Job Information
Vantage Specialty Chemicals Senior Application Scientist in NJ, United States
Vantage is a leading supplier of naturally derived specialty ingredients and formulations that cater to the evolving needs of industrial and consumer markets. Through our chemistries, our customer focus and our global footprint, we are ENABLING TOMORROW’S SOLUTIONS TODAY.
As a company on the move, you’ll be working as part of a collaborative team and getting to know the cultural diversity of our world. We learn from each other to constantly improve, adapt and iterate. We value the voice and talent of our colleagues by empowering them to drive their unique ideas to completion. We’re convinced that exceptionally motivated employees produce outstanding results. Most importantly, we know you’re going to like it here. For more information visit: www.vantagegrp.com or LinkedIn/vantage
POSITION SUMMARY
The Senior Scientist is a science-driven product development leader responsible for the planning, management and execution of application science projects as part of the Vantage R&D organization. This role will be responsible for developing scientific approaches to demonstrate the functionality and technical performance of existing as well as new Vantage products.
This role requires a deep technical understanding of the fundamentals of surface science, personal care (e.g. skin care, hair care, color cosmetics, oral care, etc.), formulation sciences and application techniques. The candidate will be responsible for ensuring good alignment with the new product development teams on formulation and application studies, as well as working closely with technical marketing and other commercial teams to execute the launch of new ingredients, formulations and technologies. The candidate is expected to work cross-functionally between R&D, technical marketing, business units, plant sites, suppliers, customers, and external partners to help deliver solutions to market needs and specific customer challenges. The candidate will also drive optimization effectiveness of procedures and best laboratory (R&D) practices associated with formulation and application developments. The candidate should have flexibility to travel to other Vantage sites, for customer visits, and to attend technical conferences and tradeshows.
This full-time position requires the candidate to be on site (in a physical lab/office space) 5 days a week, and the preferred locations are Warren, NJ or Gurnee, IL.
POSITION SCOPE
This role will require the candidate to take a lead technical role as a surface and interfacial scientist in support of new product and formulation development. The candidate will actively monitor and act on competitive intelligence as well as our market roadmaps. The candidate will develop and secure intellectual property (IP). A significant (50% or more) focus is on developing surface active agents used in personal care formulations and the appropriate applications, but also could include technical support and product development of products supporting other end use markets including food, pharma, surface treatment, etc.
The candidate will assist or lead the development of products and formulas aligned with market needs to improve and demonstrate the functionality, performance and value-added characteristics of the Vantage products and formulations. Additional responsibilities, such as preparing documentation for project updates and reviews, technical training, scale-up or technology transfer and patent application drafting are required. Laboratory safety excellence is a must, and it is expected that the candidate is familiar with OSHA standards.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Job Title
- Senior Application Scientist – Principal Surface and Interfacial Scientist
Employee Engagement (including Vantage Values and Leadership Behaviors)
Builds an environment of continuous improvement and accountability and continually strives to create strong employee engagement.
Consistently reinforces a strong safety culture at the workplace through visible felt leadership and proactive awareness.
Provides leadership (technical, professional, organizational, etc.) in diverse working environments.
Provides leadership, junior scientist development & mentoring, and subject matter technical leadership in R&D.
Comfortable working proactively in an engaged environment with customer-first values.
The Ideal Candidate
Desired Background
Education: PhD degree or equivalent in Physical Chemistry, Chemistry, Colloid Science, Polymer Science, or a related field is preferred, or a bachelor’s or master’s degree with 10+ years of relevant working experience.
4+ years of experience developing surfactants utilizing interfacial analysis for chemical structure function performance relationships to enable successful formulation development used in personal care, cosmetics, or HI&I industries is required.
Ability to directly lead and mentor junior scientists and engineers as well as indirectly influence and provide technical portfolio prioritization and transparency across matrixed business organizations.
Experience in a specialty chemical laboratory environment is preferred.
Knowledge of chemical composition (synthesis and analyses), structure, and property relationships of substances is required.
Computer literacy and proficiency using common business and scientific software, equipment, research databases, and statistical design of experiments are required.
Experience with laboratory automation and optimization is preferred.
Knowledge, Skills & Talents
- The candidate is expected to have a good understanding of working in a R&D lab environment, with hands-on expertise to safely and effectively operate lab equipment as well as taking an active role in promoting and reinforcing best practice safe laboratory and office practices.
Vantage is a leading supplier of naturally derived specialty ingredients and formulations that cater to the evolving needs of industrial and consumer markets. Through our chemistries, our customer focus and our global footprint, we are Enabling Tomorrow's Solutions Today.
As a company on the move, you’ll be working as part of a collaborative team and getting to know the cultural diversity of our world. We learn from each other to constantly improve, adapt and iterate. We value the voice and talent of our colleagues by empowering them to drive their unique ideas to completion. We’re convinced that exceptionally motivated employees produce outstanding results. Most importantly, we know you’re going to like it here.