Senior Chemist

polyntspa•Kansas City, MO

About The Position

Polynt Composites USA is a global leader in the manufacturing of composites, coatings, and chemical intermediates, serving key industries such as industrial, transportation, construction, marine, medical, and consumer goods. At Polynt, the Senior Chemist plays a critical role in advancing corporate objectives through the development, commercialization, and industrialization of new products, while also supporting and enhancing existing technologies. Senior Chemists apply high-quality laboratory practices alongside a broad range of technical skills to solve complex challenges. These may include new product and process development, product and process optimization, support for existing products, raw material evaluations, plant operations assistance, customer formulation support, and general technical service. They are expected to work independently with minimal supervision, while actively collaborating with other R&D team members, cross-functional Polynt departments, and customers. Laboratory responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Preparing chemical formulations and prototypes via synthesis or blending Creating test articles using customer-relevant processes Conducting chemical analyses, quality control testing, mechanical property evaluations, and application testing While Senior Chemists may specialize in a particular technology area, they are expected to work across multiple chemistries, processes, applications, and markets based on evolving business needs.

Requirements

B.A. or B.S. in chemistry, chemical engineering or related science/engineering field and a minimum of 5 years of work experience
M.S in chemistry or related science/engineering field and a minimum of 2 years of work experience
PhD in chemistry or related science/engineering field

Responsibilities

Performs work in accordance with local, state and federal regulations including OSHA, DOT and EPA and the appropriate Polynt Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) ensuring personal and team safety
Recognizes personal and legal responsibility regarding compliance with rules and regulations, standards and Polynt’s ISO 9001 Quality Management System
Maintains housekeeping in individual and shared workspaces
Conducts inspections as assigned.
Ensures that others meet health and safety standards. Provides guidance when needed
Leads safety topic(s) in weekly safety meeting
Participates in the following as needed: Health and Safety Committee, Review of chemical hygiene plan, Job safety analysis (JSA), Risk assessments, Incident investigations, Management of change (MOC)
Conducts lab/project work related to one or more of the following: Product/process development (synthesis and/or blending), Polynt plant support, chemical analyses and mechanical testing, customer formulation assistance or purchasing support
Maintains lab equipment through preventative maintenance, verification, and calibration. Reports any equipment malfunctions
Ensures that lab equipment inventory is maintained
Executes experiments and tests following established test methods to ensure repeatable, reliable results
Understand requirements of each project including benefits and risks. Interacts with other functions as necessary to resolve questions
Plan experiments identifying and evaluating multiple input variables
Develop test methods as needed
Create schedule based on project priorities and meet deadlines
Demonstrate critical thinking and ability to analyze results. Demonstrates ability to understand multiple variable relationships and their effects on results
Write technical reports and/or create presentations summarizing results
Recommend next actions to multi-functional project team
Enter/maintain projects on Polynt's project request system
Seeks feedback and input from customers and/or appropriate Polynt functions/management required to drive projects to completion
Develops improved product/processes that are commercially successful. Supports scale-up/transfer of product to manufacturing. Supports customer trials as applicable.
Develops multiple technically successful improved products/processes covering multiple chemistries, processes, application areas or markets
Conducts basic literature searches for internal and external sources to assist with project planning and generate product/process development ideas
Initiates exploratory projects to investigate potential innovative products or processes
Participates as a team member on New Business Development/Stage-Gate projects or acts as the R&D representative on multifunctional projects
Provides technical support to Polynt’s manufacturing sites for commercial products covering multiple chemistries, processes, application areas or markets
Approves plants to make new/transferred products, in-country, in region or between regions
Determines work-off plans for off-specification material
Adjusts process parameters to facilitate process improvements related to quality, cycle time, etc.
Has in-depth knowledge of Polynt manufacturing processes, site capabilities, and site personnel
Provides in-person support at a plant for scale-up or process improvement work
Participates in plant quality meetings
Has knowledge of manufacturing processes, site capabilities, and site personnel
Assists Polynt customers with creating formulations using Polynt products.
Understands components used in external customer product formulations including their function, typical levels
Formulates products resembling what is produced by Polynt's customer for testing/comparison of Polynt and/or benchmarking of competitive products
Assists customers with product formulation
Qualifies raw materials by Reviewing raw material usage
Creating a test plan based on key properties/ functions
Conducting lab/project work as described above
Informing Procurement of project results
Completing SAP tasks as needed
Has knowledge of business unit technology in one or more chemistries, applications or processes. Has established contacts with other Polynt functional groups, suppliers and customer base. Independently interacts with these contacts keeping supervisor informed. Demonstrates understanding of applicable standards, certifications, etc. Able to use knowledge to assist internal and external customers.
Orders raw materials and finished goods with supervisor approval
Orders lab supplies with supervisor approval
Able to find/view test methods, work instructions, forms and other documents in SharePoint
Able to request physical or analytical testing
Has a working knowledge of Microsoft applications including Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams and Word
Able to find basic information in SAP including BOM's, inspections plans, inventories, orders, etc.
Able to find technical documents in the Polynt App and Host 2 Bulletin System
Works with Technical Assistance/Technical writer to create technical datasheets for new products
Independently completes R&D portion of Frontline scale-up process for formula revision or new product creation
Able to use Bom CALC, Product Vision or other formulation tool
Aware of statistical analysis software availability and capabilities. Demonstrated ability to apply to development, plant support and/or technical assistance work
Provides training on synthesis, formulation, or application processes for one or more technology areas or market applications. Training to include how-to as well as knowledge of underlying science. Training may be for junior team members, R&D members from other groups, operations or commercial personnel or customer personnel