Senior Specialist, Product Development & Innovation, Graphics

Would you like to join a global, growing company that innovates for a more sustainable tomorrow? UPM could be the team for you. We are frontrunners in developing renewable alternatives to fossil-based materials. Besides enabling both businesses and consumers make more sustainable choices, we strive to create a positive UPM experience for all our employees around the world. We live by our values – trust and be trusted, achieve together, renew with courage. Together we can renew the everyday, for a future beyond fossils! 

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We are now looking for a Senior Specialist, Product Development & Innovation, Graphics to join our Product Development & Innovation team at UPM Adhesive Materials. This position is located in Houthalen-Helchteren, Belgium.

What you will do

UPM Adhesive Materials’ strategic direction is to accelerate its growth beyond label materials into graphics solutions and specialty tapes. Over the past few years, the business area has expanded significantly in graphics solutions through the acquisitions of AMC Intercoat, Grafityp, and Metamark. As part of this journey, we are strengthening our product development capabilities for graphics applications.

In this role, you will support the development and continuous improvement of UPM’s graphics product solutions. You will work across materials, applications and technologies, supporting business growth, performance, and competitiveness. You will focus on developing and optimizing adhesive technologies for graphics solutions while contributing to broader product development across materials and applications.

As a Senior Specialist within the Graphics PD&I team, you will play a key role in cross‑functional development work, supporting innovation and continuous improvement across the portfolio. You will:

• Contribute to new product development and continuous improvement of graphics product solutions, focusing on adhesive technologies and related material systems to support application performance
• Lead and support cross‑functional development projects from concept to implementation
• Lead and support laboratory work, testing, pilot trials and industrialization activities to support implementation in manufacturing
• Support strong application performance, manufacturability and long‑term quality consistency
• Evaluate new materials, technologies, and supplier solutions, including benchmarking against market alternatives
• Ensure compliance with relevant regulatory and sustainability requirements for materials and product solutions
• Work closely with Product Development & Innovation network, Product and Application Managers, Sourcing, Operations, Quality, and the Sales teams
• Support integration and knowledge sharing across brands and sites, contributing to a harmonized and competitive portfolio

 Who you are 

• You have a master’s or bachelor’s degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, or a related field
• You bring at least five years of relevant experience, ideally in a manufacturing or industrial environment
• You have experience or a solid foundation in product or material development
• Experience with industrial material technologies (e.g. adhesives, coatings, polymers or related applications) is an advantage
• You have experience with laboratory work, testing, trials and data analysis
• You take ownership of your work and can drive development projects and tasks from concept to implementation
• You work in a structured, proactive and solution‑oriented way, with a strong willingness to learn and develop
• You collaborate effectively in a cross-functional, international environment
• You communicate clearly and can translate technical findings into practical insights
• You have strong written and spoken English and Dutch; other language skills are considered an advantage

This is what we offer to you

• A meaningful job: We have an inspiring purpose ‘We renew the everyday for a future beyond fossils”. Our work is impactful and transformative.
• A caring community: Our community is built on great team spirit and shared commitment. We care about each other and the well-being of our colleagues. We support the work-life balance of all our employees.
• Development opportunities: We offer you great opportunities to learn and grow throughout your career. We are an international, multi-business organization offering plenty of avenues for personal growth.
• Responsible employer: Sustainability is at the core of everything we do. We are committed to ambitious, science-based sustainability targets in all areas, from climate change mitigation to enhancing biodiversity. We foster diversity and inclusivity, offering a work environment in which everyone can be themselves.

Learn about our Rewarding and our Ways of working.

Additional information

For further information about the role, please contact [email protected].

To apply, please submit your CV and cover letter by June 30, 2026. Please note that we accept only applications submitted through our online application system. We begin reviewing applications as they are received, and you may be contacted before the application deadline.

For support with submitting your application, please contact our HR Service Center at [email protected] or tel. +48123999400.

UPM Adhesive Materials (formerly UPM Raflatac) offers high-quality self-adhesive paper and film products including label materials, graphics solutions and removable self-adhesive products. We operate 14 factories and deliver our innovative and sustainable products through our global network of distribution terminals. We are one of UPM’s growth businesses and employ around 3,200 people. Our sales reached almost EUR 1,6 billion (USD 1,7 billion) in 2024. Read more: www.labelmaterials.upm.com

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