Formulation Chemist

UPL; Cary (NC); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

UPL Limited's Global Research facility in RTP, NC is seeking a chemist to verify and validate seed treatment formulations and support the North America seed and soil health team. You will evaluate custom blends, conduct stability tests, and develop analytical methods using HPLC, GC, and particle analyzers, documenting results in lab notebooks and presenting findings in cross-functional meetings.

This role requires attention to detail, strong communication, and the ability to work in a fast-paced

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in chemistry or related field required.
• 1–3 years of experience in the agricultural chemical or related industry preferred.
• Hands-on experience with analytical instruments like HPLC, GC, particle analyzer.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Proven attention to detail with strong analytical and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• 60% Evaluate custom blends for crops; certify seed treatment samples and preserve shipping records.
• Coordinate seed treatment performance tests and shelf-life studies; develop and validate ST formulations.
• 20% Support NAM seed treatment lab maintenance, equipment, SOPs, safety standards, and greenhouse operations.
• 20% Collaborate with global teams to analyze, validate formulations and provide treated seed for R&D needs.

Skills

HPLC

GC

Seed treatment

Analytical instruments

Education

Bachelor's degree in chemistry

Master's degree

Tools

Particle analyzer

Job description

UPL Limited (NSE: UPL & BSE: 512070, LSE: UPLL) is a global provider of sustainable agriculture products and solutions, with annual revenue exceeding $6bn. We are a purpose-led company. Through OpenAg®, UPL is focused on accelerating progress for the food system. We are building a network that is reimagining sustainability, redefining the way an entire industry thinks and works – open to fresh ideas, innovation, and new answers as we strive towards our mission to make every single food product more sustainable. As one of the largest agriculture solutions companies worldwide, our robust portfolio consists of biologicals and traditional crop protection solutions with more than 14,000 registrations. We are present in more than 130 countries, represented by more than 10,000 colleagues globally. For more information about our integrated portfolio of solutions across the food value chain including seeds, post-harvest, as well as physical and digital services, please visit upl-ltd.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

JOB SUMMARY

This position will work from UPL’s Global Research facility located in RTP, NC. This position will work with UPL’s seed and soil health team in North America to verify and validate seed treatment formulation performance in custom blends and mixtures as well as assisting the Technical Lab Lead in related duties.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• 60% Evaluate custom blends for various crops such as soybean, corn, sorghum, cotton, peanut, rice and wheat as requested by marketing/sales/regulatory and conduct stability studies. Treat seed, certify seed treatment samples, custom blends before shipping to distributors/seed companies and maintain the record of shipping details of custom blends, experimental and commercial samples and become certified in safe handling and shipping of agriculture chemicals. Conduct seed treatment performance tests for different custom blends and conduct shelf life of the treated seeds. Develop and validate methods to analyze the ST formulations using HPLC, GC and particle analyzer. Utilize the knowledge of polymers, pigments and inoculants in seed treatment formulations and conduct bioassays to prove the efficacy performance. Write protocols, reports, document results in laboratory notebook and present scientific findings in cross-functional project team meetings.
• 20% Support Technical Lab lead in maintaining NAM seed treatment lab, various lab instruments, on carrying out seed and soil health initiatives, including custom blend preparation, treating and shipping treated seed, maintaining SOP’s and safety standards, and greenhouse assistance.
• 20% Work with India ST lab, Global ST team and US New Ag Tech Team to analyze, validate various seed treatment formulations, formulation matrix and incorporate new formulations and treat and provide treated seed to their research and development needs.

Required Skills/Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry or related field required, Master’s degree desired.
• Minimum of 1-3 years of experience in the Agricultural chemical or related industry preferred. Previous experience with different seed treatments or agrochemical formulations development a plus.
• Hands-on experience with analytical instruments like HPLC, GC, particle analyzer, etc. to characterize ST formulations is a plus.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Proven attention to detail, with excellent analytical, problem solving and personal organization skills.
• Ability to work in fast paced environment and under pressure.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Number of direct reports – 0
• Number of indirect reports – 0

Upl Competencies

• Adaptability & Resilience: Recognizes and is open to changing circumstances and alters behavior and scales up as necessary; increases personal awareness and appreciation of individual and cultural differences to create an open, inclusive, and accepting workplace.
• Entrepreneurial Mindset: Has a creative mindset and ability to think holistically, takes calculated risks and maximizes opportunities.
• Results Orientations : Takes action, pursues goals with persistence and achieves results; communicates goals and vision to the team to drive enthusiasm and ambition.
• Execution Excellence: Enhances the speed of execution and builds efficiency in processes, systems, and people; has sharp focus on quality-orientation.
• Strategic Orientation: Demonstrates knowledge of the social, economic, and environmental factors and how they impact the business. Identifies key issues that could impact the business and develops strategy through an analytical lens / design thinking.
• Building Teams and Talent: Empowers colleagues through knowledge sharing and delegation, quickly establishing rapport; provides recognition for achievements and accomplishments.
• Customer Centricity: Understands the customer needs and pain points, fulfills the needs and expectations by focusing on creating value for customers.

We are one team, for maximum impact. One team with shared goals. We all play for the team and no one plays against the team. We have a laser-like focus on what our customers need and want, on anticipating their future needs and how we can create innovative solutions and experiences for them. #UPLJobs