January 2027 Leadership Development Program R&D- Bowling Green, KY

Sherwin-Williams • Bowling Green, KY

2d • Onsite

About The Position

Sherwin-Williams is hiring motivated candidates for its Research & Development Leadership Development Program within the Performance Coatings Group. The 8–12-month program develops skills and experience for a future role on the Chemist track, supporting a technical division. The January 2027 position is based at the Bowling Green Plant and supports the Coil Coatings Division. Participants remain in one assignment throughout the program, gaining an in-depth Research & Development experience, and may apply for a post-program promotion on the Chemist track after completion. Candidates should be open to relocating for the program and potentially relocating again for post-program positions and promotional opportunities.

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

• Bachelor’s degree in a science or technical-related field, including but not limited to Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, or Corrosion Engineering, by the start of the program.
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• Previous experience working on projects in a laboratory environment.
• Openness to relocation based on business need for the program and again for post-program positions and promotional opportunities.
• Authorization to work in the United States without company sponsorship now or in the future.
• At least one year of experience using Microsoft Office products, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and/or Outlook.
• Ability, 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.
• Experience in a team-oriented setting through work, extracurricular activities, military service, or similar experience.
• Paint and coatings industry knowledge or experience.
• 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.
• Develop an understanding of commercialization, products, industries, and market segments.
• Build expertise in project management and reporting 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