POSITION SUMMARY:
The Senior Chemist is responsible for developing formulas to feed the pipeline of new products for Valspar’s commercial coatings segment by providing high-level expertise in analyzing, testing and formulation of new products and requirements. Accountabilities include: executing commercial R&D new product development activities from conception to piloting and supporting commercial introduction; reformulating existing products for performance improvement and cost savings initiatives; establishing product and raw material specifications for commercial formulas; and developing data for use in marketing and sales literature related to the above activities. Additional responsibilities may include day to day leadership on small projects, acting as the primary liaison with internal and external customers on daily technical questions and concerns, and working independently on commercializing several products.
CORE JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Serves as an expert in analyzing, testing, and developing new or updated formulas that require comprehensive understanding of chemistry, product lines, and materials; leads small project teams, including assigning and monitoring work and providing direction, and determines quality standards.
- Develops, evaluates and adjusts commercial coatings product formulas and coding to reach desired performance criteria; reads and interprets patents; determines how to improve or utilize technology to develop commercial coatings product lines; applies commercial coatings through various application methods including but not limited to spray, roll and draw down, which will then be sued in various critical to quality tests.
- Utilizes comprehensive knowledge of business group operations and application methods to assist with implementing project objectives, product systems, budgets, timelines, and other requirements.
- Collaborates with R&D team members regarding product formulation, application, scale up and trial support.
- Reviews and develops reports and documents detailing project processes, results, and conclusions; leads or performs additional research when required; provides accurate data for product data sheets, MSDS, etc.
- Serves as the primary contact and responds to highly technical and complex questions and concerns from plants, research professionals, quality control, customers and other internal and external parties regarding development, application, quality assurance, and related programs and services.
- Operates, cleans, and calibrates all forms of equipment that requires professional judgment and background; also utilizes technical or standard equipment during the course of projects.
- Interprets and applies department policies and procedures and applicable laws, rules, and regulations; ensures compliance with these areas.
- May supervise or serve as a lead to lower level chemists or technicians working on relating projects.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry or related field; Masters or PhD a plus.
A minimum of ten years of industrial chemistry experience, including eight years of technical project management experience within the paint and/or coatings industry.
SKILL REQUIREMENTS:
- Commercial Coatings – Advanced understanding of contractor paint formulation; expertise in latex, water-based, solvent-based, light industrial and contractor coatings.
- Critical Thinking – Ability to effectively use analysis, evaluation, inference and deductive reasoning to process and resolve issues in a timely manner.
- Executional Excellence – Proven history of translating customer requirements, concepts and complex ideas into practical projects that are executed on-time and on-budget in order to drive product development; familiarity with stage gate process and ISO requirements helpful.
- Communication – Proficient in both written and verbal communications; proven ability to effectively interface with both internal and external customers, as well as R&D and Sales teams.
- Collaborative - Ability to influence all parties involved in order to gain respect, build credibility and gain support needed to ensure project or task completion.
- Leadership – Effective, positive and motivating leadership style to assist in developing team; maintains composure in fast-paced deadline-driven environment. Ability to identify strategic needs and resource key projects.
- Consulting – Superior interpersonal skills; ability to develop strong working relationships with key business partners, cross-functional teams within Consumer NA and external customers; must be customer focused with a service mentality.
- PC skills: Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook); and other relevant applications.