Principal Lab Scientist

Higher Recruitment, Inc.; Neenah (WI); On-site; USD 78,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision plans

Flexible paid time off

Retirement savings plan with company 


Job summary

Higher Recruitment, Inc. is seeking a Lab Scientist for its R&D Lab, delivering chemical and materials testing across North America and globally. The role owns key analytical instrumentation, leads method development, and communicates results to internal and external stakeholders.

You will drive best practices, support EHS initiatives, and coordinate testing for multiple business units, with opportunities to share knowledge across a global network and onboard new R&D staff.

Qualifications

• Graduate degree in Chemistry, Materials Science, Engineering or related field with 5+ years of relevant experience; OR Bachelor's degree with 15+ years in industry.
• Strong knowledge of analytical instrumentation and laboratory practices.
• Excellent data interpretation, technical writing, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Own analytical instrumentation and oversee maintenance, troubleshooting, and vendor coordination.
• Lead method development, protocol creation, and statistical validation (DOE, Gage R&R).
• Prepare and communicate comprehensive laboratory reports and interpret data for stakeholders.
• Coordinate testing support across multiple business units and transfer methods across locations.
• Support EHS activities, risk assessments, and hazardous materials handling.
• Identify opportunities to improve capabilities, methods, efficiency, and service quality.

Job description

The R&D Lab delivers chemical and materials testing in support of technology research, product development, regulatory compliance, and customer needs across North America and globally.

The Lab Scientist owns key analytical instrumentation, leads method development, manages data interpretation and communication, and coordinates testing support across multiple business units. The role also drives best-practice sharing across the global network and contributes to laboratory safety initiatives.

• Develop expertise and perform testing across a broad range of analytical instruments.
• Conduct chemical and polymer analysis to characterize raw materials and support R&D, customers, and industry/regulatory partners.
• Lead method development, protocol creation, statistical validation, and documentation of analytical test methods.
• Prepare and communicate comprehensive laboratory reports and interpret data for internal and external stakeholders.
• Serve as technical expert and equipment owner for HPLC, ICP, GC-MS, and additional instrumentation as needed.
• Oversee instrument maintenance, troubleshooting, and vendor coordination.
• Identify opportunities to improve laboratory capabilities, methods, efficiency, and service quality.
• Correlate analytical results to end-use performance and understand method and instrument limitations.
• Support purchasing of laboratory supplies and new equipment in collaboration with procurement.
• Participate in industry groups, external laboratories, and customer interactions to advance analytical capabilities.
• Transfer methods and best practices to other company locations and maintain global knowledge-sharing forums.
• Develop research proposals aligned with business needs and evaluate new instrumentation.
• Create orientation materials and conduct onboarding for new R&D employees and co-ops.
• Support EHS activities, including risk assessments, hazardous chemical inventory/disposal, and hazard reviews.
• Great opportunity to be a leader in the industry.
• Create your own path.
• Exposure to Senior Leadership.

WHAT WE VALUE

• Safety Leadership: Models safe behaviors and strengthens safety culture.
• Customer Focus: Prioritizes effectively and communicates clearly with laboratory customers and R&D partners.
• Results Orientation: Delivers accurate, thorough, and timely results and identifies alternate analytical strategies when needed.
• Collaboration: Builds strong networks and engages with internal and external experts to solve analytical challenges.
• Innovation: Publishes or shares research involving method development and analytical techniques.

WHAT YOU BRING

• Graduate degree in Chemistry, Materials Science, Engineering, or a related field with 5+ years of relevant experience; or
• Bachelor's degree with 15+ years of industry experience.
• Background in related fields such as polymer processing, inks, adhesives, packaging, or materials science.
• Demonstrated experience in analytical method development and statistical tools, such as DOE and Gage R&R.
• Proficiency with HPLC, ICP, and GC-MS.
• Strong knowledge of polymers, processing, and packaging terminology.
• Experience with laboratory instrumentation ownership, troubleshooting, maintenance, and vendor coordination is highly desirable.
• Strong technical writing, data interpretation, communication, and problem-solving skills.

BENEFITS

The organization offers a comprehensive benefits and compensation package, which may include:

• Medical, dental, and vision plans
• Flexible paid time off
• Paid holidays
• Wellbeing and employee assistance programs
• Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account
• Life insurance and disability benefits
• Paid parental leave
• Retirement savings plan with company match