings.

EOE Statement
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

Job Req ID: 35556