Associate Chemist/Chemist/Senior Chemist/Lead Chemist Last Updated: 9/16/22
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Grade Level: 8-11
Location: CLE/LAN/CHA
Nippon Paint Automotive Americas Inc. (NPAA) offers employees a generous earned bonus structure including monthly hourly attendance bonuses, merit increases and a mid-year/annual bonus incentive plan. Employees receive eleven paid holidays per year, earn paid time off, can enroll in comprehensive health and welfare plans and a 401K plan with an exceptional company match. We provide employee recognition programs, tuition reimbursement and much more. When you join our team, you are part of our NPAA family. We hold several events throughout the year for our employees to show our appreciation for their hard work and dedication. Come join a great team!
POSITION SUMMARY:
Associate Chemist: This is an entry-level position responsible for assisting the Technical Team in meeting the customers’ demands and helping ensure that NPAA remains the market leader in automotive coatings. The Associate Chemist will work with experienced chemists and management staff, performing lab evaluations and developing fundamental coatings know-how to develop products & specific formulations that meet or exceed our customers’ needs.
Chemist: This is an experienced position responsible for assisting the Technical Team in meeting the customers’ demands and helping ensure that NPAA remains the market leader in automotive coatings. This team member utilizes know-how in coatings chemistry and end-use to provide problem solving guidance for technical projects. This position is building key customer/supplier and strong interdepartmental relationships. The chemist supports basic business process and technical training for new hires. Participates in new business or internal business process improvement opportunities.
Senior Chemist: This is an advanced position responsible for assisting the Technical Team in meeting the customers’ demands and helping ensure that NPAA remains the market leader in automotive coatings. This team member utilizes well-developed know-how in coatings chemistry and end-use to provide problem solving guidance for projects critical to business success. This position is building key customer/supplier and strong interdepartmental relationships. The senior chemist provides business process and technical training to other chemists. Participates in new business or internal business process improvement opportunities.
Lead Chemist: This is an advanced position responsible for assisting the Technical Team in meeting the customers’ demands and helping ensure that NPAA remains the market leader in automotive coatings. This team member utilizes expertise in coatings chemistry and end-use to provide problem solving guidance for projects critical to business success. This position must act as a business partner to key customer/supplier contacts as well as internal cross-functional teams. The lead chemist provides business process and technical training to other chemists and may have supervisory responsibility for other team members. Independently identifies and leads new business or internal business process improvement opportunities.
POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES (TYPICAL, NOT COMPREHENSIVE):
Launch & Line Support:
- Prepare and validate lab-scale prototype samples following established procedures
- Utilize manual and develop capability in automated application techniques
- Interact with commercial and production support teams to resolve problems
- Travels to customer sites to observe end-use of sold products
- Prepare internal reports and drafts for external presentations, adhering to project schedule
Analytical:
- Process & track analytical test requests to support internal or customer abnormal investigations or R&D projects
- Perform analysis using available analytical instrumentation (such as FT-IR, GC-MS, SEM-EDX, XRF, Particle Size Analyzer, Titration, Microtome, Microscopy, etc).
- Prepare technical and monthly activity reports
Development:
- Prepare and validate lab-scale prototype samples following established procedures
- Utilize manual and develop capability in automated application techniques
- Interact with commercial and internal support teams to gain understanding of OEM and customer requirements
- Interact with suppliers to learn industry trends and latest developments
- Travels to customer sites to observe new product trials
- Prepare internal reports and drafts for external presentations, adhering to project schedule
Polymer:
- Utilize lab-scale polymer synthesis equipment to prepare lab-scale prototype samples following established procedures
- Interact with internal technical and operations teams to gain understanding of coatings and manufacturing process requirements
- Interact with raw material and equipment suppliers to learn industry trends and latest developments
- Follow manufacturing scale-up trials on and off-site
- Prepare internal reports and drafts for management review, adhering to project schedule
Dispersion:
- Utilize lab-scale dispersing equipment to prepare lab-scale prototype samples following established procedures
- Interact with internal technical and operations teams to gain understanding of coatings and manufacturing process requirements
- Interact with raw material and equipment suppliers to learn industry trends and latest developments
- Follow manufacturing scale-up trials on and off-site
- Prepare internal reports and drafts for management review, adhering to project schedule
Pretreat / Ecoat:
- Prepare and validate lab-scale prototype wet samples following established procedures
- Utilize lab-scale coating process to prepare test panels
- Utilize analytical instrumentation and analyze results to provide customer line support
- Interact with commercial and production support teams to resolve problems
- Travels to customer sites to observe end-use of sold products
- Prepare internal reports and drafts for external presentations, adhering to project schedule
POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:
The individual must be able to perform each essential job duty and responsibility satisfactorily. The following requirements are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities needed to perform the job at a fully acceptable level.
EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND/OR CERTIFICATION
- College degree in a science-related field required; for advanced positions, Masters or Doctoral degree preferred and may be substituted for work experience
- Experience:
- Associate Chemist: experience working in a chemical laboratory preferred.
- Chemist: typically, 2+ years of applicable experience
- Senior Chemist: typically, 5+ years of applicable experience
- Lead Chemist: typically, 8+ years of applicable experience
- Able to handle paints and chemicals, including isocyanates, using required PPE.
- Ability and desire to learn and improve.
- Ability to lift 50 lbs.
- Basic computer Skills, office/word/excel
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both in oral and written form
- Ability to effectively present information and respond to inquiries, and/or complaints
- Displays courtesy, tact and respect when dealing with others.
OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES
- Able and available to travel up to 25% of the time to meet company and customer objectives
- Utilize computer software programs to manage experimental data and complete basic job functions
- Follow internal procedures regarding 5S, safety, compliance, etc.
- Ability to meet strict deadlines
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
- Ability to wear a respirator/all necessary PPE – including being clean shaven for respirator use
- Establishes and maintains effective working relationships; demonstrates a commitment to teamwork
- Maintains a strong attention to detail
- Ability to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment
- Ability to work overtime in order to meet the needs of the business.
- Ability to see color via color test rating
Nippon Paint Automotive Americas Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.