Sr. Chemist (UV Segment Leader)
About The Position
RPM Industrial Coatings Group, Inc. is seeking an experienced Sr. Chemist to serve as the technical lead for its UV Wood coatings technology platform. The role drives innovation, leads product development, and serves as the primary subject matter expert for UV-related projects and initiatives across the organization. It provides leadership for UV technology strategy, formulation development, project execution, and team development, including management and mentoring of one direct report. The position partners with Commercial, Manufacturing, Quality, and R&D leadership to advance customer-focused solutions and support business growth. The role is based at the RPM Innovation Center of Excellence, a research and development facility with liquid and powder application labs, resin and analytical labs, a sample production area, and a formulation lab. The facility also hosts onsite customer training and application trials.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related technical discipline.
- At least 5 years of industrial formulation experience, preferably in coatings, inks, adhesives, or related technologies.
- Demonstrated experience developing and commercializing UV-curable coating technologies.
- Strong background in waterborne UV, solvent-reduced UV, and 100% solids UV formulations.
- Ability to manage multiple technical projects simultaneously.
- Prior experience leading technical teams, mentoring chemists, or providing project leadership.
Nice To Haves
- Master's or Ph.D. in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
- Experience in industrial coatings, specialty chemicals, or performance materials industries.
- Knowledge of quality management systems and continuous improvement methodologies.
- Experience with Stage Gate product development processes.
- Customer-facing technical support or application development experience.
- Familiarity with scale-up, process development, and manufacturing support activities.
Responsibilities
- Serve as the organization's primary subject matter expert for UV coatings technology.
- Lead development and optimization of UV-curable coating formulations for new and existing products.
- Establish technical direction and innovation strategy for the UV technology segment.
- Lead problem-solving related to formulation, application performance, manufacturing scale-up, and customer requirements.
- Evaluate raw materials, technologies, and market trends to maintain a competitive product portfolio.
- Provide technical guidance and recommendations to senior leadership regarding UV technology investments and opportunities.
- Manage the UV project portfolio, including prioritization, execution, and delivery of development objectives.
- Lead cross-functional teams through product development and commercialization.
- Manage multiple concurrent projects while balancing short-term business needs with long-term innovation objectives.
- Support and participate in Stage Gate product development processes.
- Collaborate with Commercial teams to identify customer needs and translate them into technical solutions.
- Lead UV lab activities using the Stage Gate project management system from project inception through development, scale-up, and commercialization.
- Manage, coach, and develop one direct report (Chemist II).
- Provide technical mentorship to laboratory personnel and cross-functional team members.
- Establish development goals, provide performance feedback, and support team members' career growth.
- Foster a collaborative, safety-focused, and innovative laboratory culture.
- Serve as the primary technical resource for Commercial, Manufacturing, Quality, and R&D teams regarding UV technologies.
- Support customer visits, technical discussions, and troubleshooting activities as needed.
- Partner with manufacturing teams on scale-up, process optimization, and production support.
- Collaborate with Quality and Regulatory functions to ensure compliance with internal and external requirements.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
