Senior Specialist, Application Development Lignin
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!
Learn more about us as a workplace upm.com/careers
We are now looking for Senior Specialist, Application Development Lignin to join Lappeenranta Research Center.
Greetings from your future manager
“Welcome to UPM Next Generation Renewables! As we grow our lignin-based resin solutions business, this role is key in ensuring the successful implementation of our technologies directly at customer sites. You will act as a trusted technical partner and support customers in adopting bio-based solutions with confidence. We look forward to welcoming a colleague who is passionate about innovation and committed to making a meaningful impact in advancing sustainable materials.” – Barbara Gall, Director, Application Development
What You Will Do
Additional Information
For further information about the role, please contact Barbara Gall, Director, Application Development, barbara.gall@upm.com or +4915116409526.
To apply, please submit your CV and cover letter by 12.4.2026. 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 the HR Service Center at careers@upm.com or tel. +358204146600.
A security background check may be performed for those selected to UPM positions, in accordance with the company recruitment guidelines and the Security Clearance Act 726/2014.
UPM is a non-smoking workplace in Finland.
UPM is a material solutions company, renewing products and entire value chains with an extensive portfolio of renewable fibres, advanced materials, decarbonization solutions, and communication papers. Our performance in sustainability has been recognized by third parties, including EcoVadis and the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices. We operate globally and employ approximately 15,800 people worldwide, with annual sales of approximately €10.3 billion. Our shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd.
UPM – we renew the everyday
Read more: upm.com
Follow us on LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram | X | #UPM #materialsolutions #WeRenewTheEveryday
Learn more about us as a workplace upm.com/careers
We are now looking for Senior Specialist, Application Development Lignin to join Lappeenranta Research Center.
Greetings from your future manager
“Welcome to UPM Next Generation Renewables! As we grow our lignin-based resin solutions business, this role is key in ensuring the successful implementation of our technologies directly at customer sites. You will act as a trusted technical partner and support customers in adopting bio-based solutions with confidence. We look forward to welcoming a colleague who is passionate about innovation and committed to making a meaningful impact in advancing sustainable materials.” – Barbara Gall, Director, Application Development
What You Will Do
- Serve as a technical resource during pilot and mill-scale trials at customers, ensuring successful implementation of lignin solutions
- Translate trial learnings into internal guidelines and customer recommendations to support continuous improvement and commercialization
- Develop and maintain internal knowledge on targeted resin applications for wood and non-wood products, customer needs, formulation strategies, and process behavior of lignin-based resins
- Provide the sales team with data, performance insights, and formulation recommendations to support commercial discussions and customer qualification
- Participate in customer meetings to present technical capabilities, test results, and application concepts in a clear and professional manner
- Identify performance gaps and steer improvements together with R&D, Piloting and external partners
- Develop and implement new application testing methods for targeted market segments in collaboration with R&D and Piloting
- You hold a Master’s degree in wood technology or comparable background in relevant industries
- You have at least three years of experience in wood products manufacturing and technology, and as well in pilot/R&D environment
- You can tackle problems in a systematic manner, with a hands-on mentality
- You are highly enthusiastic, creative, open-minded, results-oriented, with good communication skills, and strong team-player
- You are comfortable working with a high degree of autonomy
- You have strong written and spoken English skills
- You are willing to travel as needed
- 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.
Additional Information
For further information about the role, please contact Barbara Gall, Director, Application Development, barbara.gall@upm.com or +4915116409526.
To apply, please submit your CV and cover letter by 12.4.2026. 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 the HR Service Center at careers@upm.com or tel. +358204146600.
A security background check may be performed for those selected to UPM positions, in accordance with the company recruitment guidelines and the Security Clearance Act 726/2014.
UPM is a non-smoking workplace in Finland.
UPM is a material solutions company, renewing products and entire value chains with an extensive portfolio of renewable fibres, advanced materials, decarbonization solutions, and communication papers. Our performance in sustainability has been recognized by third parties, including EcoVadis and the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices. We operate globally and employ approximately 15,800 people worldwide, with annual sales of approximately €10.3 billion. Our shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd.
UPM – we renew the everyday
Read more: upm.com
Follow us on LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram | X | #UPM #materialsolutions #WeRenewTheEveryday