JOB SUMMARY
The Strategic Program Manager for Chemical Process Development & Manufacturing will serve as the operational and strategic backbone driving the scale-up and commercialization of XL Batteries' proprietary electrolyte chemistry. Reporting to the EVP - Chemical Manufacturing within Chemical Process Development Division, you will own end-to-end program execution across internal R&D, kilo-lab/pilot campaigns, external Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMOs), and raw material supply chains.
You will bridge technical teams-including organic synthesis, electrochemistry, analytical chemistry, process engineering, procurement, and business development-to ensure scale-up milestones, cost-of-goods (COGS) targets, and commercial delivery schedules are met on time and on budget. This role requires a sharp strategic thinker with deep technical fluency in chemical manufacturing or battery materials, strong vendor management instincts, and proven ability to bring structure and velocity to high-growth, startup operations team.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
• End-to-End Program Leadership: Develop, maintain, and execute integrated program roadmaps for electrolyte synthesis scale-up-spanning bench discovery, kilo-lab demonstration (up to 200L), pilot production, and commercial toll manufacturing.
• External Manufacturing & CMO Management: Serve as the primary operational point of contact for external CMOs, toll manufacturers, and analytical testing partners; manage RFPs, vendor selection, project timelines, contract deliverables, and tech transfer milestones.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Partner closely with Process Chemists, Chemical Engineers, Cell/Stack Engineering, and Supply Chain teams to synchronize electrolyte production schedules with cell testing, pilot deployments, and customer project commitments.
• Budget, Resource & COGS Tracking: Own program budgets, resource allocation, and capital/operating expense forecasting for Chemical Process Development; partner with technical leads to track progress against target electrolyte $/kWh and COGS reduction milestones.
• Risk Management & Stage-Gate Governance: Implement lightweight, effective stage-gate reviews and risk registers to proactively identify technical, regulatory (TSCA/REACH), safety, or supply chain bottlenecks and drive mitigation plans.
• Supply Chain & Feedstock Strategy: Collaborate with Procurement and Engineering to qualify multi-source raw material suppliers, manage long-lead chemical feedstocks, and build resilient domestic and global supply chains.
• Executive & Stakeholder Reporting: Synthesize complex technical and operational progress into clear executive dashboards, KPIs, and board/investor-ready updates.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
• Education: B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related technical discipline.
• Program Management Experience: 5+ years of technical program or project management experience within chemical manufacturing, specialty chemicals, battery materials, pharmaceuticals, or clean energy hardware.
• Scale-Up & CMO Fluency: Demonstrated experience managing chemical process scale-up, technology transfer, and external contract manufacturing (CMO/tolling) relationships.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Proven track record leading multidisciplinary teams without direct authority, translating complex scientific workflows into actionable timelines, budgets, and deliverables.
• Analytical & Financial Acumen: Strong command of project management tools (e.g., Smartsheet, MS Project, Jira, Asana) as well as budgeting, vendor contracting, and basic techno-economic / COGS modeling.
• Startup Agility: Self-directed, high-ownership mindset with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, ambiguous startup environment where priorities evolve rapidly.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
• Advanced degree (M.S./Ph.D. in Chemistry/Chemical Engineering) or MBA alongside technical undergraduate training.
• Direct experience in energy storage, flow batteries, lithium-ion electrolytes, or industrial organic/electrochemical synthesis.
• Familiarity with chemical regulatory frameworks (e.g., EPA TSCA pre-manufacture notices, REACH, EHS/process safety stage gates) and quality management systems.
• Experience negotiating Master Services Agreements (MSAs), Statements of Work (SOWs), and supply agreements with chemical manufacturers.
• PMP certification or formal training in Lean/Six Sigma methodologies.
The level of the position will be determined based on the selected candidate's education, relevant experience, and demonstrated capabilities. The responsibilities described above are representative of the role and are not intended to be an exhaustive list.
We hire for skills and capabilities, not just credentials-if this role excites you, even if your background doesn't match every qualification, we encourage you to apply.
