Senior R&D Scientist/Manager
- High Point, NC
- $120,000-140,000 per year
- Permanent
- Full-time
- Lead & Execute R&D projects focusing on developing new specialty chemical additives, coatings, resins, foam auxiliaries, and polymer-related products.
- Scale New Products from the lab through scale-up to commercialization, working in both a lab and a plant environment.
- Manage, mentor, and develop a team of chemists, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Serve as the resident chemistry expert, providing timely and decisive technical guidance to Quality Control, Production, Environmental Health & Safety (EHS), and other internal stakeholders, ensuring adherence to safety, quality, cost, and customer satisfaction standards.
- Drive experimental programs at both lab and pilot scales, utilizing a hands-on approach and a deep understanding of experimental design (DOE) to achieve project objectives efficiently.
- Collaborate directly with customers to understand their unique challenges, translate theoretical chemical concepts into practical applications, and develop tailored solutions that deliver real value.
- Evaluate and optimize existing chemical processes, with a focus on batch chemical manufacturing, to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance product performance.
- Assess and manage the complexities of contract manufacturing relationships, ensuring alignment between chemical formulations and external capabilities.
- Champion intellectual property development, contributing to patent applications and supporting the successful launch of new products.
- Prioritize and manage multiple projects concurrently, demonstrating strong organizational skills and the ability to adapt to evolving business needs.
- Ph.D. in Synthetic Organic Chemistry or Polymer Chemistry from an accredited institution.
- 10+ years of industrial chemical experience.
- Broad and deep understanding of chemistry principles and specialty chemical manufacturing processes, particularly in areas such as specialty additives, coatings, resins, foam auxiliaries, and polymers.
- Experience in managing Lab Technicians and Jr. Chemists.
- Proof of innovation, evidenced by multiple patents, successful product launches, or significant contributions to commercialized products.
- Strong understanding of batch chemical processes and their practical application.
- Experience with a diverse range of specialty additives for multiple industrial markets.
- Familiarity with project management methodologies and tools.
- Experience with advanced analytical techniques relevant to specialty chemical characterization.