Senior Scientist

National Gypsum Company; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 115,000 - 143,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Vision

401(k) with employer match

Tuition Reimbursement

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Life Insurance

Job summary

National Gypsum Company, headquartered in Charlotte, NC, is seeking a Senior Scientist to lead and conduct scientific research in joint compounds and plaster, designing experiments and interpreting data to deliver performance improvements and Sustainability alignment.

You will collaborate with manufacturing teams, vendors, and cross-functional partners to develop and scale new products, mentor junior staff, and ensure regulatory and safety compliance while driving projects from concept to

Qualifications

• MS with 5+ years industrial experience or PhD with 0–2 years.
• Hands-on formulation experience in joint compounds or plaster or adjacent gypsum products.
• Demonstrated command of core formulation competencies: rheology, waterborne polymers, mineral fillers/additives, set/cure control.
• Enthusiasm for wet-applied building materials and joint compound chemistry.
• Proven track record in research and product development.
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills.
• Willingness to travel up to 40%.

Responsibilities

• Generate, lead, and conduct impactful research focused on joint compound and plaster formulation, rheology, and performance.
• Plan and design scientifically rigorous experiments; collect, analyze, and interpret data and report conclusions with risks and opportunities.
• Develop and test new products/technologies and lab techniques; supervise test programs and ensure technical accuracy of reports.
• Collaborate with functions across the organization to achieve project objectives.
• Stay current with industry trends and competitive products; present findings to stakeholders.
• Communicate technical activities and results to all levels within the company and externally.
• Lead and mentor junior staff and support their professional development.
• Ensure regulatory and safety compliance.
• Align with ProForm business unit objectives and develop a sustainable innovation pipeline.
• Drive ideation to commercialization; address capital or technical discipline needs.
• Serve on technical committees as needed and leverage AI tools to accelerate innovation in drywall finishing.

Skills

Joint compound formulation

Plaster formulation

Rheology

Data analysis

Communication

Leadership

Education

MS in relevant field

PhD in relevant field

Tools

Lab testing methods

AI in formulation

Job description

The Senior Scientist is responsible for leading and conducting scientific research including generating ideas, designing experiments, collecting, and interpreting data, and providing strategic insights to ensure that NGC maintains leadership in the building products market.

This role carries a focus on joint compounds, plaster, and related wet-applied and finishing systems. We welcome candidates whose depth comes from adjacent paste- and slurry-based formulation fields — such as cement-based mortars and finishing systems, paints and coatings, adhesives and sealants, concrete admixtures, or other calcium sulfate / gypsum products — and who are eager to channel that expertise into joint compound and plaster.

They will play a key role in the identification and improvement of current processes and products as well as introduction and scale-up of new products/technologies that would be valuable to NGC. The incumbent shall work closely with the manufacturing team, vendors, and other allied partners to provide detailed analysis of existing products with a focus on performance improvement and sustainability. The ability to communicate and collaborate effectively and adherence to NGC core values during daily work is imperative.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES (not limited too)

• Generate, lead, and conduct impactful research that expands the existing technology envelope, with particular emphasis on joint compound and plaster formulation, rheology, and performance.
• Plan and design scientifically rigorous experiments; collect, analyze, and interpret data providing conclusions, highlighting risks, issues, and opportunities.
• Contribute to innovation and development of new products, technologies, laboratory techniques and test methods and foster information sharing.
• Develop and/or adapt test methods to quantify physical properties of new or existing products. Supervise witnessed test programs and edit the reports for technical accuracy.
• Collaborate with various functions across the organization to achieve project objectives.
• Stay current with industry trends, emerging technologies, and scientific literature; establish a detailed knowledge of competitive products and systems, their performance characteristics, and strengths and weaknesses compared to NGC — including the competitive joint compound, plaster, paints, and coatings landscape. This includes attending relevant industry trade shows (Coatings show, etc.) to stay close to emerging technology and materials.
• Effectively communicate technical activities, results, guidance, and support (both verbally and in writing) to all levels within the company and outside the company when required.
• Lead and mentor junior staff by providing training and supporting their professional development.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory and safety requirements.
• Ensure strategic alignment to ProForm’s business unit objectives when it comes to current and future innovation needs and prioritization — working together with the business unit to develop a robust innovation pipeline that is sustainable.
• Drive the path from ideation to commercialization — knowing and understanding process or equipment limitations. Work with the business unit to develop the capital or technical discipline needed to accomplish this.
• Serve on technical committees as needed (example — Drywall Finishing Council).
• Embrace and integrate AI tools to solve formulation or innovation needs in the drywall finishing space to accelerate time from conception to implementation.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

