Research And Development Chemist, Fine Chemical Products

Milliken & Company is a global manufacturing leader whose focus on materials science delivers tomorrow’s breakthroughs today. From industry-leading molecules to sustainable innovations, Milliken creates products that enhance people’s lives and deliver solutions for its customers and communities. Drawing on thousands of patents and a portfolio with applications across the textile, flooring, chemical and healthcare businesses, the company harnesses a shared sense of integrity and excellence to positively impact the world for generations. Discover more about Milliken’s curious minds and inspired solutions at Milliken.com and on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.

POSITION TITLE

Research and Development Chemist, Fine Chemical Products

POSITION OVERVIEW

The individual will be challenged to safely lead efforts to design, develop, optimize, and implement new chemical processes.  The individual will be located at the R&D facility in Gainesville, FL.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead teams that develop and design/optimize safe and reliable processes to manufacture target molecules.
• Lead projects that support business efforts that move chemical processes from the lab, pilot, and into the production facility.  Specific tasks will involve evaluating safety and regulatory requirements, assisting in writing plant operational instructions, coordinating efforts with plant engineers and operators, assist developing and designing proper equipment, leading safety reviews of the process and supporting the operational staff during initial plant runs of the process.
• On all projects, apply sound knowledge of scientific principles, practices, advanced techniques, and modification and/or extension of theories and practices to assigned projects.  Where possible, utilize internal and external scientific, technological databases to extend personal knowledge and provide a basis for future work.
• Interpret data and be able to make meaningful decisions and designs for chemical processes.
• Provide leadership for improving the safety.  Beyond familiarity with and compliance with applicable regulations, internal procedures and attendance in safety meetings. This requires leadership in updating procedures and demonstrated constant attention to preventing and resolving safety problems.
• Drive the continual improvement of housekeeping and safety in the lab, plant, and lab community.
• Work to understand the customer’s quality needs and integrate these needs into process design.
• Effectively communicate (both written and verbal) within R&D and with other departments both at the site and within the larger corporate structure.  Regularly maintain laboratory notebook. Keep project portfolio and plans up to date, follow stage-gate process.  Keep supervisor apprised of progress, or lack thereof, on a regular basis.
• The individual will work with highly diverse teams and must be able to professionally work and communicate in this type of setting.
• The individual will need to be willing to learn and be able to use this acquired knowledge to improve the organization.

QUALIFICATIONS – REQUIRED

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry or chemical engineering
• Strong communication skills with all levels within an organization and problem solving skills
• Strong problem solving and project management skills
• Ability to travel up to 15% of time

QUALIFICATIONS - PREFERRED

• PhD. or equivalent in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering
• 4 years + experience in an industrial setting
• Experience in developing processes for materials into the semi-conductor industry
• Experience in scale up of processes for the silicon industry
• Experience in developing continuous/flow processes

Milliken is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, including but not limited to lactation), sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression (including transgender status), ancestry, national origin, citizenship, age physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran or military status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.