Staff Chemist

This position primarily performs polymer synthesis and evaluation related to new product development for Performance Coatings Group business units including Automotive, Coil, Engineered Polymer Solutions, Industrial Wood, General Industrial (Liquid and Powder), Packaging, and Protective Marine.

The incumbent will have opportunities to demonstrate leadership while providing support to polymer development and manufacturing, performing independent projects, and may supervise support level personnel on a day-to-day basis.

Job duties include contact with other employees and access confidential and proprietary information and / or other items of value, and such access may be supervised or unsupervised.

The Company therefore has determined that a review of criminal history is necessary to protect the business and its operations and reputation and is necessary to protect the safety of the Company's staff, employees, and business relationships.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

Performs a wide variety of polymer syntheses to develop new & / or updated formulas, requiring a strong understanding of polymer chemistry, processes, and common coating crosslinking mechanisms.

Determines polymer specifications, quality standards and leads troubleshooting

• Polymer synthesis includes but is not limited to alkyds, polyesters, acrylics, epoxy modifications, and polyurethanes; in any of the following delivery forms : powder, waterborne and solventborne
• Develops and adjusts product formulas and coding, develops test batches and applies a basic understanding of coating application principles and practices;

leads development and scale up of production formulas

• Leads the analysis, evaluation, and raw materials selection for polymer evaluations and production batches
• Serves as a team member for projects that are complex in nature and are generally sub-sets of larger objectives and provides professional support to the product development, quality control, manufacturing processes, and other operations
• Stays current with relevant academic journals, supplier and market trends and intellectual property
• Utilizes Design for Lean Six Sigma and Stage Gate processes for project management and leads project strategy and approach, timelines, resource needs and other project requirements
• Works with a global, cross-functional teams, including polymer and coating scientists, engineers, sourcing, manufacturing, health environment and safety and legal personnel.
• Writes reports and documentation detailing projects, evaluations, and overall results
• Gives high level presentations that review progress to internal customers at Sherwin-Williams
• Responds to complex questions and concerns from internal customer, manufacturing plants, support personnel, quality control, and other internal and external parties regarding polymer developments
• Interprets and applies department policies and procedures and applicable laws, rules, and regulations; ensures compliance with these areas, May supervise or serve as a lead to lower level personnel, technicians, or interns performing research project work
• Performs other duties as assigned

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Must be legally authorized to work in the country for which you are applying for employment (without now or in the future needing sponsorship for employment work visa and / or permanent residence status).
• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering
• 7+ years working in an R&D lab setting both academic and industry
• In-depth understanding of polymer structure and property relationships
• Strong understanding of coating chemistry / crosslinking reactions and curing mechanisms

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master of Science Degree or Ph.D.in Organic or Polymer Chemistry
• 7+ years of coatings related polymer synthesis experience

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS :

10% Domestic Travel