Research and Development Chemist - Paper Science/Paper Engineering

Position Description

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Title : Research and Development Chemist - Paper Science / Paper Engineering

Department : Research and Development

Immediate Supervisor : R&D Manager

Status : Salary Exempt

Position Purpose : Work with internal stakeholders in a formalized process to identify, fully explore and document new product opportunities and provide operational support.

Contribute to and lead the development of the overall business case for the new product opportunity.

Principle Accountabilities

• Leads raw material substitution projects starting at project initiation all the way through product conversion. Including but not limited to : Identifying and acquiring raw material samples as well as the controls to submit to analytical for analysis, working with plant safety to get the material approved for use, conducting pilot trials, conducting production trials, facilitating cross functional team meetings to review milestone events and finally converting the material over to standard product.
• Accurately and precisely identifying all customer needs that are not being met. Utilize that knowledge to design a product solution which fully meets those needs, while differentiating and elevating the performance of the product solution at a competitive cost.
• Work with the Marketing and Product Management group in a formalized process to identify, fully explore and document new product opportunities.

Contribute to the development of the overall business case for the new product opportunity.

• Utilize QFD, VOC or New Product Blueprinting in the process of determining the performance factors, physical properties, physical appearances, and intangible qualities that will be designed into new products or product groups.
• Deliver solutions which exceed our customer's requirements at a competitive cost in an acceptable time frame.
• Develop the innovative product design using extensive lab and pilot facilities. Work with the operations group to translate the design into a commercially viable process.
• Ensures that all products designed meet the end-use application needs of the intended customers.
• Ensures that all information via the new product commercialization meeting is provided to Production, QC, Scheduling, Purchasing, Product Management and Marketing once the project is complete.
• Follows new products into the field, works with Technical Service and Sales to gain customer acceptance and helps uncover any product deficiencies.
• Travels to customers' facilities to support new product development and product improvement efforts.
• Utilize excellent project management skills during the entire new product development including the preparation and maintenance of tracking tools such as Smartsheet or Gantt charts to determine and monitor the development time and required resources to create a new structure.
• Assigns, oversees and reviews the experimental work performed by team members.
• Writes clear, concise interpretive reports and memos with executive summaries using report writing format which is provided and assigns each report a unique document number for inclusion into an electronic database and a hard-copy library.
• Actively supports all Safety programs, initiatives and 5S housekeeping programs.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Bachelor's degree or higher in a Paper Science or Paper Engineering discipline.
• Innovative, organized self-starter with good problem-solving skills.
• Collaborative interpersonal style with experience in leading project teams.
• Proficient in MS Office suite of software, working knowledge of Smartsheet or other project planning software.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills. Capable of writing reports for distribution at the Executive level. Comfortable presenting results and project updates to team members, executives and customers.
• Demonstrated customer focus and commitment to Company values.
• Demonstrated capability to manage time without consistent day to day interaction with supervisor.
• Ability to travel 25% to visit IPG plants, IPG HQ, and customer and supplier locations.

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