Research Scientist - Surface Scientist

Vantage is a fast-growing, leading global supplier of naturally derived specialty ingredients and formulations that cater to the evolving needs of consumer and industrial markets. Through our chemistries, our customer focus and our vertically integrated farming, manufacturing, and formulation facilities around the world, we are Enabling Tomorrow's Solutions Today.
With more than 1,000 employees, $1+ billion in sales and a footprint in 13 countries around the world, Vantage is driven by an intense focus on our customers, providing a broad portfolio of customized solutions, formulations and ingredients that are tailored to meet their specific needs.
Vantage is structured in two divisions: Consumer Solutions is focused on market segments where we have the right product portfolio and technical capabilities to win. Our Beauty & Personal Care and Food business units aim to be the customer's partner of choice in delivering solutions, formulations and ingredients that best meet their needs. Performance Solutions encapsulates our Performance Materials and Oleo business units and is focused on select industrial applications where we offer differentiated solutions built on our foundational oleo chemistry.
Under the leadership of Steve Doktycz, a 27-year chemical industry and strategic development veteran, its tenured leadership team represents decades of industry experience coupled with entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for natural chemistries. Vantage is headquartered in the United States (Deerfield, IL, a Chicago suburb).
Since its inception in 2008, Vantage's continued growth has been realized through a combination of focused commercial efforts, significant capital investment into our manufacturing assets, strategic entry into geographic markets and niche acquisitions to develop our leading portfolio of natural-based specialty ingredients.
Vantage™ is backed by H.I.G., a leading global alternative investment firm with $43 billion of equity capital under management with a focus on the small and midcap segments of the market, with a minority investment by The Jordan Company.
For more information: www.vantagegrp.com
The Role
Research Scientist/Sr. Research Scientist (Surface Scientist)
POSITION SUMMARY
The R&D Research Scientist/Sr. Research Scientist position requires the individual to perform synthesis, conduct laboratory experiments involving method development, application development as well as various analytical procedures.
POSITION SCOPE
To contribute to the achievement of Company objectives by supporting the short, medium and long-term research and development for all-Vantage products and/or processes. This work is primarily in the development of new/improved products or processes, new technologies, including the utilization of analytical methods and techniques, as well as product scale-up and transfer to production with support for initial production trial batches.
This role has significant impact on Vantage by finding new ways of using and producing existing products along with determining usefulness and applicability of new products/processes to better meet customer needs. Since this role supports all business units, the employee will have the opportunity for cross-business project leadership and significant commercial team interactions as well as the ability to provide effective functional leadership and accountability to the technology organization.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:
1. Use knowledge of routine laboratory safety procedures, SDS's and interpretations of hazards/toxicity data to perform all laboratory work in accordance with the written safety manual and site safety policies.
2. Be a steward for safety and continually drive awareness to ensure a safe work environment for all employees.
3. Use knowledge of chemistry and/or chemical engineering principles to lead and provide direction or general support to research and development team for products including product formulation and development, process development, competitive analysis, analytical method and technique development and field process support.
4. Understand formulation procedures and technologies and incorporate this understanding into applications that add value to customer products and processes.
5. Write technical papers and reports with recommendations for future research and development efforts.as well as prepare standards and specifications for processes, facilities, products and tests.
6. Maintain accurate records of all laboratory work and research in accordance with generally accepted laboratory principles.
7. Confer with Company scientists and commercial teams to conduct analyses of research projects, interpret test results, or develop non-standard tests.
8. Use knowledge of scale-up and troubleshooting procedures in conjunction with experience developed from bench top work to develop detailed new product technology transfer packages to support the development of manufacturing procedures and process development.
9. Provide technical support to cross-functional groups such as sales and marketing, product stewardship, sustainability, regulatory, technical service, and QC.
Note: The duties listed above are not all inclusive and may be subject to periodic updating or revision.
The Ideal Candidate
Desired Background - Research Scientist/Sr. Research Scientist
Research Scientist: This position ideally suited for a candidate with a Ph.D. or M.S. with less than 5 years of industrial experience.
Sr Research Scientist: This is position is ideally suited for a candidate with a Ph.D. and 5+ years of industrial experience or a M.S. and 10+ years of industrial experience.
Additional requirements include:
1. Thesis and/or professional experience performing synthetic organic chemistry, surface and interfacial sciences, materials science, and/or scale-up is essential.
2. Experience in synthesis for new product development, product reformulation and success in bring new products to full scale production.
3. Detailed individual with strong project management skills
4. Experience with formulated products containing surfactants (surface active agents) for use in personal care, food, agriculture, lubricants, surface treatments, and the like are highly preferred.
Knowledge, Skills & Talents
More specifically, we would seek the following attributes and competencies for the position:
1. Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
2. Strong planning, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
3. Ability to apply logical and scientific thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems.
4. Ability to influence and work in cross functional teams.
5. Excellent communication skills (oral and written) and interpersonal skills.
6. Proficient in MS Office Suite applications (Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint).