Coating Chemist
Walker Industries · Burlington · CA$100,000–CA$110,000 (stated in the posting)
100% Canadian Owned and Operated – Since 1887
Working at Walker
At Walker, your contribution matters. Become part of a team you can count on and where your health and safety are our priority. Our team of more than 1200 people work in environmental waste management and recovery, renewable energy, paving and construction, aggregates, and emulsions chemistries. We are a fifth-generation, family-owned company founded in 1887, operating from our base in the Niagara Region with facilities across Canada and the United States. We care about the environment, each other, and our neighbours, and give back to our communities. Join us on our journey to build a sustainable future, together.
About the Job
Reporting directly to the Director of Innovation and Product Development, you support Research and Development (R&D) and Business Development (BD) initiatives related to the development, manufacture and application of coatings. The Senior Innovation Chemist is responsible for leading R&D projects focused on the development of coating products, supporting the product development life cycle from strategic opportunity evaluation through R&D, scale up, and trials to commercialization. It is expected that this role will provide technical leadership, including mentoring and developing a lab team focused on coating development as well as providing support to Product Development, Quality Control/Quality Assurance, Operations, Business Development and Technical Service. You will bring advanced knowledge of coating chemistry, coating formulating, and coating manufacturing.
The salary range for this position is $100-$110K per year, based on qualifications and experience.
What You’ll Be Doing
Leads R&D projects focused on product development for coatings; including establishing priorities, defining project scope, planning resources, monitoring timelines, reviewing technical data, and reporting. Ensuring progress towards strategic and commercialization objectives.
- Maintains an active presence in the laboratory to support active projects and transfer knowledge to the rest of the team. Including supervision of direct report(s) and mentorship for indirect reports.
- Leverages and applies knowledge of coating chemistry, formulation science, raw materials, manufacturing processes, and end-use applications to develop new products and improve existing formulations.
Oversees and supports scale-up and production transfer of new coating formulations by partnering with Operations to establish production procedures, quality control specifications, quality plans, and troubleshooting protocols.
Ensures coating products are developed with consideration for manufacturability, product performance, quality requirements, cost effectiveness, regulatory expectations, and customer needs.
- Attends customer trials and makes customer visits as required; provides technical support to Sales on existing coating products and Business Development on new coating opportunities.
Supports Quality on customer complaints and Operations on production issues.
Involvement with coating industry through associations and conferences to ensure a close connection with the development of new coating chemistries, additives, applications, and regulations.
Displays outstanding Health and Safety awareness in the laboratory, production, and on construction sites.
Here’s What You Need
- M.Sc. or Ph.D. in Chemistry an asset, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, Materials Science, or Coatings Science.
- Advanced technical knowledge of coating formulation, product development, manufacturing scale-up, and commercialization in a chemical or formulated products environment.
Valid G Class Ontario Driver’s Licence
Work is generally performed in a lab/ plant environment.
Required to travel to various production and/or customer sites during the course of the working day to consult, advise and oversee. Overnight travel will be necessary and will require a valid passport required for travel outside of Canada.
You become part of a team you can count on
A comprehensive total rewards package and benefits to support your wellbeing
Leaders who support your growth and success
A workplace that provides the best health & safety practices in industry
Give back to your community with two paid volunteer days annually and opportunities to become involved in events
At Walker, your contribution matters. Become part of a team you can count on and where your health and safety are our priority. Our team of more than 1200 people work in environmental waste management and recovery, renewable energy, paving and construction, aggregates, and emulsions chemistries. We are a fifth-generation, family-owned company founded in 1887, operating from our base in the Niagara Region with facilities across Canada and the United States. We care about the environment, each other, and our neighbours, and give back to our communities. Join us on our journey to build a sustainable future, together.
At Walker, diversity, equity and inclusion are core values. We celebrate a culture that respects varied backgrounds and life experiences and actively encourage women and under-represented groups to apply and thrive here. We value a diverse workforce, and we are dedicated to creating an inclusive environment where all employees can thrive.
Walker Industries does not use artificial intelligence to screen, assess or select applicants. Hiring decisions are made by qualified professionals to maintain a fair, human-led process.
Should you require any accommodation in applying for this role, or throughout the interview process, please let us know when contacted and we will work with you to meet your needs.
We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.