Chemist – Entry to Intermediate Level

Company: Surface Chemists of FL, Inc., an employee-owned cooperative

Surface Chemists of Florida, Inc., is a small, employee-owned company that primarily focuses on the development, production, and sale of advanced coatings for fertilizers, while also being active in additional markets including asphalt roofing, specialty industrial dispersants, and oilfield chemicals. Our typical approach to doing business involves:

• Working closely with customers to understand their unique challenges that are not addressed by common off-the-shelf products on the market,
• Formulating customized solutions to meet their requirements and qualifying them in the lab using bespoke test equipment and methods,
• Developing and scaling up production of product,
• Supporting our customers’ scale-up and qualification efforts, and
• Given successful commercialization, providing ongoing technical support.

We’ve been successfully doing business in this manner for 54 years. Our current team is primarily early- to mid-career, highly ambitious, and relatively low-maintenance and easygoing at the personal level. As a small team, everyone’s contributions are felt and have a direct impact on the business (and, in good years, employee-owners’ profit sharing distributions). We are looking for an enthusiastic R&D Chemist to join us in creating the next generation of SCF products.

Job Summary

In this position, the successful candidate will be instrumental in helping design, manage, and conduct research projects, articulating new concepts, prototyping, testing, and optimizing formulations. The successful candidate will work closely with the R&D team to improve the quality of current products and develop new products that meet or exceed industry standards. Occasional travel for manufacturing support, plant trials, and general customer visits may be expected. Candidates most likely to succeed will be efficient, goal-oriented, creative, comfortable with shifting priorities to accommodate urgent matters, and have an excellent ability to observe with an open mind to most effectively recognize clues and patterns and incorporate them into their work.

Purpose and overall duties of the position

• This position requires substantial bench-level Chemistry work to support SCF’s R&D, manufacturing support, and technical service activities.
• Work under Senior Chemists and the Director of R&D to assist in defining the scope, objectives, and required tasks for specific projects to achieve defined objectives.
• Ensure that project tasks are properly researched and planned, prepared for, carried out, and reported on in a thorough and efficient manner.
• Organize and utilize R&D assets to meet project requirements,
• Operate in a scientifically sound fashion, using accepted safety standards,
• Plan and execute necessary literature research,
• Develop and test new product formulations,
• Conduct quality control and performance testing of new and existing products,
• Interpret and analyze test results and write technical reports,
• Maintain detailed laboratory records and data, and
• Collaborate effectively with other team members to ensure project goals are met.

Supervision and direction

This position reports to the Director of R&D. There are no permanent immediate reports.

Position requirements include:

• B. Sc. in a chemical, materials science, or related discipline
• Ability to design and conduct experiments
• Ability to write at a professional level in a technical capacity
• Ability to present at a professional level in a technical capacity
• Ability to interface effectively with customers, suppliers, and colleagues

Optional desirable qualifications include:

• M. Sc. in a chemical or chemical-related discipline
• Management experience in any employment setting
• Experience in the analytical lab setting
• Strong grasp of scale-up and production processes in a manufacturing setting
• Experience working in a manufacturing facility
• Publications/patents to demonstrate performance in this field of work

Standards of review

• Semi-formal annual performance review to evaluate performance in light of the stated objectives of the position and to refine objectives for the following year
• Semiannual informal reviews to monitor progress toward performance objectives

What SCF Offers:

As a member of our team, you’ll be an integral part of a small company making a big impact in the agricultural industry. Being employee-owned, we are committed to a collaborative, efficient work environment where every team member has the opportunity to share in the company’s success.

We offer salary, full benefits, and the opportunity for employee ownership and profit sharing after two years with the company.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $50,000.00 - $65,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Day shift
• Monday to Friday

Experience:

• Laboratory experience: 1 year (Preferred)

Ability to Relocate:

• Jupiter, FL 33458: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person