R&D Specialist III - Paint & Coatings

About AkzoNobel

Since 1792, we’ve been supplying the innovative paints and coatings that help to color people’s lives and protect what matters most. Our world class portfolio of brands – including Dulux, International, Sikkens and Interpon – is trusted by customers around the globe. We’re active in more than 150 countries and use our expertise to sustain and enhance the fabric of everyday life. Because we believe every surface is an opportunity. It’s what you’d expect from a pioneering and long-established paints company that’s dedicated to providing sustainable solutions and preserving the best of what we have today – while creating an even better tomorrow. Let’s paint the future together.

 

For more information please visit www.akzonobel.com 

 

© 2024 Akzo Nobel N.V. All rights reserved.

Job Purpose

This job is for developing new products and / or maintaining existing products; it requires some professional work knowledge and experience to evaluate, select, and apply standard scientific techniques, processes, and criteria in the development, adaptation, and modification of new and existing products and technologies while under the guidance and supervision of Group Leader or similar.

Key Responsibilities

• Complete assigned tasks related to the research and development of new products, new technologies, and updates of existing products using assigned materials and methods.

• Performs or oversees the work on technical workstreams such as new product introduction, raw material changes, product testing, and root cause analysis.

• Implement, troubleshoot, and continuously improve plant processes (reduce cycle and increase efficiency, reliability, and sustainability, increase batch yields, decrease manufacturing costs, etc.).

• Work collaboratively with Production, RD&I, CI, HSE&S, and others to develop processes, and define safe and efficient operating procedures.

• Plan/schedule short term (<6 months) activities and assignments and complete assigned tasks according to established plans and priority.

• Provide technical assistance and support to Production, Sales, and Marketing in support of product scale-up, quality control, application testing, and other cross-functional activities.

• Investigate and determine corrective actions for production problems and customer complaints.

• Investigate production problems related to formulation, quality control, and manufacturing issues.

• Initiate the LWR (lab work request) process for product reformulation and proper manufacturing/QC instructions.

• Maintains detailed technical records in the form of a Laboratory Notebook or Computer Databases.

• Provide progress reports, monthly and quarterly reports, technical plans, and project summaries to ensure appropriate communication of project status and needs

• Ensure proper testing procedures are in place and followed and review opportunities for alternative tests and equipment.

• Review quality control documents and procedures. Perform quality audits and verify current practices against documentation. Update standard operation procedures when necessary.

• Maintain and develop professional contacts including company personnel, vendors, and customers

• Maintain a safe and clean work environment in accordance with company safety rules to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local environments and safety regulations

• Participate in Special Teams including safety, HSE, housekeeping, etc. as required

• Performs additional duties as assigned and required

Job Requirements

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry or a related scientific field

• 2-4 years of relevant experience; paint and coating related working experience preferred.

• Knowledgeable of materials, products, and technologies frequently used within the scope an assigned project or laboratory group organization.

• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where standardization exists.

• Ability to understand, interpret, and execute a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, and/or schedule formats.

• Ability to organize and interpret data, and develop insights based on knowledge of chemical structures and reactivity, propose, and test hypotheses, and draw conclusions.

• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions and procedure manuals.

• Ability to keep detailed records.

• Ability to write reports summarizing data and work results.

• Must be fluent in English; oral and written.

• Ability to apply concepts of algebra, basic statistics, and computer spreadsheet calculations.

• Minimally able to