R&D Technical Specialist

Avery Dennison Corporation; Pennsylvania; On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & Wellness benefits starting on

Paid parental leave

401K eligibility

Employee Assistance Program eligible

Paid vacation and Paid holidays

Job summary

Avery Dennison Corporation is seeking a hands-on R&D Chemist at our Mill Hall, PA facility to drive benchtop synthesis and formulation of next-generation adhesives and coatings for label and graphic materials. You will lead polymer development and oversee scale-up toward production while aligning cost constraints.

You’ll collaborate with cross-functional teams, scout new materials, and contribute to a robust pipeline of high-impact cost-out ideas, with up to 25% travel.

Qualifications

• Minimum BS/MS in Chemistry or Polymer Science, with at least 5 years experience in polymer design, synthesis, formulating and scale-up.
• Experience in commercial product development – particularly in the acrylic pressure sensitive industry including high speed coating and drying a plus.
• Experience in the application of pressure sensitive adhesives in the label industry is highly desired.
• Demonstrated knowledge and application of statistical design of experiments.
• Demonstrated excellent verbal & written communication skills.
• Well-developed time management skills with the ability to balance and/or lead multiple projects simultaneously.
• Consistent track record of effective team member roles on multi-functional teams comprised of R&D, Operations, Legal, and Commercial/Customer personnel.
• Ability to foster creativity/innovation while ensuring project progress and lab efficiency

Responsibilities

• Apply a hands-on approach and scientific principles of adhesion, polymer synthesis and formulating methods and design for a variety of technical projects in support of LGM-NA growth and cost-out goals.
• Lead development of experimental designs, oversee testing, interpret data, and prepare technical reports for internal teams.
• Translate new product requirements into actionable work plans and assist project teams; travel up to 25% to gather customer needs and collaborate.
• Define projects for other Applications Laboratory staff.

Skills

Polymer design

Polymer synthesis

Scale-up

Formulation

Communication skills

Education

BS in Chemistry

MS in Polymer Science

Job description

Avery Dennison Corporation (NYSE: AVY) is a global materials science and digital identification solutions company. We are Making Possible™ products and solutions that help advance the industries we serve, providing branding and information solutions that optimize labor and supply chain efficiency, reduce waste and mitigate loss, advance sustainability, circularity and transparency and better connect brands and consumers. We design and develop labeling and functional materials, radio-frequency identification (RFID) inlays and tags, software applications that connect the physical and digital and offerings that enhance branded packaging and carry or display information that improves the customer experience. Serving industries worldwide — including home and personal care, apparel, general retail, e-commerce, logistics, food and grocery, pharmaceuticals and automotive — we employ approximately 35,000 employees in more than 50 countries. Our reported sales in 2025 were $8.9 billion. Learn more at www.averydennison.com .
At Avery Dennison, some of the great benefits we provide are:

• Health & Wellness benefits starting on day 1 of employment
• Paid parental leave
• 401K eligibility
• Employee Assistance Program eligibility / Health Advocate
• Paid vacation and Paid holidays

Job Description

The qualified candidate will be a hands-on R&D Chemist to drive the benchtop synthesis and formulation of next-generation adhesives and coatings for our Label and Graphic Materials (LGM) business. Based at our Mill Hall facility, this role is primarily focused on laboratory-scale polymer development while overseeing the critical transition of these formulations through pilot and full production scale-up.

In this role, you will actively participate in formal new product development and cost-out projects supporting an internal customer base consisting of our commercial PLT, our R&D leadership and downstream coating operations. You will translate commercial strategies into real-world technical solutions while ensuring those solutions align with manufacturing and cost constraints.

You will also collaborate with other technology/research teams and business units - keeping current on new/emerging technologies. Additionally, you will be a key catalyst for pipeline innovation - proactively scouting new raw materials and generating a robust, continuous stream of new ideas for novel polymer development and high-impact cost-out initiatives.

Representative Activities:

• Apply a hands-on approach and scientific principles of adhesion, polymer synthesis and formulating methods and design for a variety of technical projects of varying scope and complexity in support of the LGM-NA growth and cost-out goal. Act as technical leader on project teams consisting of multi- departmental team members for the development and promotion of adhesives and coatings for to targets products and applications.
• Lead development of experimental designs, oversee testing, interpret data, prepare technical reports to be shared with internal team members and stakeholders.
• Translate new product requirements into actionable work plans. Assist project teams in the scoping of work plans through interaction with commercial teams and customers. Conduct travel for the purposes of gathering customer needs, executing experimental trials and team collaboration (up to 25% travel possible)
• Define projects for other Applications Laboratory staff.

Qualifications

• Minimum BS/MS in Chemistry or Polymer Science, with at least 5 years experience in polymer design, synthesis, formulating and scale-up.
• Experience in commercial product development – particularly in the acrylic pressure sensitive industry including high speed coating and drying a plus.
• Experience in the application of pressure sensitive adhesives in the label industry is highly desired.
• Demonstrated knowledge and application of statistical design of experiments.
• Demonstrated excellent verbal & written communication skills.
• Well-developed time management skills with the ability to balance and/or lead multiple projects simultaneously.
• Consistent track record of effective team member roles on multi-functional teams comprised of R&D, Operations, Legal, and Commercial/Customer personnel.
• Ability to foster creativity/innovation while ensuring project progress and lab efficiency

Additional Information

As part of our commitment to maintaining a safe and productive work environment, Avery Dennison requires all final candidates to successfully complete a comprehensive background check and a drug screening. These checks are conducted post-offer and are a condition of employment. All results will be considered in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal laws.
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