Coatings Scientist - Application

Covia is a leading supplier of minerals and material solutions to the industrial and energy markets. Covia’s rich legacy includes many achievements across industries and capital success through partnership. Our ability to deliver the right product, to the right place, at the right time, is unmatched. Just as strong is our commitment to building partnerships that help our customers succeed.

Quality and innovation are at the foundation of Covia; but our real strength is our people. Covia employs a diverse and highly skilled team of professionals to convert natural minerals into engineered solutions for our customers. Every member of our team has a valuable opportunity to help shape our future and make a positive impact on the world around us through our commitment to the locations where we live and work.

COVIA IS COMMITTED TO EMBRACING AND PROMOTING DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION (D&I) WHERE WE WORK, WITH WHOM WE DO BUSINESS, AND WHERE WE LIVE. We strive to create an inclusive culture where diversity is valued and respected and where all feel included and engaged. We are intentional in our efforts to bring Team Members together and create opportunities to contribute their unique skills, experiences, and perspectives in the pursuit of Covia’s business growth objectives. Enabling all Team Members to perform at their best while being themselves is fundamental to the Clearly Covia Values and Culture.

Covia is looking for a dynamic Coatings Application Scientist who will have a positive impact on the Applications Development Team in Charlotte, NC. As a Coatings Application Scientist, you will support the innovation in the Paint, Coatings, Adhesives, & Sealants markets through formulation design, evaluation, and engagement with paint and coatings customers.

The successful candidate will have the following Key Accountabilities:

• Lead the design, installation, commissioning, and on-going maintenance of the coatings laboratory to support coatings formulation applications
• Conduct the coatings laboratory projects supporting new product development and commercial growth. Develop technical value propositions. Translate voice of customers (VOC) into key performance attributes. Design and conduct experiments to demonstrate and quantify functional and performance benefits using customer language.
• Interface with the technology platform, corporate analytical laboratory, and pilot staff to ensure seamless technology transfer and scale-up.
• Support coatings technical product commercialization, assisting in the creation of technical data sheets, brochures, and new product launch packages
• Support within a cross-functional team to develop IP strategy in the coatings space. Conduct annual coatings IP landscape study, stay up to date to competitive IP.
• Coordinate comparative testing & evaluation of competitive products in the coatings markets.
• Supervise lab technicians.
• Provide training and technical assistance to Sales, Operations, Marketing and other Covia affiliated employees involved in supplying and servicing the coatings markets. Serve as a resource for customer problem resolving and technical support.
• Represent the organization in forums and conferences within specific area of application expertise.

The successful incumbent will have the following Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry or chemical engineering with 10 years’ experience in the relevant industry, or Master /Ph. D degree with 5 years of industrial experience
• Experience in resin systems and formulations with pigments, fillers, curing agents, activators
• Experience in various paint and coating systems, including architectural interior, exterior coatings, industrial coatings, and specialty applications such as solar reflection coatings.
• Laboratory experience with chemicals, MSDS, ventilation and safety training
• Hands-on ability to execute analytical / laboratory procedures and maintain applicable equipment / systems
• Deep knowledge of coating formulations with a structured methodology for building, optimizing, and testing coating formulations is preferred
• Experience with Critical to Quality (CTQ) process is preferred

Benefits:

• Excellent Healthcare Benefits – medical, vision, dental
• 401K with company matching
• Vacation + Paid Holidays
• Disability, Life / AD&D, and Long-Term Care Insurances
• Employee Assistance Program

At Covia, we strive for and support a diverse workforce as we firmly believe this lays the foundation of our success. Our compelling culture supports inclusion, individuality and respect within the workplace. We are committed to providing employment opportunities to the most qualified candidate based on work-related factors and without regard to non-work-related factors including race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, or veteran status.

The organization offers competitive salaries, advancement opportunities, and a full range of benefits.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

IND2

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)