Senior Research Scientist

Job Description:

Introduction

At GAF Commercial we cover more than buildings. We cover each other. No matter what role, tenure, or department, under this roof you are helping to build the market leader in commercial roofing. Under this roof, we are assembling a winning team that puts the customer at the center of every decision and doesn't back down from hard work. Under this roof, we support one another in delivering operational excellence daily, while working to make a positive impact for our planet and our communities. Becoming the market leader only happens when everyone feels they have the opportunity, and the support, to thrive. We are GAF. And under this roof, we protect what matters most.

Team Or Function Overview

The Senior Research Scientist role is part of Siplast’s Research and Development (R&D) team based onsite at Siplast’s R&D center in Arkadelphia, AR. Siplast’s R&D team develops new products, technologies, and product systems to meet market needs and support business growth in commercial roofing, building enclosure systems, and related applications while providing on-going technical, material, and operational support for existing products and systems. As part of GAF’s extended Commercial R&D function, Siplast R&D collaborates on projects across multiple product platforms exchanging technical support with colleagues across GAF and sister companies in the Standard Industries portfolio. The Senior Research Scientist serves as a technical lead for one or more product platforms or technologies within Siplast’s product line and innovates new products, processes, and technology platforms to expand Siplast’s portfolio.

Summary

The Senior Research Scientist is a technical role with both hands-on individual contributor and technical leadership responsibilities. He/she will demonstrate a bias for action guided by technical expertise, core values, and customer focus and deliver results in a timely manner to meet the company growth objectives in their assigned areas. The current opportunity is focussed on formulation development for fluid-applied barrier membranes, coatings systems, and adhesives / sealants in Siplast's liquid and fluid-applied building enclosure platform, fluid-applied commercial roofing platform, and vehicular and pedestrian traffic systems. The Senior Research Scientist will serve as an expert formulator to lead hands-on technical efforts driving liquid, coating, and adhesive innovation and commercialization. He/she will mentor and develop scientists and technicians in formulation science and testing methodologies and manage innovation and platform support projects in their assigned areas. The successful candidate will bring significant application experience to bear and develop an intimate understanding of Siplast's relevant applications to create and capture value through new product innovation. He/she will contribute to the assessment and development of intellectual properties and will support scale-up and launch of new products. The Senior Scientist will demonstrate skilled cross-functional interactions with vendors, sales, manufacturing, purchasing, marketing, and other functions involved in the successful development, commercialization, and support of new products. The position reports to a Laboratory Supervisor and may supervise technicians.

Essential Duties

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Design experiments and conduct hands-on experimentation and testing using standard and advanced techniques to evaluate raw materials, intermediates, formulations, products, and systems related to roofing, coating, adhesive, and related products
• Conduct complex analysis of data and trends in experimental results to make decisions and recommendations for technical development and commercialization needs
• Initiate and manage vendor relationships to source key raw materials, processing capabilities, equipment, consultation, and other services to meet project needs
• Manage multiple projects that may be short-term to long-term in nature to meet product and platform development objectives.
• Report deliverables, recommendations, and key findings to management and stakeholders
• Develop intellectual property, assess freedom to operate, and file invention disclosures in cooperation with the legal team to protect company developments and interests
• Prepare white-papers, social media releases, and presentations related to products and development activities in support of product launches and related training
  
  
  

Physical Demands

• Ability to frequently work in a stationary position for long periods; ability to frequently move about to accomplish tasks or to move from one work area to another
• Close & far visual acuity to view documents, computer screens, perform inspections, drive a vehicle, etc.
• Must be able to lift 25 lbs regularly, and up to 50 lbs occasionally.
  
  
  

Under This Roof, We Require

• Master’s degree in chemistry or related field
• 10 years experience product development and/or application testing in coatings, paints, adhesives, asphaltic materials, concrete, polymers, membranes, or other related fields
  
  
  

Under This Roof, We Also Value

• Ph.D. in chemistry, polymer science, engineering, or related field
• 5 years laboratory-based experience formulating paints, coatings, adhesives, or related products
• 5 years application testing of paints, coatings, adhesives, waterproofing membranes, concrete, polymers, roofing systems, or related products
• Hands-on construction experience, particularly in roofing, waterproofing, or related applications
• Laboratory analytical experience including: GPC, FTIR, DSC, TGA, rheology, Instron, and wet-chemical testing
• Experience up-scaling batch processes for formulated liquid and adhesive products
  
  
  

How We Protect What Matters Most

• We offer a wide range of health insurance options that include medical, dental, and vision for you and your family.
• Our Family-Building benefits support the many different journeys to fertility and parenthood.
• Our robust 401K plan includes an employer match contribution with your pre-tax and/or Roth contributions.
• Other exciting programs and perks are available to help employees achieve work-life balance, including (but not limited to) a wellness program, free financial coaching, a referral program, and product rebates when purchased for an employee’s primary residence.
• Professional growth and development are very important to us! We offer internal training programs and courses, as well as a generous tuition reimbursement program.
• We put diversity and inclusion into action with our Employee Resource Groups, which unite employees based on common perspectives, identities, demographic factors, or out of a desire to be an ally.
  
  
  

GAF complies with federal, state, and local disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact HR Services at 833-HR-XPERT.

At Siplast, we believe our employees are our greatest resource. We offer competitive salary, benefits, and vacation package for all full-time permanent positions. Siplast is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer.

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know. Must be eligible to work in the U.S. without need for employer-sponsored visa (work permit).

If you are an internal employee, please do not apply here. Please click on the Careers bubble in Workday, which can be accessed via the HR Portal.