Job Description

Job Title: R&D Chemist

Department: Chemist

Classification: Full Time, Exempt

Compensation: $120,000.00 – $130,000.00

Location: Corona, CA

Reports to: Director of Product Development

About the Company:

At U.S. Continental Marketing, we have manufactured the highest quality of leather and fabric care products, as well as specialty products for over 30 years. In our 100,000 square foot facility, U.S. Continental designs and create formulations for many of the world’s most prestigious and well-known brands – and we are the global leader in leather and fabric care private label.

Position Summary:

The R&D Chemist is responsible for designing, developing, reformulating, troubleshooting, testing and implementing environmentally friendly formulations for cleaning, conditioning, sealing, and protecting leather, suede, fabrics, rubber, vinyl and other related substrates. Working knowledge of FDA regulated over the counter formulations. This position will also be responsible for regulatory compliance including creating Safety Data Sheets and communication of such internally and externally.

The position requires an advanced degree in chemistry. This is a hands-on position requiring bench work, documentation generation, team collaboration, pilot plant support work and bench to pilot plant process technology transfer. The R&D Chemist should display a positive and proactive attitude, possess strong organizational skills, and prioritize and multitask under minimal supervision, demonstrate problem-solving skills, be d etail oriented with a high degree of accuracy and a desire to grow.

This individual must have extensive cGMP, FDA and EPA guidance experience. Must be able to provide leadership and mentoring to R&D Lab Technicians and R&D Formulators as well as representing the company in front of customers.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Plan and execute laboratory research.
• Create and develop innovative and differentiated product solutions from concept to commercialization and modify or improve existing formulas.
• Participate in cross-functional project teams within Research and Development and across the Company, taking leadership roles for process development and plant support.
• Maintain clear and accurate records of formulations, procedures, observations, results.
• Oversee and process scale up, including – bench to pilot manufacturing batch adjustments and troubleshooting.
• Conduct stability testing and troubleshoot unstable formulas to ensure commercial feasibility.
• Maintain working knowledge of raw material innovations and emerging research and proactively researching new concepts, materials, processes, and technical opportunities.
• In cooperation with Supply Chain source and validate new raw materials which meet the Company’s commitment to being environmentally friendly.
• Serve as a technical and problem-solving resource for the Company.
• Ability to work and report in a timely fashion in order to meet customers’ needs.
• Review, revise and draft laboratory processes and procedures.
• Evaluate adequacy of laboratory control standards.
• In cooperation with quality, sales, customer service and operations Investigate customer complaints and non-conformance issues.
• Responsible for contributing to audit readiness and for assisting in quality audits with FDA, other Regulatory Agencies, and customers, as needed.
• Working knowledge of FDA and EPA regulations, especially for the laboratory practices
• Author, read and understand SDSs for all new formulations and raw materials they will be working with.
• Knowledge of chemical safety and use of appropriate personal protective equipment
• Knowledge of various analytical equipment and techniques utilized in an analytical laboratory including but not limited to pH, viscosity, specific gravity, infrared spectroscopy, HPLC.
• Communicates effectively in verbal and written form on projects and research results.
• Supports efforts to brainstorm new customer concepts based on personal experience, market insights, competitive position, online research, technology/market trends, etc.
• Develops new products to meet customer requirements per assigned projects.
• Prepares samples for customer evaluation or for use by Project Management, Engineering, QC/QA.
• Attends project meetings and prepares project updates.

Education / Qualifications / Knowledge:

• A Master’s or BA degree in Chemistry required with 3+ years formulating experience in some, if not all, of the following industries: personal care/industrial cleaners/surfactants/protectors /coatings and other similar chemistry.
• Excellent numerical skills and understanding of data analysis/statistical methods.
• Strong computer skills including MS Office programs, formulation databases.
• Excellent creative thinking, organizational and communication skills; both written and verbal.
• Great attention to detail and proven result driven approach.
• Excellent organizational and leadership abilities.
• Ability to establish priorities, work independently, productively and proceed with objectives without supervision.
• Knowledge of federal and local regulations of Hazardous and pollutant materials.
• Must be able to easily adapt to priority changes and able to work on simultaneous projects to meet established deadlines.
• Ability to work in a dynamic fast paced-sometimes rapidly shifting environment and quickly establish priorities. Ability to concentrate in such an environment and perform quality work.

Benefits:

We provide a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision insurance, 401(k) plan with generous employer matching, ample paid time off, and life insurance coverage.

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