Research & Development Specialist

At Kerakoll, our mission is rooted in a vision: to create, design and produce eco‑friendly solutions that enable building in harmony with nature and with the places we call home. This vision comes to life through people. That is why we dedicate time, care and energy to attracting and nurturing the best talents – individuals driven by responsibility, flexibility and a forward‑looking mindset. Thanks to their passion and commitment, Kerakoll has grown into a reference point in sustainable construction, becoming a trusted partner for leading designers, specialized distributors and corporate clients around the world.

The Research & Development Specialist independently leads product development projects, performs advanced laboratory analyses, and supports strategic technical decision‑making. The role ensures high‑quality documentation, testing accuracy, and continuous improvement within the R&D function, while acting as a technical reference for cross‑functional teams.

Location

Rzgów k/Łodzi

What We Offer

• Independent role with influence on product strategy and development priorities.
• Participation in advanced research projects with access to modern laboratory tools.
• Opportunities for professional growth within a global R&D community.
• Supportive, collaborative environment and real impact on product innovation.

We value intellectual capital as a fundamental driver of excellence and competitiveness. People are the strategic force behind our success: they work collaboratively, act with speed and flexibility, and face challenges with courage. We nurture knowledge and intellectual capital through a merit‑based approach that consistently focuses on the potential and quality of our people. Our organizational culture is agile, inclusive and responsible – deeply people‑centred and enriched by diversity. We offer equal and outstanding opportunities for growth and learning, supporting our employees in fully expressing their potential, respecting individuality, and fostering a working environment built on inclusion and mutual respect.

Responsibilities

• Design and independently perform complex physical and chemical analyses.
• Ensure high accuracy, robustness and repeatability of laboratory results.
• Define appropriate testing protocols and ensure compliance with laboratory safety standards.
• Oversee proper maintenance, cleanliness and performance of laboratory equipment.
• Lead product development activities, defining formulation targets together with the R&D Manager and Product Marketing.
• Identify innovation and improvement opportunities in formulations and raw materials.
• Plan and execute benchmarking and characterization activities of Kerakoll and competitor products.
• Support industrialization and validation phases with technical expertise.
• Ensure full traceability, accuracy and compliance of technical documentation.
• Prepare complete analytical reports, technical summaries and recommendations.
• Mentor junior R&D colleagues on laboratory techniques and documentation standards.
• Use digital systems (SAP, LIMS, SharePoint) to manage project files and test data.
• Act as a technical partner for QC, Operations, Product Marketing and PCO.
• Participate in cross‑country exchanges with RDQ and global R&D teams.
• Collaborate with suppliers on raw material development and technical assessments.
• Manage product certification processes and ensure accurate documentation.
• Actively contribute to continuous improvement initiatives and optimization of R&D processes.

Performance Indicators

• Autonomy in managing and planning R&D activities.
• Quality, accuracy and completeness of laboratory results.
• Number and complexity of completed projects and tests.
• Contribution to innovation and improvement activities.
• Quality of cross‑functional collaboration.

Qualifications

• Bachelors or Masters degree in engineering (Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Biotechnologies, Civil engineering or similar)
• 3-5 years of experience on similar position (is considered a plus)
• Problem solving
• Has acquired good experience and technical knowledge on products
• Attitude to innovation
• Analysis capability
• Attitude to change
• Excellent team working skills and project management skills
• Proficiency in MS Office suite (particularly Excel, PowerPoint)
• Polish language (is considered an important asset)
• English language (A2 or higher)