We are looking for a dedicated, analytically minded and detail-oriented Chemist to carry out formulation of paint products, conduct performance paint evaluations and offset raw material selections, sample preparations as needed to support quality activities, and participate in commercialization and technology transfer process activities to ensure secure launches.
The Chemist will conduct research and explore how products, processes, and equipment may be improved, and should be dedicated to improving processes and products while furthering scientific knowledge to drive profitability.
The Chemist role, requires in-depth knowledge of paint testing, including the methods used, equipment and systems. The job will involve both a day–to-day processing of workflows through the quality control laboratory. Job flexibility will be developed to ensure appropriate support to other roles at any time in the laboratory and will be expected to help with other work outside the Department in a technical liaison role, when required. The Chemist will work closely with team members on paint formulation and testing, as well as analytical and continuous improvement projects on a day-to-day basis.
The Chemist must have enthusiasm for the task in hand and a willingness to work under pressure to meet deadlines and drive quality metrics, while working in a safe and responsible manner, always. They will wear and use correct personal protective equipment where and when laid down by the company and will follow company health and safety and environmental procedures and reporting guidelines. The job holder will also be required to train on any computer software as designated by the company.
Primary Duties and Deliverables
- Product Development and Modification
o Develop new and innovative direct to metal industrial coatings products
o Modify existing technologies to suit customer needs
o When required due to regulation change or opportunity, reformulate existing paint products and associated manufacturing processes.
o Execute benchmarking studies of products. Interprets and clearly communicate results
o Perform testing from standard procedures.
o Prepare test formulations, conducting tests and advising and coordinating test procedures.
o Enter or modify formulas into the formula database, as needed
o Record and organize projects in an electronic format
o Write technical papers and reports, and preparing standards and specifications for processes, tests, and products, as requested
o Summarize complex datasets, project management notes, and process information into concise and easy to visually digest formats
o Clean, maintain, and store testing tools and equipment
o Create thorough reports on tests and your findings
o Evaluate testing protocols and suggest improvements
o Clean and maintain laboratory instruments and equipment, making sure that all the technology is working correctly, if it isn’t, troubleshoot the issue or problem. Conduct quality control tests to ensure no compounds or equipment are contaminated
o Maintain a clean and safe work environment, at all times
o Assure that the lab and handling of all chemicals is done consistent with company safety requirements
o Follow all company and governmental safety procedures
- Additional Responsibilities, as requested
o Interact cross-functionally with other departments and sites to support or modify existing products to drive efficiency, profitability and quality, including, but not limited to:
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Work in the laboratory and assist in the direction of the activities of one or more technicians.
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Consult with R&D, Operations Personnel, and Technical Support Service on the analysis, interpretation of defects and optimization of tests and processes
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Assist quality control during production
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Assist in following batches in production and the field
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Assist to solve manufacturing/scale-up issues to support quality operations.
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Assist in capturing customers to specifications, concerns, and compatibility
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Assist in evaluating and ensuring laboratory safety procedures and standards compliance
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Use or interpret advanced analytic techniques such as chromatography, spectroscopy, and spectrophotometry techniques, as requested
Core Competencies
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Active Listening: Listening accurately and confirming the concern or goal state is essential to solving the correct problem:
- Be comfortable leading as an active listener
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Ask questions to confirm you understood the concern, goal state, current state, and timeline and align on a plan
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Demonstrate active listening, by recording accurate situation appraisal notes, with clearly annotated follow up plans.
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Willingness to accept constructive criticism and demonstrate an ability to reflect and recalibrate an approach.
- Good communication: Communicating with others effectively, and in a timely manner is crucial. Ability to communicate respectfully and concisely via diverse modes:
- Verbally in person and virtually
- Written by note taking, email, report and specification writing, teams instant messaging, and PowerPoint
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visually through graphs, flow charts
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technically through spreadsheets, and other analytical tools
- Collaboration and Continuous Learning: Collaboration is key in a quality facing role. Inspire confidence and trust by being dependable and honest, having high standards for quality and punctuality of work. Have and intrinsic and enthusiastic drive to support team goals, with a positive attitude and passion for innovation, continuous learning and application of new skills and concepts. Be open to learning new chemistries, analysis techniques and softwares, and project management disciplines.
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Critical thinking and problem-solving: Identifying problems, root causes, and possible solutions is a focus of this role. Before choosing a solution, objectively evaluate each option and present the most effective solution for review. Logical approach to judgement and decision making based on original thinking, direct experience, and high quality, independently verifiable evidence.
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Time management: This team has many different accountabilities. There are many different types of projects, many deadlines, so being able to manage and record time well to punctually meet those deadlines and summarize time by project is a key skill.
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Analytical: This team is highly data driven. At times we will work with very compact data sets and use math to extrapolate new, larger solutions, quickly. At other times, we will use analytics to look through large datasets and interpolate opportunities, thus, having an flexible and analytical mind is essential to our success.
- Organizational skills: This role is very process and results oriented. We are also called to answer complex problems quickly. Keeping track of input and output data and documenting all processes and observations and being able to retrieve this work swiftly calls for strong organizational skills.
- Perseverance and Endurance: Finding a new solution, optimizing a process, or aligning a group of people to a common solution, can take a lot of effort, time, repeated experimentation, and determination. All of these are key skills for a Chemist to possess.
Required Qualifications
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Minimum of a B.S. Degree in physical science (chemistry, chemical engineering, coatings or closely related field) and at least 1 year formulating experience in industry.
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Ability to work in an industrial laboratory setting.
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Candidates must be English proficient and possess a valid driver’s license.
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Candidates with permanent authorization to work in the United States are preferred.
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Must pass a background check and drug test
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Lift up to 50 lbs several times per day.
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Possess ability to follow standard operating procedure.
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Possess safety habits & awareness required as a condition of employment.
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Follow prescribed policies & procedures.
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Proficiency with computers and scientific equipment.
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Accurately record and communicate research results to others both orally and in writing, via diverse formats.
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Able to summarize results using Microsoft Office Core suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, MS Teams, etc.)
Preferred Qualifications (considers the following attributes and skills to be highly desirable)
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M.S. Degree in physical science (chemistry, chemical engineering, coatings or closely related field) and 5 years formulating experience in industry.
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Knowledge paint formulation, application, catalysis, cure, and general property testing is required
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Knowledge of Enamels, Epoxy, and Polyurethane based paints, Waterborne and Solventborne, as applicable.
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Knowledge of colorimetry, color science, rheology, polymer chemistry
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Previous experience in Quality Improvement focused team, strongly preferred
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Preference towards collaborating on group projects rather than individual projects, strongly preferred
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Green Belt in Lean or Design for Six Sigma, with proficiency with DOE, process mapping, strongly preferred.
- Experience with a statistical modeling software such as JMP, Minitab, Matlab, or other statistical software.
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Working knowledge of Stage Gate Process & Practice
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Experience with Microsoft Office related data, process, and project management tools: (Power Automate, Power BI, Power Query, MS Forms, MS Project, Modern/Classical SharePoint)
