January 2027 Leadership Development Program R&D- Minneapolis

Sherwin-Williams • Minneapolis, MN

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Sherwin-Williams is seeking motivated individuals with an interest in research and development for its R&D Leadership Development Program, which prepares participants for a role on the Chemist track within the Performance Coatings Group. Participants support one of the group’s technical divisions, such as Automotive, Coil, Industrial Wood, General Industrial, Packaging, or Protective and Marine. The 8–12-month program provides an in-depth R&D assignment and exposure to different aspects of the Performance Coatings Group. Participants remain in one position throughout the program until post-program placement. The position starts in January 2027 at Sherwin-Williams’ Minneapolis, Minnesota campus. After completing the program, participants may apply for a post-program promotion on the Chemist track. Candidates should be open to relocation for the program and potentially longer-term relocation for post-program positions.

The Performance Coatings Group supplies engineered solutions for construction, industrial, packaging, and transportation markets in more than 120 countries. Its business units include Automotive Finishes, Coil Coatings, Engineered Polymer Solutions, General Industrial Coatings, Packaging Coatings, Protective & Marine, and Industrial Wood Coatings.

Requirements

• Have a bachelor’s degree in a science or technical-related field, including Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, or Corrosion Engineering, by the start of the program.
• Have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• Have previous experience working on projects in a laboratory environment.
• Be open to relocation based on business needs for the program and again for post-program positions and promotional opportunities.
• Be authorized to work in the United States without company sponsorship now or in the future.
• Have at least one year of experience using Microsoft Office products, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, or Outlook.
• Be able, with or without reasonable accommodation, to retrieve materials from shelves, floor stacks, and/or pallet racking, and to lift and/or carry up to 50 pounds frequently and up to 100 pounds occasionally.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Polymer Science, or Material Science.
• At least one year of work experience managing projects.
• Previous Sherwin-Williams laboratory experience.
• Previous experience in a team-oriented setting, including work, extracurricular activities, or military service.
• Knowledge of or experience in the paint and coatings industry.
• Prior work experience maintaining and analyzing data.

Responsibilities

• Develop knowledge of paint and coatings chemistry and formulation.
• Gain experience with testing methods and quality control using statistics software.
• Build understanding of commercialization, products, industries, and market segments.
• Develop project management skills and report results and findings.
• Build relationships with supply chain and gain knowledge of plant operations.
• Build cross-functional partnerships with Sales, Marketing, Operations, and Technical Services to execute innovation strategy.
• Work alongside senior chemists.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level