Senior Research Scientist Liquids

At GAF Commercial we cover more than buildings. We cover each other. No matter what role, tenure, or department, under this roof you are helping to build the market leader in commercial roofing. Under this roof, we are assembling a winning team that puts the customer at the center of every decision and doesn't back down from hard work. Under this roof, we support one another in delivering operational excellence daily, while working to make a positive impact for our planet and our communities. Becoming the market leader only happens when everyone feels they have the opportunity, and the support, to thrive. We are GAF. And under this roof, we protect what matters most.

Job Summary
We are looking for a Senior Research Scientist to join our R&D team in Parsippany, NJ. You will work in a team focusing on developing innovative solutions for the roofing and waterproofing industry. This will include identifying development opportunities through market and customer insights, scaling and commercializing new products, as well as identifying new technologies relevant to business needs. The successful candidate will demonstrate proficiency in analysis, innovation and creative problem solving. Project assignments will be challenging, complex and demanding in nature and require a hands-on scientist to successfully execute multiple projects in parallel.
Essential Duties

• Plan and conduct research for the development and commercialization of new technologies and product concepts that provide differentiated performance in the marketplace
• Develop innovative solutions that enable improved performance, reduced cost and increased efficiency
• Be a key contributor within cross-functional teams across R&D, Marketing, Sales and Manufacturing to scale up quickly from the lab to commercial scale.
• Translate unmet customer needs into fitness-for-use criteria for specific applications and reduce these to fundamental material characteristics using knowledge of structure-property-processing relationships
• Maintain understanding and serve as a resource for internal and external customers on market specific product, process technology, external technical community trends and the competitive intellectual property.
• Provides technical support to Marketing, Manufacturing, Purchasing, and Sales.
• Ability to represent GAF and lead technical committees at key industry meetings and technical conferences.
• Produce timely project updates, develop presentations, and report out to internal and external stakeholders. Publish technical reports and conduct presentations on key projects regularly.
• Effectively coordinate and manage technicians in support of several simultaneous research programs.
• Mentor junior technical personnel

Qualifications Required

• Master’s degree Polymer Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemistry, or other relevant science discipline with 5 years of experience Required OR
• Doctoral Degree (Ph.D.) Polymer Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemistry, or other relevant science discipline with 3 years experience Preferred
• Minimum of 3 years of broad research experience in the formulation of industrial coatings, adhesives & polymer membranes/constructions with particular emphasis on:
• Lo-voc/100% solids chemistries & formulations (Urethanes, STP’s, 1&2K)
• Dry mix thermoplastic hot melts -maleic acid esters, tall oil or hydrocarbon based
• Methyl methacrylate (MMA)-based coating chemistries
• Capable of “end to end” technical development from concept to commercialization
• Proficiency in scaling up from the lab to pilot scale to full commercial process scale
• Expertise in use of design of experiment methodologies (DOE).

General Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Exercises judgment in selecting methods, techniques and evaluation criteria for obtaining results.
• Strong critical thinking, strategic thinking, problem-solving, organizational and interpersonal skills
• Excellent planning, organizational and documentation skills coupled with effective teamwork and communication skills
• Experience managing staff technician(s)

How We Protect What Matters Most:1. We offer a wide range of health insurance options that include medical, dental, and vision for you and your family. 2. Our Family-Building benefits support the many different journeys to fertility and parenthood. 3. Our robust 401K plan includes an employer match contribution with your pre-tax and/or Roth contributions. 4. Other exciting programs and perks are available to help employees achieve work-life balance, including (but not limited to) a wellness program, free financial coaching, a referral program, and product rebates when purchased for an employee’s primary residence. 5. Professional growth and development are very important to us! We offer internal training programs and courses, as well as a generous tuition reimbursement program. 6. We put diversity and inclusion into action with our Employee Resource Groups, which unite employees based on common perspectives, identities, demographic factors, or out of a desire to be an ally.

GAF complies with federal, state, and local disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact HR Services at 833-HR-XPERT.

We believe our employees are our greatest resource. We offer competitive salary, benefits, 401k, and vacation packages for all full time permanent positions. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and GAF, Standard Logistics, SGI, and Siplast are proud to be affirmative action employers. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know. If applying for positions in the U.S., must be eligible to work in the U.S. without need for employer sponsored visa (work permit).