Powder Coatings Technical Service / Applications Manager

Powder Coatings Technical Service / Applications Manager

Located in Northern KY, this location boasts amazing outdoor adventures for boating, hiking, nature preserves, and even better a family-owned company with a long history.  People here love their jobs and are actively involved in the community.  If you’ve been looking for a place to call home, this is it!

Manage functional area(s) involved with powder and/or liquid coatings applications testing.  Includes conducting research and development projects, preparing samples, testing samples (characterizing properties and evaluating performance) against industry standards relating to specialty polymers, particularly additives and acrylic resins, made via company’s manufacturing processes.  Requires a combination of theoretical and applied understanding of coatings chemistry (including surface morphology and crosslinking), polymer/resin synthesis, processing and characterization of polymers, structure-property relationships, as well as practical knowledge of materials (e.g., silica), polymer composites and application testing of products (e.g., polymer resins, powder coatings, liquid coatings, cosmetics, adhesives, inks, etc.)

Expertise in one or more of the following technical subject areas: coatings science, polymer synthesis; organic or inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry; analytical chemistry; materials science; formulation, characterization and/or evaluation of polymer resins, liquid paints, powder coatings, cosmetics, adhesives and/or inks.

Proven hands-on experience involving one or more of the following skills: R&D leadership, stage-gate review, project management, product commercialization, manufacturing scale-up, applications testing and quality assurance.

Strong communication and organizational skills, excellent computer skills, familiarity with six-sigma and design of experiment (DOE) methodologies.

Job Duties

Responsibilities

• Design, or supervise the design of product applications testing protocols
• Maintain a safe work environment that leads to no-lost-time accidents
• Specify raw materials and chemicals for the products and work with Purchasing to manage properties for storage and use
• Establish/maintain/update applied product formulation procedures, property specifications, test requirements
• Prepare and maintain Technical Data Sheets (TDSs) for the products
• Conceive new/improved product/process R&D ideas and present to Sales & Operations
• Employ product design process to scale new products from Lab to Pilot to Plant, propose ways to improve product scale-up efficiency
• Coordinate with Sales and Operations to define, assign, schedule, and complete technical projects, lab work requests, customer complaints, product non-conformances, and manufacturing correctives
• Address customer inquiries or participate in customer calls, meetings, or visits as needed
• Calibrate instruments / perform equipment preventative maintenance as needed
• Evaluate and introduce new/improved analytical tools & characterization methods where appropriate; employ external capabilities as needed
• Identify technical talent inside and outside of the company
• Support employee technical education by recommending relevant courses or training programs for individuals or teams
• Implement or participate in initiatives aligned with the Sustainability Policy and Principles
• Participate in webinars; attend technical conferences and trade shows as needed
• Communicate technical capabilities and results to rest of company
• Review publication and patent literature to understand market/technology trends & drivers
• Characterize/evaluate competitive products as samples become available
• Follow hazardous waste disposal and satellite accumulation procedures for Lab
• Follow Lab safety/cleanliness protocols

Accountabilities

• Represent Applications Department (Powder and/or Liquid) when interacting with other Groups, Departments and Sections
• Collaborate with Sales and Operations leadership to initiate and evaluate new/improved product and process technology platforms with the aim of regularly commercializing new/improved products
• Review/contribute to Technology Project Definitions (TPDs); lead and/or coordinate execution of technical projects as needed
• Prepare/approve/clarify lab work requests (LWRs), assign tasks to staff members and set priorities as needed
• Allocate Application resources and schedule work based on TPD and LWR priorities
• Ensure that staff members use and maintain laboratory notebooks and regularly update LWR log
• Communicate lab formulations and prioritize pilot runs with Production Manager
• Ensure performance planning and review completed for:
  • Application Scientists, Specialists & Technicians
• Recommend contract lab services (companies, academic groups…)
• Manage and communicate Application productivity metrics
• Support Sales on product properties/performance questions or regulatory compliance matters as needed
• Initiate and manage supplier improvement projects
• Contribute to monthly technical project updates and quarterly stage-gate reviews
• Approve Application staff expense reports
• Approve changes to Application staff work schedules
• Approve and recommend changes to Application Lab and Office areas
• Approve material and equipment purchase
• Recommend changes to existing products, manufacturing processes, quality system, customer service that may directly impact revenue/profit
• Contribute to Technology section of annual Sales and/or Business Plan (product/process improvements and new launches)
• Recommend new patenting/licensing strategy and defensive tactics
• Recommend changes in Application Department budget
• Recommend Application Department promotions / compensation changes / bonus recommendations / dismissals

Salary

$120,000 - $140,000 plus potential bonus

Benefits

All major Medical and Dental insurances, PTO, 401k with profit sharing contributions 

Technical Qualifications

• Advanced Degree with experience in synthesis and applications of acrylic resins and associated curing agents and additives
• Someone who has been in industry for 10 years would be great
• Should have a strong background in applications work in Powder Coatings, Inks, Nail Polish, UV Cure, many others

**If you’d like to hear more about this opportunity and others we are currently working on, please contact Stephanie Kemp at [email protected].

JO:  27.26SK
#LI-SK1