Senior Chemist

Job Summary

Develop product formulations suitable for sale and provide a significant leadership role in the R&D group. Assist and advise the Technical, Quality, Manufacturing, Sales and Marketing groups as needed. Working safely is part of our culture and is a condition of employment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead efforts aimed at formulating or changing the chemical composition of new or existing products. Significant experience in leadership of formulation of new products is expected.

• Fundamental understanding of the relationship between the chemical composition of raw materials and the performance of the coating product.

• Provide direction and leadership to suppliers in the development of new raw materials.

• Select, test, and evaluate raw materials. Experienced and significant skill in presenting results and making recommendations for a path forward to R&D personnel and outside suppliers.

• Take lead role in the development of test methods and testing of competitor products.

• Evaluate chemical causes of production problems, and the ability to drive to the root cause.

• Able to provide direction concerning the analysis of production processes and raw materials.

• Skilled at coordinating batch changes with production staff.

• Experienced and skilled at preparing and presenting formulas in peer review meetings. Able to train and supervise others to do so.

• Experienced and skilled at preparing management reports and charts to substantiate facts and findings.

• Significant skill and experience in directing pilot scaleup efforts and initial batches of new products. Able to lead and train others to do so.

• Provide technical or project leadership to chemists in completing more difficult assignments and to technicians in setting up and using laboratory-testing equipment.

• Experienced and skilled at communicating technical results effectively with other departments including Quality, Manufacturing, and Marketing. Experienced and skilled at working in cross-functional teams.

• Train and supervise the work of Chemists, Junior Chemists and Technicians. Capable of carrying out the Product Stewardship role or supervising employees who are doing so.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry or a related field or equivalent work experience

• Alternatively, a Master's or Ph. D degree in Chemistry or a related field

• Considerable experience in chemical analysis, testing, and product-related research

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

• Considerable knowledge of paint and coatings formulations, chemical laboratory test methods procedures and color matching

• Knowledge of manufacturing practices, line procedures and quality control standards and practices

• Knowledge of supervisory principles and leadership techniques

• Knowledge of MS Office Suites and/or software applications related to function

• Ability to set up, adjust, and operate assorted paint testing equipment such as viscometer, gloss meter, performance testing equipment, application equipment, mixers and analytical equipment

• Ability to communicate effectively, select, train, supervise and evaluate work of staff

• Ability to plan, organize, complete work as scheduled, delegate tasks, check work in progress and work independently in completing assignments

• Ability to maintain chemical analysis and testing records and prepare periodic reports

Special Requirements

• Ability to travel to customer or vendor locations