DESCRIPTION

Driven by a commitment to research, quality, and service, PDI provides innovative products, educational resources, training, and support to prevent infection transmission and promote health and wellness. Encompassing three areas, our Healthcare, Sani Professional and Contract manufacturing divisions, we develop, manufacture, and distribute leading edge products for North America and the world. We have several locations across the US and are looking for new Associates to join our team!

POSITION PURPOSE

The PDI's R&D Sustainability Specialist team thrive in developing innovation, technology, and design to meet regulations and our customers' need but also to differentiate our products by disrupting the infection prevention, control, and device industry.

The R&D Sustainability Specialist plays a critical role in driving innovations to develop sustainable products, to minimize the impact on the environment, meet the regulation and customer expectations. This role will keep the pulse on the industry and partner with internal and external resources to implement new designs, concepts, and materials to answer the sustainability needs.

This individual will also lead the integration of sustainability within the product development process. The engineer will evaluate our products' impact on the environment from cradle to grave, including gathering the appropriate data which will be used in reporting our progress throughout our sustainability journey.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND BASIC DUTIES

Lead key activities to support our efforts in sustaining environments:

• Lead innovation with science-based, sustainable materials and processes related to our applicators, chemicals and packaging.
• Enhance our understanding of our current environmental product profiles.
• Conduct research, including understanding our customers, regulatory trends and sustainable material innovations.
• Investigate new certifications and environmentally friendly labelling
• Work cross-functionally to ensure projects are aligned with our sustainability goals/ design principles and that the appropriate solutions are being developed to meet customer needs
• Identify and engage key external partners to develop new sustainable ideas
• Plan and execute laboratory testing that demonstrate the commercial viability of new sustainability concepts.

Lead the R&D sustainability data management:

• Identify appropriate attributes and system(s) to report sustainability data
• Gather all relevant raw material sustainability data for R&D throughout the product development lifecycle (nonwoven, formulation and packaging).

Be a key resource in engaging and educating the PDI community:

• Embed sustainability within the product development process
• Lead training sessions for the organization around sustainability
• Communicate opportunities to reduce the environmental impacts of our products from cradle to grave including but not limited to product design and manufacturing
• Provide updates on our progress throughout our sustainability journey
• Play a proactive role in driving sustainable product innovations.

PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTS

• Ability to set up the R&D sustainability data management platform in an efficient and easy way to maintain
• Demonstrate research and innovation skills to identify new designs, concepts and materials for nonwoven, formulation and packaging
• Ability to work in partnership with internal and external groups to identify sustainability ideas
• Include sustainability within our product development process
• Take ownership for assigned projects and self-lead initiatives.

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION / CERTIFICATION

• Bachelor's degree in sustainability engineering/ environmental science, Masters is an advantage

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE

• Knowledge of eco-design, Life Cycle Assessment, Environmental Product Declarations, energy efficiency and other sustainability concepts required
• Strong knowledge of sustainability regulations and current trends.
• Understands R&D processes for development and launch of new products.
• Strategic thinking in a competitive landscape.

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• Minimum 1 to 4 years of experience in R&D with exposure to product design & development and change control process.
• Experience in raw material qualification.
• A proven track record in executing R&D strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and integrate cross functional teams to enable projects success.
• Experience in practicing breakthrough thinking and navigates complex challenges.
• Experience interacting with external stakeholders: suppliers, customers, regulators, industry groups.
• Previous experience within the Healthcare industry advantageous.

SKILLS/ABILITIES

• Highly motivated team player with a collaborative, learning and solutions-oriented approach and effective communication skills.
• Strong computer skills (e.g. Microsoft Office suite, LCA programs).
• Able to work on multiple projects of varying complexity.
• Able to influence cross-functional partners to gain support and alignment to ideas.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• About 40% lab and 60% office environment

SALARY RANGE

• $80,000 - $100,000

BENEFITS

PDI is pleased to offer comprehensive and affordable benefits for our associates, which includes:

• Medical, behavioral & prescription drug coverage
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Dental
• Vision
• 401(k) savings plan with company match and profit sharing
• Basic and supplemental Life and AD&D insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Short & long-term disability
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Health Advocacy Program

PDI also offers many voluntary benefits such as: Legal services, critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident coverage, ID theft and fraud protection, pet insurance and employee discounts.

At PDI, we are also committed to helping our associates maintain a healthy and sustainable work/life balance and are proud to provide associates with paid time off programs including: sick & safe leave, vacation, company & floating holidays, paid parental leave, and depending on the position we also offer summer hours and flex place/flex time options.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)