R&D Manager with focus on Product Development

R&D Manager with focus on Product Development

We are seeking an experienced and innovation-driven R&D Manager within Product Development to lead the development of next-generation low-carbon nitrogen fertilizer products. This role is ideal for a strong technical leader who can combine deep expertise in fertilizer chemistry and process engineering with the ability to manage multidisciplinary projects, guide technical teams, and drive product development from early-stage concept to commercialization. As an R&D Manager, you will be responsible for building and executing product development strategies, aligning R&D priorities with business targets, and ensuring that new products meet performance, sustainability, regulatory, and scale-up and customer requirements. You will work closely with internal stakeholders and external partners across the fertilizer value chain in a dynamic clean-tech / scale-up environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the full product development lifecycle for green nitrogen fertilizer products, including product strategy, formulation development, performance targets, and specification settings.
• Own and manage R&D product roadmaps and priorities, ensuring alignment with business objectives, sustainability goals, and commercialization timelines.
• Drive technical decision-making by combining scientific understanding with industrial feasibility, scaling needs, and customer/market requirements.
• Oversee and support process development and scale-up activities, coordinating the transition from laboratory work to pilot and industrial production using structured process engineering methodologies.
• Provide technical leadership and guidance on topics such as nitric acid production, NOx/absorption systems, nitrate-based fertilizers, and granulation processes, supporting robust and scalable product implementation.
• Plan, coordinate, and evaluate product performance workstreams, including lab development, pilot trials, and industrial validation activities.
• Coordinate fertilizer performance trials, including greenhouse and field trials, working effectively with agronomists and ensuring trial outcomes are converted into actionable product improvements.
• Ensure products meet EU Fertilising Products Regulation requirements, quality standards, analytical verification needs, and broader market compliance expectations.
• Lead or contribute to EU-funded and sustainability-driven R&D projects, including proposal development, work package planning, reporting, and partner coordination.
• Manage internal and external stakeholders (R&D, process engineering, production, suppliers, research institutes, and project partners), ensuring clear communication, alignment, and delivery.
• Mentor and support technical team members, fostering a culture of scientific excellence, ownership, and innovation.

Requirements

• PhD in Chemical Engineering with a strong research background in nitrogen fertilizer technologies, sustainable materials and coatings for fertilizers.
• 10+ years of industrial experience, including 5+ years in the fertilizer industry, covering R&D, product development, and process engineering.
• Strong expertise in green nitrogen fertilizer routes, low-carbon / fossil-free concepts, circularity, and carbon footprint reduction across the fertilizer value chain.
• Proven experience in process development, scale-up, and industrial implementation, using process engineering tools, process design methodologies, and structured troubleshooting approaches.
• Strong technical knowledge in nitric acid production, NOx/absorption systems, nitrate-based fertilizers, and granulation processes.
• Solid understanding of EU Fertilising Products Regulation, quality specifications, compliance requirements, and analytical testing/validation methods.
• Experience in fertilizer performance evaluation, including greenhouse and field trials, with the ability to collaborate with agronomists and convert results into product improvements.
• Strong understanding of sustainable fertilizer technologies (waste-to-fertilizer pathways, co-products), with an LCA mindset and carbon footprint awareness.
• Proven track record in EU-funded and sustainability-driven R&D projects, including proposal writing, execution, reporting, and stakeholder collaboration (e.g., Green Deal-related frameworks).
• Strong technical leadership and stakeholder management skills, with experience from management of cross-functional teams and delivering complex projects from concept to implementation.
• Experience working in or collaborating with startups / scale-up environments within clean-tech or green fertilizer technologies.
• Demonstrates professional proficiency in English, both written and spoken.

Personality

• Curious with a high level of personal engagement and a lot of drive towards progress
• Both a leader and a doer, capable of performing both hands-on work as well as participate in strategic planning
• Exceptionally good communication skills
• Highly structured, efficient, and used to set up goals and follow up progress
• High expectations on yourself and others around you

What we Offer

• A unique engineering challenge that has good chances to literally change the world with a huge impact on industry and global environment
• To be part of a dynamic, purpose-driven, international team
• An innovative entrepreneurial environment with possibilities to set your own and the company’s working processes and have a great influence
• To work closely with some of Europe’s best researchers and engineers in our fields, in projects coordinated by NitroCapt
• A generous option program, allowing to take part of a future economic growth
• 6 weeks paid vacation per year and other fringe benefits

The position is at the NitroCapt headquarter in Uppsala, Sweden.