Senior UV Segment Leader & Chief Chemist

The RPM Wood Finishes Group; Greensboro (NC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

RPM Industrial Coatings Group, part of RPM International Inc., seeks a Sr. Chemist - UV Segment Leader to lead UV wood coatings technology strategy, formulation development, and project execution across the organization.

The ideal candidate brings 5+ years in industrial coatings, deep expertise in waterborne UV, solvent-reduced UV, and 100% solids UV formulations, and a proven track record in leading technical teams and commercialization efforts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of industrial formulation experience, preferably within coatings, inks, adhesives, or related technologies.
• Demonstrated experience developing and commercializing UV-curable coating technologies.
• Strong background in waterborne UV, solvent-reduced, and 100% solids UV formulations.
• Proven ability to manage multiple technical projects simultaneously.
• Prior experience leading technical teams, mentoring chemists, or providing project leadership.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the organization's primary Subject Matter Expert (SME) for UV coatings technology.
• Lead the development and optimization of UV-curable coating formulations for new and existing products.
• Establish technical direction and innovation strategy for the UV technology segment.
• Drive problem-solving activities related to formulation, application performance, manufacturing scale-up, and customer requirements.
• Evaluate new raw materials, technologies, and market trends to maintain a competitive product portfolio.
• Provide technical guidance and recommendations to senior leadership regarding UV technology investments and opportunities.
• Maintain overall responsibility for the UV project portfolio, including prioritization, execution, and delivery of development objectives.
• Lead cross-functional teams through product development and commercialization activities.
• Manage multiple concurrent projects while balancing short-term business needs with long-term innovation objectives.
• Support and actively participate in Stage Gate product development processes.
• Collaborate with Commercial teams to identify customer needs and translate them into technical solutions.
• Own and lead all lab activities related to UV using the Stage Gate project management system from inception, through development, to scale up and final commercialization.
• Manage, coach, and develop one direct report (Chemist II).
• Provide technical mentorship to laboratory personnel and cross-functional team members.
• Establish development goals, provide performance feedback, and support career growth for team members.
• Foster a collaborative, safety-focused, and innovative laboratory culture.

Skills

UV coatings

Formulation development

Project leadership

Team mentorship

Cross-functional collaboration

Technical SME

Education

Bachelor's in Chemistry/Polymer Science/Engineering

Master's or PhD in related field

Tools

Stage Gate

Job description

RPM Industrial Coatings Group, part of RPM International Inc., seeks a Sr. Chemist - UV Segment Leader to lead UV wood coatings technology strategy, formulation development, and project execution across the organization.

The ideal candidate brings 5+ years in industrial coatings, deep expertise in waterborne UV, solvent-reduced UV, and 100% solids UV formulations, and a proven track record in leading technical teams and commercialization efforts.