Formulation Technical Lead

Formulation Technical Lead

Supports and contributes as a technical lead for the formulation, development, analytics, and scale up for Winfield United HIF, adjuvant, plant nutrition, seed treatments, and yield enhancement products. This position is to support discovery, product development and market development with special emphasis on the pilot and launch stages of the “By Winfield United Process.” This may include investigating technology development, concept development, and new product development. 
Provide leadership and direction for Winfield proprietary brands to ensure quality, meet customer requirements, comply with WinField Solutions and Land O’ Lakes quality standards, and meet EPA and other regulatory requirements. Identify areas of improvement and how any changes might be conducted. Rely on their technical expertise to perform and develop testing protocols to evaluate products and troubleshoot. Work collaboratively with development, marketing, sourcing, registration and other staff to attract new technology and develop innovative formulations and IP.

Job Scope

• Position is responsible for the management of the pilot lab at River Falls, WI, this role is an individual contributor

• Position is an integral part of the By Winfield United Process serving as the conduit between pilot scale and full scale production

• Position responsible for supporting diverse groups within Winfield Solutions

• Maintenance of product performance is crucial to maintaining market share through customer satisfaction and quality.  Implementation of innovation will ensure growth in this business

Responsibilities

35% Winfield United R&D pilot and launch support

This position will be the primary point of contact for the pilot lab and responsibilities associated with the pilot lab. Responsibilities shall include operation budgeting and capital expense budgeting. Manage formulation of laboratory pilot scale products, quality assurance and transfer/scale-up of formulation technology from lab to formulation facility

35% Product re/formulation

Serve as a technical lead for formulation process for herbicide, insecticide, and fungicide, adjuvant, plant nutrition, and seed treatment products to support discovery, product development, market development, and innovation. Supports and contributes to processes for prioritizing projects, planning efficient workflow, advanced process development, allocating time and resources, coordinating with other relevant staff, summarizing results, supporting information development for marketing and training, and related.

10% Quality assurance and product improvement

Qualify new manufacturing procedures and ingredients for CPP products as they arise. Document and archive product quality SOPs, including product-specific procedures, and in so doing, support the product registration and EH&S functions.

10% Technical validation

Work with procurement to identify opportunities for materials validation.

5% Lab Safety

This position ensures that all staff members comply with all pilot laboratory rules and regulations, including health and safety policies, to guarantee the highest quality of results.

5% Packaging and materials validation  

Identify & approve appropriate packaging for new products and approve overall changes to packaging & materials. Work with external and internal resources to efficiently qualify packaging and materials.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in related sciences (professional chemistry preferred)

• 5+ years R&D experience

• Ability to work within a cross functional group setting with significant collaboration.

• Provide leadership, vision and innovation

• Expertise on various chemistries: surface tension, analytical, physical, inorganic, coordination, micelle, complex ion equilibria, and biochemistry.

• Knowledge of ASTM, CIPAC, AAPFCO, and CPDA-AIC protocols and definitions.

                                                                                                                                                                            

Preferred Qualifications

• Extensive experience with pilot scale processes and full-scale production

• Diverse ag formulation knowledge

• Mastery of surface tension chemistry, analytical chemistry, physical chemistry, inorganic chemistry, coordination chemistry, micelle chemistry, complex ion equilibria, and biochemistry in order to formulate