Job Description

General Summary:

The R&D Chemist is responsible for the formulation of innovative products in the US including all chemistries and Graphic Arts market segments. These chemistries include UV and aqueous inks, coatings and adhesives and fountain solutions for lithographic inks. The role is responsible for developing new and innovative products and includes technical support to customers and to Sales and Quality departments.

Essential Job Functions & Responsibilities:

• Formulate new products based on customer, company and market needs and opportunities.
• Organize and maintain product development records and data files, i.e. lab notebooks, project files, raw material, equipment and product information etc.
• Assist in the integration of the technical “know-how”, formulations, and/or processes from lab bench to pilot scale and finally into commercial production.
• Lab bench work formulating and testing as necessary for successful completion of lab project work.
• Develop a working knowledge of available analytical and physical testing equipment and be able to apply these tools to new product development, trouble shooting product quality issues and investigating customer product failure claims.
• Recommend procurement of new equipment that is necessary for successful project completion.
• Effectively communicate company product needs and opportunities with third parties (customers, development partners, vendors, and business line – affiliated entities) in order to provide interim and final deliverables within reasonable time and budget constraints.
• Secure relevant intellectual property by patent application and by safeguarding company trade secrets.
• Technical cooperation as a part of cross-functional teams within an international division of affiliated companies under the roof of a global premium specialty chemicals group.
• Utilize existing and /or emerging technologies to design and build customer needed value added products with a competitive advantage that drives tactical and strategic business growth.

(The information contained herein is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of the duties and responsibilities of the job, nor are they intended to be an all-inclusive list of the skills and abilities required to do the job. Management may, at its discretion, assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. The duties and responsibilities in this job description may be subject to change at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons.)

Minimum Qualifications

• BS degree in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering or related science as well as 5+ years of experience in Coatings and/or Ink R&D – ideally within the Graphic Arts Industry.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills required.
• Ability to differentiate color nuances.
• Experience must include hands on formulation experience of UV-curable and water-based inks, coatings and adhesives.
• Previous knowledge and experience in the graphic arts industry and flexographic, gravure, screen and offset printing applications and an understanding of how different equipment affects product physical property requirements is required.
• Experience in acrylate chemistry should include knowledge of photoinitiators, resin – monomer systems, additives, aqueous resin solution and acrylic emulsion polymers. Knowledge of fountain solution formulation is a plus.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• This position requires frequent standing and walking in a laboratory environment.
• Infrequent:
• Kneeling
• Squatting
• Bending
• Ability to lift up to 40 lbs.
• Ability to deal with infrequent extreme temperature conditions including heat and cold.
• Ability to work in an environment around chemicals that may cause various odors.

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