Technical Services & Development Specialist

Role details

Job Overview

Sekisui Specialty Chemicals America recognizes that employees are its most valuable resource and is interested in the growth and fulfillment of every employee. Our Employees provide the driving force and the ever-expanding knowledge base that are fundamental to the success of the Company. It is our objective to recruit and employ qualified associates who can contribute to our progress and provide them with the opportunity to maximize their potential. Let’s build a future together with innovative products that help the world around us.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Technical Service and Development Specialist will be the technical leader on growth projects and be responsible for meeting technical milestones to ensure commercial project success. The role works directly with customers, sales, manufacturing, and R&D to solve application problems, recommend the appropriate PVOH grades, develop new formulations and applications, and translate laboratory results into commercial opportunities. This position will contribute to our success as we continue to grow our product portfolio within Sekisui Specialty Chemicals.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Customer Technical Service

• Troubleshoot customer formulation and processing problems
• Support laboratory and pilot trials.
• Analyze competitive products and propose technical alternatives
• Prepare technical reports and customer presentations

Application Development

• Develop new formulation and application concepts using PVOH
• Develop screening methods that reproduce customer processes
• Benchmark PVOH against competing technologies
• Subject matter expert for PVOH applications

New Business Development Support

• Identify new applications and market opportunities where PVOH can provide technical or economic advantages over incumbent chemistries
• Identify recurring customer unmet needs and translate them into new-product or product-modification opportunities for the PVOH portfolio
• Partners with commercial team members to support product promotion through literature and trade shows.
• Maintains the confidentiality of proprietary information.

Manufacturing and product support

• Investigate product-performance complaints
• Establish product/ application specifications
• Support new grade scale-up and qualification
• Partner with commercial team to drive trials and conversions

QUALIFICAITON

• 3-5 years in polymers, coatings, adhesives, paper/tissue, construction chemicals, or related specialty chemicals
• BS or MS degree in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Material Science, Paper Science or related discipline
• Direct experience with PVOH or other water-soluble polymers
• Hand-on laboratory formulation and testing experience
• Experience with DOE/statistical experimental methods
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to communicate directly with customers and commercial teams
• Ability to travel approximately 20 - 30%

Job Type: Full-time

Expected hours: 40.0 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:

• PVOH or other water-soluble polymers: 1 year (Preferred)
• Specialty Chemicals: 3 years (Required)
• forward facing customer service: 1 year (Preferred)

Ability to Commute:

• Pasadena, TX 77506 (Required)

Willingness to travel:

• 25% (Preferred)

Work Location: In person