Scientist - Firefighting Foam Applications

Position Summary

This role will be for a strong, individual contributor within CP Kelco’s global Consumer and Industrial Applications Development team. This is a hands-on, lab-based position, focused on developing the use of CP Kelco hydrocolloids in finished consumer and industrial products with an emphasis on fluorine-free firefighting foams. In this role you will work on developing and testing the next generation of firefighting foams, and plan experiments to understand the link between product properties and foam performance.

In this role your main responsibility is to formulate the most sustainable and high-performing products. Deep understanding of formulation principles for firefighting foams, hands-on experience in formulating, and demonstrated proficiency in a lab setting are necessary skills for success in this role. In addition, you should have superior communication and teamwork skills, are able to prioritize effectively in a fast pace rapidly changing environment and exhibit a passion for environmentally sustainable solutions and creative problem solving.

Projects will involve evaluation, optimization, and understanding of the science and technology behind CP Kelco hydrocolloid solutions within the context of complete formulas and processes to provide the desired functionalities in finished applications.

This role requires working with and learning from other R&D functions within CP Kelco, as well as Marketing and Sales teams. This role requires you to be onsite 5 days a week.

NO AGENCIES PLEASE

Principal Duties & Responsibilities

• Develop ideas and utility for CP Kelco products (experimental and existing) in firefighting foam applications as well as other Consumer and Industrial applications. These applications are personal care, household care or Industrial. 
• Design and execute well-planned experiments, analyze complex data and propose innovative solutions. Document experimental results and conclusions completely, in a well-organized fashion and in a timely manner.
• Strong individual contributor who will be key in solving long-term, complex, self-driven projects.
• Participate in technical discussions with internal colleagues and external partners & customers to share knowledge and provide input to solve challenges.
• Actively participate in technical project teams; may lead technical project teams comprising team members from different geographies and functions to support specialized projects with high levels of technical complexity.
• Develop and apply knowledge to implement and/or improve tools, techniques and work processes.
• Helps to influence and train others, and to create new technical capabilities.
• Role may include regional and international travel to trade shows, conferences, customers and other CP Kelco technical sites.
   

Specialized/Technical Knowledge or Required Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry/chemical engineering or a closely related technical field with 5 relevant experience in formulating water based applications such as firefighting foam applications, personal care, household care or industrial products. 
• Passion for science with strong experience in wet chemistry, emulsion, surfactant, and water-based polymer systems and formulating industrial products (eg. Fluorine-free firefighting foams).
• Expertise and knowledge of the physical chemistry of carbohydrate polymers and their application in industrial products
• Experience with the use of rheometers, and knowledge of common rheological properties.
• Skilled in project management, especially in outlining initial scoping and proof of concept stages.
• Strong interpersonal and presentation skills to share key learnings both inside and outside the organization.
• Self-driven, attention to detail, ability to manage long-term, complex projects with a sense of urgency.
• Must be customer obsessed and have a customer centric mindset.
• Proactive, energetic, and curious and have creative problem-solving skills
• Enjoys a fast-paced environment with a positive “can do” attitude.
• Good creative problem-solving skills.
• Ability to deal with ambiguity and changing priorities; willing to change directions quickly and often, as needed.
• Ability to influence and gather opinions directly and indirectly.
• Ability to evaluate risk and recommend path forward.
• Business acumen; customer and market orientation. Able to translate commercial needs into technical programs and business opportunity, and drive those for execution.
• Future thinking with a “whole systems” view.

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