Product Development Specialist

About Vibrantz Technologies

Vibrantz Technologies is a leading global provider of specialty chemicals and materials solutions whose purpose is to bring color, performance, and vibrancy to life. Every day, our employees, the products we make, and our valued customer partnerships are inspired by this purpose.  

Serving over 11,000 customers, Vibrantz’s technologies are trusted in a variety of advanced materials, color solutions and performance coatings applications and consumer products. We are experts in particle engineering, glass and ceramic science and color technology. Our technologies are used in small amounts to make big impacts on applications and consumer products, including durable vehicles and batteries, easier-to-clean appliances, energy efficient roof tiles and bricks, stronger and more decorative glass, and eco-friendly paints.  

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Vibrantz has over 50 manufacturing facilities and sales offices on six continents, and we employ 4,500 individuals. Our shared culture is rooted strongly in our six core values that focus on safety, our people, customers, excellence in all we do, environmental stewardship and integrity, ethics, and trust. And we are intent upon fostering a workplace that engages not only employees’ heads and hands and – uniquely – their hearts.  

Vibrantz is owned by American Securities, a leading U.S. private equity firm that invests in market-leading North American companies with annual revenue generally ranging from $200 million to $2 billion and/or $50 million to $200 million of EBITDA. American Securities and its affiliates have approximately $23 billion under management and are based in New York with an office in Shanghai.  

For more information, please visit www.vibrantz.com and www.american-securities.com. 

Job Function

Reporting into the Innovation and Development Manager, the Product Development Specialist - Coatings will be based out of Ashtabula, Ohio and will be responsible for providing developmental, technical support to our customer base in the Coatings markets and provide start-up support to Operations when projects are scaled up to production quantities.
 

Responsibilities

• Set a positive example with respect to safety and overall professional performance.

• Prepare project plans, periodic reports, and Gate Review information to allow smooth transition of new products from development through scale up to Operations.

• Designing, planning and executing project elements in the laboratory and plant, as well as in customers’ plants and laboratories, if needed, to meet customer requirements and expectations.

• Being responsible for the completion of bench work and processing work necessary to convert opportunities or to resolve issues through formulation.

• Directly interfacing with vendors and/or customers to define and convert opportunities and resolve issues.

• Providing effective and timely communication at every stage of a project.  This will include (but will not be limited to) progress reports, updates, and project milestones reached or missed.

• Accompany commercial sales on customer visits for collaboration opportunities and/or development opportunities.

• Work independently and in collaboration with other team members to meet project goals with accelerated schedules and significant commercial impact.

• Compose presentations and reports to internal/external parties

• Perform laboratory, pilot-scale and manufacturing work involving the development and/or scale up of dispersion products and processes for a multitude of coatings applications.

• Coaching and reviewing the work of lower level professionals.

• Comply with safety rules and regulations, lead /support safety meetings and training, inspects work area for hazards/deficiencies and initiates action to correct them. Also, reports injury/illness and/or environmental incidents.  

• Maintain lab notebooks to organize, analyze, and record work product

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Experience

• BS/BA in an appropriate field of science (MS in Chemistry or Chem. Eng. preferred).

• 3+ years technical experience in the coatings industry.

• Nominal understanding of color science with experience in the area of dispersion, wetting, and additive activity.

• Ability to analyze, design and implement projects.

• Ability and willingness to travel –– occasionally, on short notice.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications as required.

Preferred Experience

• Good interpersonal skills with ability to work with and support colleagues, analyze and solve problems, control resources and implement programs, and possess project management skills.

• Knowledge of critical chemical functionalities for waterborne/solvent born architectural and industrial urethanes, epoxies, acrylics polyester chemistries with respect to coatings industries.

• Willingness and ability to continuously increase and maintain skills and knowledge in significant work areas.

• Ability and willingness to work on multiple projects in an organized and structured manner.

• Good oral communication skills – capable of providing presentations.

• Good writing skills; able to write clear and concise reports.

• Good understanding of Vibrantz products and customer processes.

• The ability to operate in a self-directed manner and make independent decisions as required.

• Ability to carry out efficient communication with team members as well as internal and external customers.

Location

Vibrantz is committed to protecting your privacy. We provide a Website Privacy Policy located on our Vibrantz.com site to explain the type of information we collect and to inform you of the specific practices and guidelines that protect the security and confidentiality of your personal data. Please read that policy carefully. If any term in the policy is unacceptable to you, please do not use the Website or provide any personal data. This policy may change from time to time (see Revisions to Our Privacy Policy on Vibrantz.com).

Vibrantz Technologies Inc. (“Vibrantz”) is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. Vibrantz strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, sex, gender, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.