Chemical Formulator

Description

For over fifty years, Hydro-Chem Systems has been providing excellence to our clients as they clean their vehicle fleets. Across North America, our products and systems are used by commercial washers, private fleets, school districts, and local governments to clean and protect their vehicles. Hydro-Chem Systems manufactures our own line of chemical cleaning products including soaps, detergents, degreasers, polishes, and organic compound cleaners. We stand out in the market because our products work together in a "two-step touchless wash" to provide a superior, environmentally friendly wash without any scrubbing or friction washing. We also engineer, manufacture, install, and service our own automated wash systems to provide a custom drive-through cleaning solution.

We are a 100% employee-owned company that has been recognized as Company of the Year (2019 & 2021) by the Michigan ESOP Association and as a Best and Brightest Company to Work for in West Michigan (2023). We offer a competitive benefits package with an excellent PTO program and work-life balance. If you are looking for a workplace that values individual contribution, accountability, and transparency, we invite you to apply to join our team!

Position Overview

The Chemical Formulator is a key part of our team, responsible for new product development, quality control, and safety & regulatory compliance. The position will conduct research and perform R&D activities to improve our products and develop new products for the market, perform quality control (QC) testing on finished product, create and maintain our Safety Data Sheets (SDS), and ensure that our products are effective, efficient, safe, and scalable.

QUARTERLY ROCKS

Each quarter the R&D Formulator will establish, with the Chemical Manager the specific results, improvements, or accomplishments required to support HCS and departmental objectives. These are expressed as ROCKS.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Following processes and procedures according to the “HCS Way”
• Responsible for the management of Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and labels for all on-site chemical materials
• Writes/reviews lab procedures & specifications needed to support product development and testing.
• Develop/perform all formulation requirements on new formulas; includes creation of theoretical formulation, bench mix development, product description/formulation sheet, lab tests, stability testing/monitoring, color verification, and field testing.
• Conducts intellectual searches for technical information through a variety of credible sources
• Keeps abreast of current trends, practices, developments, and regulatory changes which might impact product, procedures, or formulation.
• Evaluate new and existing raw materials for functionality and stability.
• Reformulate to improve existing products as needed
• Adhering to the highest level of safety and handling in chemicals
• Submit required application, fees, and data for compliance with regulatory entities (EPA, DEQ, etc).
• Verify productions scale up feasibility, evaluate and propose process improvements in production.
• Manage HCS Personal Protective Equipment standards
• Responsible for the quality control of manufactured chemical goods
• Performs other duties as necessary in support of business objectives. The intent of this position description is to guide the activities of the R&D formulator. It is not intended to limit the thinking and creativity of the person to the work of this function, nor is it intended that this description covers all the work that may be required of the person in this position.
  
  

Our Core Values – Common to all HCS Positions

WE ACT LIKE OWNERS

As employee-owners, we pay attention to the details of our daily work and we have the entrepreneurial spirit for the long-term success of each employee, each department, and the company as a whole.

ON THIS TEAM WE FIGHT FOR THE INCH

We are determined to grow inch by inch. The inches we need are everywhere around us, and when we add up all those inches, that’s going to make the difference between WINNING and LOSING.

WE DO THE RIGHT THING

We choose courage over comfort. We do not just do what is easy, fast, or fun. We do what is right, no matter how hard it may be, and we do it even if it opens us up to scrutiny.

WE ARE COMPASSIONATE

We are always mindful of others, we show sympathy and concern for their misfortune. We don't need to walk in someone else's shoes to understand that they need support.

EXCELLENCE IS AN ATTITUDE

We will chase perfection, and we will chase it relentlessly, knowing all the while we can never attain it. But along the way, we shall catch excellence. ~ Vince Lombardi

Requirements

REQUIREMENTS

Educational Requirements

Bachelors degree required, in physical chemistry, material science, chemistry, or related field.

Experience Requirements

Technical Experience: 1 year formulation or laboratory experience.

Industry Experience: 1 year preferred

Physical Requirements

HPLC and mass spectrometer experience preferred but not required.

• Extended hours in front of the computer screen
• Repetitive motions: substantial movement (motions) of the arms, wrists, hands, and/or fingers
• Standing and sitting for long periods of time
• Working around various odors, vapors, and fumes (Environmental condition)
• Must be able to distinguish between smells with precision
• Visual inspection and differentiation of substances based on color and appearance.
  
  

Technical Requirements – specifically related to this position

Highly Organized: Set priorities, develop a work schedule, monitor progress towards goals, and track details and activities.

Communication: Demonstrate superior inter-personal skills, conflict resolution and negotiating skills. Ensures open communication across project teams. Defuses emotional charged situations. Promotes knowledge of team’s work to gain support for on-going and future initiatives.

Decision Making: Assess situations to determine the importance, urgency, and risks, and makes clear decisions which are timely and in the best interests of the organization.

Computers & Software: Comfortable with computers and commonly used software (Google Workspace, Netsuite ERP)

Write Effectively: Conveys information clearly and effectively through both formal and informal documents; reviews and edits written work constructively.

HCS Operating systems principles and objectives (this competency appears in all job descriptions): Knows all HCS established operating systems (e.g., quality, safety, environmental). Understands the responsibility to maintain familiarity of the systems and this position’s role in support of these systems - including a consideration of the impact of individual actions on the systems and the responsibility to communicate concerns and improvement ideas.