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About Umicore Powering the cars of today and tomorrow. Reducing harmful emissions. Giving unique properties to high-end applications. Giving new life to used metals. As a global advanced materials and recycling group, we develop, produce, and recycle materials for a better life. About Electro Optic Materials Power in space. Vision at night. Coatings thinner than human hair. Umicore is a world leader in material solutions for the space, optics and electronics sectors – enabling every day cutting-edge technologies. We guarantee our customers secure access to supply, plus recycling technologies that give materials a new lease of life. To produce materials with even higher performance, and provide recycling to new markets, we cannot stand still. We need to find new ways to do things, discover new solutions and develop new processes. Which is where you come in. Your Key Accountabilities Germanium metallurgy is a critical capability underpinning multiple growth platforms within Electro-Optic Materials, including Infrared Optics, Substrates, Photonics, Ge76 and Recycling. As growth accelerates and new applications emerge, critical expertise can no longer remain concentrated in a limited number of individuals. The MET Knowledge Manager takes scientific ownership of building, generating, structuring and transferring knowledge so that germanium metallurgy becomes a robust and scalable organizational capability. The role combines scientific depth with responsibility for defined technical projects and provides authoritative direction when process or quality issues arise. You work at the interface between R&D, Operations, Quality, Customers and Engineering. You combine deep scientific understanding with practical industrial judgement to implement new capabilities, assess technical risks and translate knowledge into more robust processes, higher yields and long-term competitiveness for Umicore’s germanium business. Main

responsibilities:
Knowledge and capability development
• Own and maintain the MET knowledge roadmap and convert identified knowledge gaps into focused development activities.
• Generate new scientific and process knowledge for both existing and emerging applications.
• Build authoritative expertise in germanium refining, recycling, impurity management, crystal quality drivers and their impact on downstream performance.
• Drive the further implementation of IR and embed the resulting knowledge in technical practice.
• Capture and institutionalize critical know-how through robust technical documentation, including writing and supporting Legend 1000 documentation.
• Translate technical expertise into standards, guidelines, best practices, decision frameworks and training material.
• Establish and maintain effective knowledge-management systems and documentation structures. Scientific ownership, project responsibility and process improvement
• Develop a deep scientific understanding of germanium process behaviour, material interactions and the drivers of process and product quality.
• Take responsibility for defined technical projects from problem definition and experimental approach through conclusion and implementation.
• Lead complex root-cause analyses when process or quality deviations occur, rapidly assessing risks and providing clear technical direction.
• Scientifically assess new scrap-processing routes and process changes using a structured, evidence-based and risk-based approach.
• Develop process models, technical frameworks and decision criteria that support industrial implementation and future growth.
• Lead technology qualification and process optimization activities, with a focus on first-time-right performance, yield and process robustness. Knowledge transfer and integration
• Drive effective knowledge transfer between R&D, Operations, Engineering and Quality, ensuring that new insights are implemented in practice.
• Provide scientific guidance and constructive challenge in technical reviews, change assessments and process decisions.
• Support onboarding and competence development programs for technical and operational teams.
• Ensure lessons learned from projects, deviations and industrial experience are captured and reused across platforms.
• Contribute scientific expertise to technology roadmaps, capability planning and the prioritization of development needs. Who we are looking for
• PhD in Metallurgy, Materials Science, Chemistry, Physics or Chemical Engineering, or demonstrably equivalent scientific depth acquired through relevant industrial experience.
• Proven ability to independently analyse complex metallurgical, chemical or process problems and convert scientific insight into industrial decisions.
• Relevant experience in R&D, process development, manufacturing or industrial technology environments.
• Experience taking ownership of technical projects, including planning the work, aligning stakeholders and driving implementation.
• Strong capability in root-cause analysis, risk assessment, experimental design and evidence-based decision-making.
• Ability to respond decisively to process and quality deviations, assess their significance and provide credible technical direction.
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear documentation, practical tools, standards and decision frameworks.
• Strong written communication skills and the ability to prepare and support rigorous technical documentation, including Legend 1000.
• Ability to influence and create alignment across R&D, Operations, Quality and Engineering without direct authority.
• Fluent in English. Knowledge of Dutch is considered a strong advantage.

What we offer
We aim to lead the way. Not just for our customers, but for our employees too. That is why we strive to create a collaborative environment in which we can all succeed, and a culture through which we can all share ideas, develop our expertise and advance our careers. We engage in building an inclusive work culture that offers equal opportunities for all employees irrespective of their diverse backgrounds. As you would expect from a world-leading organisation, we will also reward your contribution with a competitive salary and benefits. With all this and more, imagine what you could do?