Technical Group Leader/Manager (E-Coat)

Nippon Paint Automotive Americas, Inc.; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Nippon Paint Automotive Americas Inc. is seeking a highly skilled chemist/engineer to lead complex coatings projects, ensuring formulations meet safety, environmental, and performance standards.

The role emphasizes cross-functional collaboration across locations and executives to bring technology to market. Candidates should have a chemistry or related technical degree with several years of industrial or automotive e-coat experience, strong polymer chemistry knowledge, and hands-on lab

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in chemistry or related technical field required.
• 5+ years in industrial or automotive e-coat quality or development.
• Strong knowledge of structure-property relationships in coatings.
• Experience with formulation, safety, and environmental standards.
• Ability to manage multiple technical projects.

Responsibilities

• Manage projects across NPAA locations to bring formulations to market.
• Coordinate with departments and leadership to align strategies.
• Build strategic relationships with OEMs, customers, and suppliers.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance processes.
• Prepare technical reports and present data to stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with company standards and PPE requirements.
• Travel 10–25% with some international travel.

Skills

MS Office

Data analysis

Interpersonal skills

Written communication

Oral communication

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in chemistry or related technical field

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Laboratory instrumentation

Analytical chemistry techniques

Job description

Nippon Paint Automotive Americas Inc. (NPAA) offers employees a generous earned bonus structure including monthly hourly attendance bonuses, merit increases and an annual bonus incentive plan. Employees receive eleven paid holidays per year, earn paid time off, can enroll in comprehensive health and welfare plans and a 401K plan with an exceptional company match. We provide employee recognition programs, tuition reimbursement and much more. When you join our team, you are part of our NPAA family. We hold several events throughout the year for our employees to show our appreciation for their hard work and dedication. Come join a great team!

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

• Management of team and critical projects that may span multiple NPAA locations to meet project timelines ensuring technology/formulation is brought to market when needed.
• Interfaces and strengthens communication with other departments, locations and divisions (including executive management) to develop strategies to gain new business, prioritize projects or resolve other ongoing challenges.
• Establishes and maintains strategic relationships with key OEM, customer and supplier contacts.
• Identifies, initiates and leads continuous improvement projects to drive business process enhancement and develop technical expertise.
• Writes and/or reviews reports documenting product development, meeting minutes, monthly reports, management reviews.
• Presents technical data, company offerings and strategies to customers or internal shareholders.
• Ensures adherence to formulation, safety, environmental, and other company standards or processes, providing documented approval where required.
• Travel from 10-25% of the time depending on business situation, including international travel on occasion.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

• College degree in chemistry or related technical field with typically 5 years or more of experience in industrial or automotive e-coat industry. Advanced degree preferred, but not required.
• Good understanding of structure-property relationship in polymer chemistry, and coating/surface treatment formulation. Strong understanding of surface chemistry, corrosion science and electrocoating knowledge.
• Familiar with typical analytical chemistry techniques.
• Must have proven success in resolving technical problems in a timely manner.
• Capable of managing multiple technical projects simultaneously to successful completion.
• Experience working in a chemical laboratory required.
• Able to work in proximity to paints and chemicals, using required PPE as required.
• Managerial and/or supervisor level experience preferred, but not required if customer support and collaborative project experience is significant.
• Ability to lift 50 lbs.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

• Must have well-developed computer skills including Microsoft Office applications to analyze data and report
• Well-developed interpersonal skills, displaying courtesy, tact and respect when dealing with internal and external shareholders.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both in oral and written form.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to inquiries, and/or complaints.

Nippon Paint Automotive Americas Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.