R&D- Staff Chemist

The R&D Staff Chemist is responsible for conducting specialized analyses, testing, and the formulation of new products, with a focus on latex and water-borne resin synthesis. This role involves working on complex scientific challenges requiring advanced expertise. The staff chemist independently manages the commercialization of new resin while collaborating closely with manufacturing teams to support scale-up and production. With expertise in polymer synthesis and coating formulations, the staff chemist provides technical leadership across multiple projects, applications, and markets. Additionally, this role includes supervising support-level technicians and mentoring entry-level chemists.

Job duties include contact with other employees and access to confidential and proprietary information and/or other items of value, and such access may be supervised or unsupervised. The Company therefore has determined that a review of criminal history is necessary to protect the business and its operations and reputation and is necessary to protect the safety of the Company’s staff, employees, and business relationships.

This role is not remote/hybrid. This role will report to Sherwin-Williams Morikis Global Technology Center located at 6745 Miller Road, Brecksville, OH 44141.

Responsibilities include:

• Leads multiple technical projects with significant business impact.

• Lead or support NPD projects from concept to commercialization, including planning and executing R&D investigations. Manage project timelines, budgets, and deliverables.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with Analytical/Material Science, Engineering, HSE, and Business teams to drive project success and align on shared goals.

• Conduct lab-scale WB resin synthesis (emulsion, polyurethane dispersion...) and develop coating formulations. Perform application testing, analyze data, refine technical strategies, and recommend the next steps. Document and communicate findings through presentation and technical reports.

• Apply experimental design principles to deepen understanding and develop innovative solutions aligned with project objectives.

• Review patents and emerging technologies to identify opportunities for innovation and product development.

• Act as a technical liaison, addressing moderately complex inquiries from manufacturing, quality control, and internal stakeholders regarding development activities.

• Operate and maintain laboratory equipment, ensuring proper calibration and cleanliness. Use both standard and specialized instruments as needed.

• Organizational Responsibilities: Lead high-impact initiatives, manage interdepartmental communication. Mentor peers and junior staff in technical methodologies. Represents the company in technical forums.

• Ensure compliance with departmental policies, safety protocols, and applicable regulations.

• Perform additional duties assigned to support the R&D and NPD functions.

Minimum Requirements
• Must be legally authorized to work in the country for which you are applying for employment (without now or in the future needing sponsorship for employment work visa and/or permanent residence status)
• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Must have a bachelor’s degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (“STEM”) field
• Must have at least 7 or more years polymer synthesis lab experience
• Demonstrated use of statistics and data analysis in project work

Preferred Qualifications
• Ph.D. in Polymer science, Material Science, Chemistry or related area
• WB polymer synthesis and coatings specific industry experience
• In-depth understanding of polymer structure-property relationships and coating formulation.
• Proficiency in emulsion polymerization highly desired
• Proficiency in Polyurethane dispersion and PUD/Acrylic hybrid highly desired
• Knowledge of coatings/formulation
• Knowledge of product commercialization in an industrial setting
• Experience in using DFSS tools in projects

Travel Requirement: 10%