主任研究員（エラストマー技術サービス・用途開発）— 日本

At Dow, we believe in putting people first and we’re passionate about delivering integrity, respect and safety to our customers, our employees and the planet.

Our people are at the heart of our solutions. They reflect the communities we live in and the world where we do business. Their diversity is our strength. We’re a community of relentless problem solvers that offers the daily opportunity to contribute with your perspective, transform industries and shape the future. Our purpose is simple - to deliver a sustainable future for the world through science and collaboration.

If you’re looking for a challenge and meaningful role, you’re in the right place.

勤務地：

神奈川県横浜市

事業部門：パッケージング＆スペシャルティプラスチックス（P&SP）

レポートライン：APAC TS&D アソシエイトディレクター

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募集概要

パッケージング＆スペシャルティプラスチックス（P&SP）事業部では、日本のエラストマー事業の成長を技術面から支える主任研究員を募集します。POE(ポリオレフィンエラストマー)、HPC(高圧法コポリマー)、EPDMを中心に、既存用途への技術支援と新規用途の開発を担当していただきます。主な対象市場は、モビリティ（自動車のエンジン周辺部品、ウェザーストリップ等）、インフラ（太陽光発電関連等）、コンシューマー（フットウェア等）です。営業、マーケティング、プロダクトマネジメント担当者と連携し、顧客課題の解決から製品採用・商業化までを一貫して推進するポジションです。

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主な業務内容

• 日本市場のインフラ、コンシューマー、モビリティ分野における技術サービスおよび用途開発をリードします。
• 営業・マーケティング担当者、また必要に応じプロダクトマネジメント担当者とも連携し、案件の優先順位を設定するとともに、開発プロジェクトおよびプロジェクトパイプラインを管理します。
• 顧客訪問、試作支援、技術評価、トラブルシューティングを通じて、既存採用品の維持・拡大および新規顧客・用途の開拓を推進します。
• コンシューマー、自動車用ゴム部品をはじめとする成長市場の動向と顧客ニーズを把握し、有望な事業機会を明確化します。
• 顧客訪問報告書、試作計画書、試験手順書、結果報告書等の技術文書を作成・管理し、関連する知的財産および技術ノウハウを適切に取り扱います。
• アプリケーション・テクノロジー・リーダー（ATL）およびプロダクト・テクノロジー・リーダー（PTL）と連携し、技術ロードマップとの整合を図りながら課題を解決します。
• 顧客での試作を計画・実行し、品質・性能上の問題について原因分析と対策立案を主導します。また、評価・認定要件を満たしながら、配合やプロセスの最適化によるコスト低減を推進します。
• 新規用途の事業性・技術的実現性を評価し、有望案件をプロジェクト化します。製品評価、顧客認定、商業化までの各段階を管理します。
• 安全を最優先に業務を遂行し、社内規程、品質基準および関係法令を遵守します。
• CRMおよびプロジェクト管理ツールを活用して案件の進捗を管理し、関係者へ適時・的確に共有します。
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応募要件

• 化学、化学工学、高分子材料、高分子化学、材料科学、または関連分野の修士号もしくは博士号を有する方
• ゴム・エラストマー業界で5年以上の実務経験を有し、技術サービスまたは用途開発に十分な経験を持つ方
• 日本語および英語で、社内外の関係者と円滑にコミュニケーションできる方（会議、プレゼンテーション、技術文書作成を含む）
• 国内出張に対応可能な方（目安：業務時間の最大50％程度）

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求める経験・スキル

• 高分子・エラストマーに関する専門知識を基に、プロジェクトの技術方針を示し、関係者を巻き込みながら成果につなげられる
• 顧客ニーズを技術課題として整理し、具体的な解決策と定量的な価値提案へ落とし込める
• 営業、マーケティング、プロダクトマネジメント、サプライチェーン、製造、品質部門などと部門横断で協働できる
• 複数の開発案件について、優先順位、スケジュール、リスク、商業化までの各段階を主体的に管理できる
• 実験計画法（DOE）や回帰分析等を用いて、配合・プロセスを最適化し、データに基づく提案ができる
• 配合、スケールアップ、製造工程における問題について、原因分析から対策実行までを主導できる
• 複雑な技術内容を整理し、顧客や社内関係者の知識レベルに合わせて分かりやすく説明できる
• 指示を待つのではなく、自ら課題を設定し、関係者と合意形成しながら案件を推進できる
• 材料科学、加工技術、市場・競合動向について継続的に情報収集し、業務に活用できる
• 顧客ニーズや市場環境の変化に応じて優先順位を見直し、重要度の高い案件へ柔軟に対応できる

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その他

• 本ポジションは日本国内での現地採用です。転居費用等の支援はありません。
• 日本市場を担当し、国内の営業・マーケティング部門ならびにAPAC・グローバルの技術部門と連携して業務を遂行します。

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About this role

Dow's Packaging & Specialty Plastics (P&SP) business is seeking an Associate Technical Service & Development Scientist, based in Yokohama, Japan. This role supports the growth of Dow’s Elastomers business, especially POE, OBC, and EPDM opportunities in Japan. Key application areas include Transportation (automotive: under the hood, weatherstrip), Infrastructure (photovoltaic), and Consumer (footwear), with additional focus on developing new, high-potential applications.

The position requires close collaboration with Sales, Marketing, and Product Management to drive customer and application growth, leveraging technical expertise to win in a fragmented and highly competitive market.

Key Responsibilities

• Regional focus: Lead technical service and development activities for ICT (Infrastructure, Consumer, Transportation) applications in Japan
• Internal coordination: Maintain strong communication and alignment with Commercial (Sales, Marketing) and, when necessary, Product Management to ensure project priorities and opportunity pipelines are well managed.
• External customer engagement: Partner with Sales to support business growth at customer sites, retain existing share, and develop new customers or applications through trials, troubleshooting, and technical validation.
• Market dynamics: Navigate a fragmented customer base and diverse applications, with particular emphasis on growth in, footwear, automotive rubber etc.
• Customer support discipline: Demonstrate excellent documentation practices (call reports, trial plans, protocols, and summaries) and maintain awareness of application IP to protect know-how and support compliant development.
• Technology alignment: Communicate proactively and closely with Application Technology Leader (ATL) and Product Technology Leader (PTL) to align on technical roadmaps and resolve issues quickly.
• Project delivery: Plan and execute customer trials, lead root-cause analysis for quality and performance issues, and drive cost reduction while meeting qualification criteria.
• Opportunity development: Identify and assess new application opportunities, convert qualified leads into projects, and manage stage gates through product qualification and commercialization.
• Compliance & safety: Model safe practices and adhere to company policies, quality standards, and regulatory requirements in all activities.
• Business reporting: Track and communicate progress using CRM/project tools, providing clear updates to stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Education: MSc or PhD in Polymer Physics, Polymer Modification, Materials Science, or related fields.
• Experience: Minimum 5 years of experience in the rubber industry, with strong technical service or application development background.
• Communication: Fluent in Japanese and English (spoken and written) with clear, structured communication.
• Mobility: Willing to travel up to 50% in Japan.
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• Your Skills
• Technical Leadership: Guide technical direction for projects and influence outcomes through expertise and sound decision-making.
• Customer Orientation: Translate customer needs into tailored solutions that deliver measurable value and sustain/expand share.
• Teamwork & Cross-functional Collaboration: Work seamlessly with Sales, Marketing, Product Management, Supply Chain, Production, and QA/QC to achieve business goals.
• Project Management: Plan, prioritize, and execute development projects; manage timelines, risks, and stage gates to commercialization.
• Analytical Skills: Design and analyze experiments (e.g., DOE, regression) to optimize formulations and processes; make data-driven recommendations.
• Problem Solving: Lead troubleshooting across formulation, scale-up, and production; apply root-cause analysis to resolve technical challenges efficiently.
• Communication & Presentation: Distill complex technical topics into clear, audience-appropriate messages for customers and internal stakeholders.
• Self-Motivation & Ownership: Proactively drive projects and opportunity pipelines with minimal supervision; sustain momentum to deliver results.
• Continuous Learning: Stay current on materials science, processing technologies, market trends, and competitive landscape relevant to elastomers.
• Adaptability: Adjust quickly to changing scopes, customer priorities, and market dynamics; pivot resources to the highest-value opportunities.
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• Additional Notes
• This role is based in Japan; no relocation support is provided.
• The position supports Japan with close collaboration Japan commercial and technology teams.

Benefits

• – What Dow offers you
• We invest in you.
• Dow invests in total rewards programs to help you manage all aspects of you: your pay, your health, your life, your future, and your career.
• You bring your background, talent, and perspective to work every day.
• Dow rewards that commitment by investing in your total wellbeing.
• Here are just a few highlights of what you would be offered as a Dow employee:
• Equitable and market-competitive base pay and bonus opportunity across our global markets, along with locally relevant incentives.
• Benefits and programs to support your physical, mental, financial, and social well-being, to help you get the care you need...when you need it.
• Competitive retirement program that may include company-provided benefits, savings opportunities, financial planning, and educational resources to help you achieve your long term financial-goals.
• Employee stock purchase programs (availability varies depending on location).
• Student Debt Retirement Savings Match Program (U.S. only).
• Dow will take the value of monthly student debt payments and apply them as if they are contributions to the Employees’ Savings Plan (401(k)), helping employees reach the Company match.
• Robust medical and life insurance packages that offer a variety of coverage options to meet your individual needs. Travel insurance is also available in certain countries/locations.
• Opportunities to learn and grow through training and mentoring, work experiences, community involvement and team building.
• Workplace culture empowering role-based flexibility to maximize personal productivity and balance personal needs.
• Competitive yearly vacation allowance.
• Paid time off for new parents (birthing and non-birthing, including adoptive and foster parents).
• Paid time off to care for family members who are sick or injured.
• Paid time off to support volunteering and Employee Resource Group’s (ERG) participation.
• Wellbeing Portal for all Dow employees, our one-stop shop to promote wellbeing, empowering employees to take ownership of their entire wellbeing journey.
• On-site fitness facilities to help stay healthy and active (availability varies depending on location).
• Employee discounts for online shopping, cinema tickets, gym memberships and more.
• Additionally, some of our locations might offer:
• Transportation allowance (availability varies depending on location)
• Meal subsidiaries/vouchers (availability varies depending on location)
• Carbon-neutral transportation incentives e.g. bike to work (availability varies depending on location)
• Join our team, we can make a difference together.
• About Dow
• Dow (NYSE: DOW) is one of the world’s leading materials science companies, serving customers in high-growth markets such as packaging, infrastructure, mobility and consumer applications.
• Our global breadth, asset integration and scale, focused innovation, leading business positions and commitment to sustainability enable us to achieve profitable growth and help deliver a sustainable future.
• We operate manufacturing sites in 30 countries and employ approximately 36,000 people.
• Dow delivered sales of approximately $43 billion in 2024.
• References to Dow or the Company mean Dow Inc. and its subsidiaries. ​​​​Learn more about us and our ambition to be the most innovative, customer-centric, inclusive and sustainable materials science company in the world by visiting   www.dow.com .
• As part of our dedication to inclusion, Dow is committed to equal opportunities in employment.
• We encourage every employee to bring their whole self to work each day to not only deliver more value, but also have a more fulfilling career.
• Further information regarding Dow's equal opportunities is available on www.dow.com .