Sr. Chemist

Company Information

RPM Industrial Coatings Group is home to 11 industry-leading coatings and finishing brands. Our dynamic portfolio includes liquid coatings, powder coatings, touch-up and repair products, sundries, adjuvants, and much more. You’ll find our products around the globe in industries from architecture and automotive to farming, forestry, marine, and more.

RPM Industrial Coatings Group is part of RPM International Inc., a $7.3 billion global company with subsidiaries that are market and industry leaders in specialty coatings, sealants, building materials, and related services. From homes and workplaces to infrastructure and precious landmarks, RPM’s brands are trusted by consumers and professionals alike to help build a better world.

Kopcoat is the world’s leading supplier of innovative chemical products for the protection of farms, forests, and buildings. For over 25 years, Kopcoat has provided superior solutions to control and eliminate mold, decay, insects, water damage, and more. And we do it while providing outstanding service for our customers.

The RPM Innovation Center of Excellence is a state-of-the-art research and development facility that was designed to foster collaboration and harness the collective expertise found across our businesses. Features include liquid and powder application labs, resin and analytical labs, a sample production area, and a formulation lab, among other resources. It also serves as a destination for onsite customer training and application trials.

Job Description

The Sr. Chemist position is an advanced level position responsible for idea generation, experimental design, formulation optimization, and commercializing new products in the wood protection and preservation industry. Candidates are welcomed from adjacent chemical fields, such as synthesis, materials, polymer, and formulation science, who are interested in directing that experience towards innovating the wood science field. This position is on-site in a state-of-the-art research center that is a part of the RPM Industrial Coatings Group.

Main Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize new and existing formulations to achieve customer-specified properties through adjustment of raw materials and processing parameters, with a focus on commercially successful products.

• Design and implement laboratory-scale formulation studies, stability assessments, and application testing to meet efficacy and quality guidelines. Investigate and solve formulation challenges for existing products to meet manufacturing or customer needs.

• Evaluate and select raw materials based on performance, cost, sustainability, regulatory compliance, and customer needs. 

• Support technology transfer from laboratory development to pilot and commercial scale, including scale-up, process optimization, manufacturing support, troubleshooting, and commercialization activities.

• Independently define technical approaches, develop experimental plans, prioritize resources, interpret results, and make data-driven recommendations with limited day-to-day supervision.

• Develop or utilize existing test methods to assess physical properties and chemical composition, with an understanding of analytical and QC testing requirements for laboratory and manufacturing formula control.

• Comply with all laboratory processes and procedures. Maintain concise and accurate records per laboratory expectations.

• Contribute to the preparation and writing of patent applications, technical specifications, and other intellectual property documentation to protect innovative technologies.

• Ability to translate customer needs and performance requirements into measurable technical objectives and communicate technical findings effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Maintain and expand knowledge of the chemical and wood science fields by staying current with emerging industry trends, scientific literature, competitor technologies, and relevant regulatory developments. Attend industry conferences, technical meetings, and tradeshows as appropriate.

• Ensure and maintain an orderly and safe working environment for all employees. Timely compliance with required training.

Key Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Materials Science, Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering, Wood Science, or a related discipline with 10+ years of relevant industrial experience; Master's degree with 5+ years of relevant industrial experience; or PhD with relevant industrial or research experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with formulation development, materials development, or applied chemical R&D.

• Knowledge of wood structure, wood degradation mechanisms, preservatives, coatings, or wood protection technologies is preferred but not required.

• Demonstrated experience designing and executing laboratory experiments and interpreting experimental data.

• Experience transitioning laboratory formulations to pilot or commercial scale, including scale-up, process optimization, manufacturing support, and technology transfer is preferred.

• Ability to independently lead technical projects and communicate results effectively.

• Working knowledge of chemical safety, regulatory, and product stewardship requirements.

• Effective communication with work contacts, including peers, supervisors, and other departments.