• MS in a relevant field plus 5+ years of industrial experience, or a PhD in a relevant field with 0–2 years of industrial experience.
• Hands‑on formulation experience in joint compounds or plaster, or in an adjacent paste‑or slurry‑based building material field — for example, cement‑based mortars, tile adhesives, grouts, self‑leveling underlayments, renders or stuccos, paints and coatings, adhesives, sealants, caulks, concrete admixtures, or other calcium sulfate / gypsum products. Directly relevant adjacent experience is valued and will be considered.
• Demonstrated command of one or more core formulation competencies that transfer to our work: paste / slurry rheology and workability, waterborne polymer and film formation, mineral filler and additive systems (thickeners, defoamers, surfactants, dispersants, biocides), and set / cure control.
• A genuine enthusiasm for the science of wet‑applied and finishing building materials, and the drive to go deep on joint compound and plaster chemistry, rheology, and application performance — the kind of scientist who is energized by problems others overlook.
• Proven track record of successful research and developing new products/technologies.
• Demonstrated creativity, analytical, technical, and problem‑solving skills.
• Must have can‑do attitude with a willingness to roll up sleeves to get the job done.
• Must be an excellent communicator, both verbal and written, including formal presentation skills.
• A willing team player with the leadership skills necessary to focus on objectives and complete assignments on time.
• A willingness to travel as much as 40% of the time.

Competitive Salary, with a general salary range of $114,528.00 to $143,160.00 or higher depending on education and experience.

Relocation assistance eligible.

BENEFITS INCLUDE:

• Comprehensive benefits to include:
• Medical
• Vision
• 401(k) with employer match
• Retirement Account
• Fertility Services
• Adoption Assistance
• Paid Vacation
• Paid Holidays
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Life Insurance
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
• Flexible spending accounts
• Wellness Program with medical premium incentives

COMPANY INFORMATION:

National Gypsum Company, headquartered in Charlotte, NC, is the exclusive service provider of reliable, high‑performance building products marketed under the Gold Bond®, ProForm® and PermaBASE® brands. The National Gypsum name – through its Gold Bond®, ProForm® and PermaBASE® product lines – has been synonymous with high‑quality, innovative products, and exceptional customer service since 1925.

For decades, we have saved our customers time and money by providing the industry’s best, most reliable building products, resources and services. We are Building Products for a Better Future® one project at a time.

National Gypsum Company operates as a family of companies working together toward a common goal with collaboration and open communication. Our corporate entities include: NG Corporate, LLC; National Gypsum Services Company; Gold Bond Building Products, LLC; Gold Bond Canada, LLC; ProForm Finishing Products, LLC; PermaBASE Building Products, LLC; and Unifix Inc.

HIRING ENTITY:

National Gypsum Services Company

The above information on this description has been designated to indicate the general nature and level of work. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of an associate assigned to this position. The company enforces a tobacco‑free policy at all its locations.

All National Gypsum Company and corporate affiliate companies, including: NG Corporate, LLC, National Gypsum Services Company, Gold Bond Building Products, LLC, Gold Bond Canada, LLC, ProForm Finishing Products, LLC, PermaBASE Building Products, LLC and Unifix Inc , are Equal Opportunity Employers. Please visit www.nationalgypsum.com to view all of our exciting employment opportunities. Employment contingent upon successful completion of background investigation. Pre-employment drug screening is required. All companies participate in E-Verify. E-Verify is an internet-based system that compares information from an employee’s Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment eligibility. www.dhs.gov/e-verify.