Scientist Formulator

Founded over 35 years ago, First Quality is a family-owned company that has grown from a small business in McElhattan, Pennsylvania into a group of companies, employing over 5,000 team members, while maintaining our family values and entrepreneurial spirit. With corporate offices in New York and Pennsylvania and 8 manufacturing campuses across the U.S. and Canada, the companies within the First Quality group produce high-quality personal care and household products for large retailers and healthcare organizations. Our personal care and household product portfolio includes baby diapers, wipes, feminine pads, paper towels, bath tissue, adult incontinence products, laundry detergents, fabric finishers, and dishwash solutions. In addition, we manufacture certain raw materials and components used in the manufacturing of these products, including flexible print and packaging solutions.

Guided by our values of humility, unity, and integrity, we leverage advanced technology and innovation to drive growth and create new opportunities. At First Quality, you’ll find a collaborative environment focused on continuous learning, professional development, and our mission to Make Things Better®.

We are seeking a Scientist Formulator for our First Quality Home Care Products, LLC facility in Trumbull, CT.  This role involves planning and practically performing laboratory assignments : formulating SDL (Single-Dose-Liquids) and / or HDL (Heavy-Duty-Liquids) formulations, the measurement of their physical properties, validation of formulations stability and performance. The individual draws conclusions based on data, then proposes and executes the next steps. The Scientist functions as part of an integrated cross functional R&D team.

Primary responsibilities include :

Actively seeks to understand and utilizes the understanding of chemical structure / function relationships pertaining to material performance delivered from a formulation matrix

Develops and conducts experimental designs and laboratory screening methods to measure desired performance metrics and for the creation of prototype products

Reviews data, provides preliminary interpretation and draws conclusions. Proposes and executes the next steps / strategies of development efforts. Reports progress / issues on a timely basis

Works closely with R&D’s cross-functional teams : packaging, process development, product testing, and manufacturing during the development and commercialization of SDL and / or HDL formulations

Coordinates necessary tasks and discussions with R&D cross-functional teams to ensure the tasks are executed in a timely manner

Works closely with business partners : marketing, supply chain, finance, purchasing when appropriate

Obtains data to evaluate the composition and performance of competitive formulations / products

Ensures accuracy of generated data during laboratory testing and reports according to standard operating procedures or customer requirements

As needed, provides subject matter expert support regarding the off-specs formulations / batches

Prepares presentations to the Ownership, management, customers and / or clients

Conducts laboratory work and equipment maintenance in accordance with standard operating procedures

Maintains laboratory notebook in accordance with standard operating procedures

Ensures the laboratory is kept in a clean, orderly, and safe manner and reports any deficiencies

Performs IP review for FTP studies

The ideal candidate should possess the following :

Education  — Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry or equivalent Science or Engineering related field

Experience  — 2+ years of relevant laboratory and industry experience

Strong communication skills and ability to utilize good judgement to make timely, practical, and technically sound decisions

Physical Requirements :

Significant amount of time at a bench or a computer station. On rare occasions there is a need to lift up to twenty (20) pounds.

What We Offer You

We believe that by continuously improving the quality of our benefits, we can help to raise the quality of life for our team members and their families. At First Quality you will receive :

Competitive base salary and bonus opportunities

Paid time off (three-week minimum)

Medical, dental and vision starting day one

401(k) with employer match

Paid parental leave

Child and family care assistance (dependent care FSA with employer match up to $2500)

Bundle of joy benefit (year's worth of free diapers to all team members with a new baby)

Tuition assistance

Wellness program with savings of up to $4,000 per year on insurance premiums

• ...and more!

Estimated annual base salary range for this position is $75,000- $80,000

Base pay is only part of our total compensation package, which also includes an attractive annual discretionary bonus and robust suite of employee benefits for which you are eligible to participate in starting on your first day of employment.