Sr. Chemist (UV Segment Leader)

Role details

Company Information

RPM Industrial Coatings Group is home to 11 industry-leading coatings and finishing brands. Our dynamic portfolio includes liquid coatings, powder coatings, touch-up and repair products, sundries, adjuvants, and much more. You’ll find our products around the globe in industries from architecture and automotive to farming, forestry, marine, and more.

RPM Industrial Coatings Group is part of RPM International Inc., a $7.3 billion global company with subsidiaries that are market and industry leaders in specialty coatings, sealants, building materials, and related services. From homes and workplaces to infrastructure and precious landmarks, RPM’s brands are trusted by consumers and professionals alike to help build a better world.

The RPM Innovation Center of Excellence is a state-of-the-art research and development facility that was designed to foster collaboration and harness the collective expertise found across our businesses. Features include liquid and powder application labs, resin and analytical labs, a sample production area, and a formulation lab, among other resources. It also serves as a destination for onsite customer training and application trials.

Job Description

RPM Industrial Coatings Group, Inc. is seeking an experienced Sr. Chemist - UV Segment Leader to serve as the technical lead for our UV Wood coatings technology platform. This role is responsible for driving innovation, leading product development efforts, and serving as the primary subject matter expert for all UV-related projects and initiatives across the organization.

The Sr. Chemist will provide leadership for UV technology strategy, formulation development, project execution, and team development while managing and mentoring a direct report. This highly visible role partners closely with Commercial, Manufacturing, Quality, and R&D leadership to advance customer-focused solutions and support business growth.

The ideal candidate is an accomplished formulation chemist with deep expertise in waterborne UV, and solvent-reduced UV and 100% solids UV technologies, strong project leadership skills and organizational, and a passion for developing both products and people.

Main Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

• Serve as the organization's primary Subject Matter Expert (SME) for UV coatings technology.
• Lead the development and optimization of UV-curable coating formulations for new and existing products.
• Establish technical direction and innovation strategy for the UV technology segment.
• Drive problem-solving activities related to formulation, application performance, manufacturing scale-up, and customer requirements.
• Evaluate new raw materials, technologies, and market trends to maintain a competitive product portfolio.

Provide technical guidance and recommendations to senior leadership regarding UV technology investments and opportunities.

Project & Portfolio Management

• Maintain overall responsibility for the UV project portfolio, including prioritization, execution, and delivery of development objectives.
• Lead cross-functional teams through product development and commercialization activities.
• Manage multiple concurrent projects while balancing short-term business needs with long-term innovation objectives.
• Support and actively participate in Stage Gate product development processes.
• Collaborate with Commercial teams to identify customer needs and translate them into technical solutions.
• Own and lead all lab activities related to UV using the Stage Gate project management system from inception, through development, to scale up and final commercialization.

Team Leadership

• Manage, coach, and develop one direct report (Chemist II).
• Provide technical mentorship to laboratory personnel and cross-functional team members.
• Establish development goals, provide performance feedback, and support career growth for team members.
• Foster a collaborative, safety-focused, and innovative laboratory culture.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Act as the primary technical resource for Commercial, Manufacturing, Quality, and R&D teams regarding UV technologies.
• Support customer visits, technical discussions, and troubleshooting activities as needed.
• Partner with manufacturing teams during scale-up, process optimization, and production support activities.
• Collaborate with Quality and Regulatory functions to ensure compliance with internal and external requirements.

Key Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of industrial formulation experience, preferably within coatings, inks, adhesives, or related technologies.
• Demonstrated experience developing and commercializing UV-curable coating technologies.
• Strong background in waterborne UV, solvent-reduce, and 100% solids UV formulations.
• Proven ability to manage multiple technical projects simultaneously.
• Prior experience leading technical teams, mentoring chemists, or providing project leadership.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience in industrial coatings, specialty chemicals, or performance materials industries.
• Knowledge of quality management systems and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience working within Stage Gate product development processes.
• Customer-facing technical support or application development experience.
• Familiarity with scale-up, process development, and manufacturing support activities.