Vice-President, Research and Development
About the company:
Halion is an advanced nanomaterials company based in Guelph, ON. With wide reaching applications from reflective displays to colour changing films, we are revolutionizing the way we interact with the technology around us.
We're a startup, so we're pretty relaxed about working hours and dress code. As a small team, our organization is quite flat and we encourage cross-team collaboration. We are looking for someone who isn’t afraid to get in the weeds with the team to solve challenging technical problems without losing sight of the bigger picture.
This is a full-time, in-person position at our Guelph headquarters.
Position Summary:
We are looking for a Vice-President, Research and Development to lead R&D projects as our product moves from the lab to commercialization. At Halion you will play a critical role in leading and directing the R&D team in product development, primarily involving development of key materials and devices, and work with other members of the R&D team to help integrate projects together to achieve milestones.
This is a technical leadership role at the intersection of R&D, product, and scale-up manufacturing. The ideal candidate will bring a breadth of technical experience, ranging from advanced materials and chemistry to electronic devices and scale-up. Bonus points if you gained this experience as a founder.
Responsibilities:
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Developing R&D strategy including novel ideas for advanced material development from initial design concepts to producing final results
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Provide complex design reviews and feedback for improvement in scale-up, helping transfer the technology from lab-scale development to commercial-scale production
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Create timelines for deliverables in collaboration with scale-up and manufacturing teams that align with overall business objectives
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Design and carry out experiments; collect, analyze and interpret data; drive technical problem solving
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Lead and mentor multi-disciplinary R&D department
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Receive customer feedback and develop strategy for integration into product roadmap
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Guide ongoing experiments and integration of results from collaborations
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Write research papers, abstracts, technical reports and SOPs
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Draft patents and manage IP portfolio
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Drive integration of components, electronics and device development
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Liaise between R&D department and executive management
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Where necessary, perform bench level laboratory work including synthesis of various materials, and aiding in the integration of materials into other aspects of the technology
Skills and Qualifications:
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Successfully led product to market from initial R&D to commercialization
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Experience developing QC/QA protocols for materials scale-up
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Knowledge of ISO9001
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7+ years of experience with a wide range of synthetic and analytical techniques in organic and inorganic chemistry gained through graduate research and/or in industry
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7+ years of experience with project management and leading multi-disciplinary teams
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2+ years creating and managing financial budgets for presentation to C-level executives
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MSc or PhD in Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, Nanotechnology, related field, or equivalent practical experience
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Excellent written and verbal English communication skills are required
Assets:
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Ability to manage multiple, complex projects and changing priorities, make sound decisions under pressure, and work collaboratively in a team environment
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Ability to rapidly learn new systems and procedures
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Deep knowledge of advanced materials chemistry, and a familiarity with polymer chemistry
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Experience with Density Functional Theory calculations
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Knowledge and experience with Python
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Experience with electronics projects
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Experience on production lines for plastics, coatings and film manufacturing
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Exceptional organization and time management skills
Perks and Benefits:
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Extended health and dental coverage
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Casual dress
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Flexible hours
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Company events
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Paid Time Off
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Parental leave top up
Application Instructions:
To apply, please use your excellent English communication skills to demonstrate the following in your cover letter and resume in a single PDF:
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You have a bias for action (but you think before you act)
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You enjoy working on personal projects not related to work (but you know how to manage your priorities)
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You like technology - past, present and future
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You love learning new things, do so quickly, and can easily connect concepts from different fields
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You will use the word squeeze as naturally as possible in your application, so we know that you read this
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You like to solve problems, especially using your creativity and imagination.
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You are constantly working to experiment and improve yourself, because nobody is perfect
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An enjoyment of Star Wars is an asset. Excellent Wookiee impersonation preferred but not required
Our interview process will include up to 3 interviews and reference checks.