About Us

Afton Chemical Corporation is part of the NewMarket Corporation (NYSE: NEU) family of companies, and is one of the largest global suppliers of lubricant additives and offers a broad line of fuel additives worldwide. 

Provides technical leadership in assigned area to implement and ensure the overall effectiveness of R&D strategy. Effectively plan and manage people, budgets, projects, and test resources to deliver stated objectives and meet the needs of the business.

1. Tasked with leading the Fuels Engineering Team. The Fuels Engineering Team is focused on in-depth, fundamental understanding into specific areas which we see as key technology drivers for future Fuels business. This individual will be tasked with initiating new projects and aligning current research and engineering projects with future New Product Development (NPD) projects supporting the Fuels Technology Roadmap. Current team research and engineering focus areas include: Performance Demonstrations and Claim Generation, Field Trials, Screener and Model Development, New Technology Understanding and Advocacy and Alternative Fuels Research. 

2. Provide technical leadership to help team members arrive at the best solution for the business. Ensure effective use of the Afton Product Development Process. Develop new analytical and test methods to characterize products and enable manufacturing capability (as necessary). 

3. Lead a group of chemists, chemical engineers, and mechanical engineers in building our fundamental understanding of fuels technology, formulations, and performance testing to meet the needs of customers and OEMs consistent with our business strategy. 

4. Can translate internal and external (customer) Marketing plans into actionable and efficient product differentiation testing plans. Knows how to tailor experiments in a variety of performance tests (including simple bench tests, fired engine tests, vehicle testing at Ashland Technical Center (ATC), to field trial testing, etc.) to be able to help customers support their desired claim language. 

5. Oversight over the Fuels engineering portfolio of projects. Responsible for leading the highest priority, Fuels Mission Critical research projects and communicating progress internally. 

6. Supervise team member activities and progress, conduct performance appraisals, discuss training and career development needs, recruit and retain team members, and resolve problems and disciplinary issues. Consult with R&D Director and HR as appropriate. 

7. Oversee and ensure development, implementation and monitoring of a comprehensive safety program in assigned area. Areas of accountability include: documentation of safety activities, monthly safety meetings, interactive safety inspections, group safety observation programs, safety training, JSA development, active reporting and corrective action programs. 

8. Ensure complete ISO documentation is maintained on all ISO or Quality related activities. Participate in ISO/Quality related activities and maintain an up-to-date understanding of the ISO/Quality function. 

9. A good communicator who has experience communicating and presenting at the highest levels of the organization. Prepare reports, presentations, and other communications concerning results of laboratory tests or product development trials including next steps and impact on key business initiatives. 

10. Facilitate, coordinate, and communicate between cross-functional groups – business, marketing, CTS, process, Sr. Mgt., etc... – on component/product/process development activities. 

11. Facilitate, assess, and coordinate IP activities including competitor analysis, portfolio reviews and generation of IP. Ensure freedom to practice developed products & solutions. 

12. Represent Afton in industry committees/technical societies/conferences or other meetings. 

13. Provide input to and manage the R&D budget. Ensure communication of all scheduling, prioritization, and resourcing decisions to key stakeholders.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE MINIMUMS:           

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field such as Chemistry or Mechanical/ Chemical Engineering
• Demonstrated effective project management and leadership skills in a chemical R&D environment typically acquired after more than 10 years of relevant experience, including supervisory experience.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE PREFERRED: 

• Advanced degree in Chemistry or Mechanical / Chemical Engineering or MBA

For NewMarket or Afton employees, an appropriate combination of experiences that will support the required skill base may replace one or more of the specific experience requirements above.

            SKILLS/ABILITIES:

• Decision Making - Decision making in a timely manner based upon a mixture of analysis, wisdom, experience, and judgment; sometimes with incomplete information, under tight deadlines and pressure, while based upon appropriate risk and authority.
• Business Insight - The understanding of the basis for our business model and how that is realized in the market. The understanding of how business and operations are intimately linked. The ability to use information, practices & trends, affecting the business to engage and drive new strategies and tactics work in the marketplace.
• Analysis and Problem Solving - Solves difficult problems with effective solutions; asks good questions and questions all likely sources for answers; can solve complex problems and recognize complex patterns; utilizing all appropriate tools to reach a robust answer.
• Communication - The ability to communicate information clearly and effectively in an engaging and convincing manner.
• Coaching - The ability to provide the structure, environment and support for teaching, training and development of individuals and teams to enable them to achieve specific personal or professional results or goals.
• Managing Performance - Possessing the drive and focus to achieve challenging goals.
• Collaboration and Networking - The ability to work in and across Afton's organizational matrix to achieve business objectives, via engaging interactions and influencing without authority.
• Project Management - The ability to manage tasks and activities and achieve their completion within the agreed framework, across regional and organizational boundaries
• Innovation - The openness to new ideas and the ability to generate breakthrough solutions. Can develop, seek out, critically assess and implement new and value adding concepts.
• Dealing with Uncertainty - Can effectively cope with change; can shift gears comfortably; can decide and act without having the total picture; isn’t upset when things are up in the air; doesn’t have to finish things before moving on; can comfortably handle risk and uncertainty.
• Organizational Development - The ability to assess, analyses and implement changes to improve the overall performance and impact of the group / organization, including underlying behavioral, cultural, structural or tactical aspects.
• Personnel Management - Success in focusing, aligning, and building effective groups. The effective management of reporting staff, through empathy and understanding, clear definition of success, clarity of purpose and scaled responsibility / development.  The ability to address and resolve conflicts in a positive and constructive manner.
• Strategic Insight, Definition and Implementation - The ability to engage in broad, complex analytical and conceptual thinking. Stepping beyond current status to assess broader issues and the development of new opportunities.  Communication these insights and new approaches
• Operational and Business Processes - Planning skills through the annual and LRP cycles, using preferred tools and frameworks and in alignment with the business strategy.
• Leadership - The ability to form a vision for the organization and the capacity to transform and align the organization around the new goal(s). Active personal awareness and development, developing the effective balance of humility, integrity and resilience to drive results.

Working at Afton

Who We Are - We're a diverse, global family of individuals, who share a passion for developing innovative solutions. We build our professional relationships on respect, integrity and a commitment to safety and quality. Just as these values apply to our professional relationships, they also apply to the way we feel about our neighbors and communities.

Our Work - At Afton, our innovative R&D programs lead to global growth. Our lubricant and fuel additives are among the most highly developed and widely used in the petroleum industry. Afton is a recognized and trusted supplier of driveline lubricant additives, engine oil additives, fuel additives and industrial lubricant additives.

Benefits / Compensation - We offer competitive compensation and benefit packages that reflect our commitment to our employees. Our employees are our most treasured asset and we have dedicated resources that allow us to reward our employees for their commitment on an ongoing basis - ensuring our compensation packages are competitive in the industry.

An Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to the individual’s race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, age, disability, genetic information, status as a military veteran or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.