Sr. Chemist

Main Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize new and existing formulations to achieve customer-specified properties through adjustment of raw materials and processing parameters, with a focus on commercially successful products.
• Design and implement laboratory-scale formulation studies, stability assessments, and application testing to meet efficacy and quality guidelines.
• Investigate and solve formulation challenges for existing products to meet manufacturing or customer needs.
• Evaluate and select raw materials based on performance, cost, sustainability, regulatory compliance, and customer needs.
• Support technology transfer from laboratory development to pilot and commercial scale, including scale-up, process optimization, manufacturing support, troubleshooting, and commercialization activities.
• Independently define technical approaches, develop experimental plans, prioritize resources, interpret results, and make data-driven recommendations with limited day-to-day supervision.
• Develop or utilize existing test methods to assess physical properties and chemical composition, with an understanding of analytical and QC testing requirements for laboratory and manufacturing formula control.

Key Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Materials Science, Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering, Wood Science, or a related discipline with 10+ years of relevant industrial experience; Master's degree with 5+ years of relevant industrial experience; or PhD with relevant industrial or research experience.
• Hands-on experience with formulation development, materials development, or applied chemical R&D.
• Knowledge of wood structure, wood degradation mechanisms, preservatives, coatings, or wood protection technologies is preferred but not required.
• Demonstrated experience designing and executing laboratory experiments and interpreting experimental data.
• Experience transitioning laboratory formulations to pilot or commercial scale, including scale-up, process optimization, manufacturing support, and technology transfer is preferred.
• Ability to independently lead technical projects and communicate results effectively.
• Working knowledge of chemical safety, regulatory, and product stewardship requirements.
• Effective communication with work contacts, including peers, supervisors, and other departments.