(Sr.) Polyol Scientist

OverviewOur client is a company at the forefront of sustainable materials innovation, developing technologies to transform waste into valuable chemical products. The team advances circular economy solutions through chemical technology, materials science, engineering, and process development.Job SummaryWe are seeking a results-driven (Sr.) Polyol Scientist to lead formulation and innovation efforts for next-generation polyols derived from feedstocks. The ideal candidate will bring deep technical expertise in polyol synthesis and properties optimization, with a track record of enabling new polyurethane formulations and applications through improved polyol design.What You’ll DoDesign and develop new grades of polyester polyols to expand the company’s polyurethane (PU) application portfolio. KPIs include the development of 2–3 viable new polyol grades for customer sampling within 6 months and demonstration of scale-up readiness with validation in downstream PU applications within 12 months.Serve as a subject matter expert in polyol products to support other company scientists in polyurethane product formulation development.Establish polyol structure–performance correlations through testing (GPC, FTIR, DSC, NMR, etc.) and performance benchmarking.Guide pilot- and production-scale synthesis of new polyol formulations in collaboration with the internal scale-up team and external tollers.Contribute to IP generation, technical documentation, and scale-up readiness for commercialization.Support polyol sales and customer applications as the technical product expert by providing product recommendations and translating customer and sales feedback into product improvements as required.Collaborate with R&D teammates to ensure polyol product quality and support developments across the company’s technology platform.Translate structure–property relationships into actionable polyol improvements (e.g., molecular weight, functionality, hydroxyl value, viscosity).Work cross-functionally with scientists, engineers, and commercial teams to tailor polyol performance to customer and market needs.Evaluate downstream polyurethane formulations (e.g., foams, elastomers, coatings) using polyols and optimize for technical feasibility and ease of production.About YouPh.D. or M.S. in Polymer Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, or Materials Science, with 5–10 years of industry experience in polyol and polyurethane R&D.Willing and able to conduct hands-on laboratory research in polyol and polyurethane synthesis, characterization, and product development.Effective collaborator with proven ability to work with team members of varying backgrounds and levels of training.Demonstrated success in developing or improving polyol technologies that enabled broader polyurethane applications.Deep understanding of polyol types (e.g., polyester, polyether, hybrid), structure–property–performance dynamics, and downstream PU chemistries.Detail-oriented with excellent problem-solving and project management skills.Strong communication skills to interface with internal technical teams and external partners/customers.Nice To HaveExperience with polyol scale-up, tolling, and manufacturing integration.Experience at a leading polyol or PU manufacturer.Salary range: $100,000.00 - $150,000.00 per year (depending on experience).Benefits401(k)401(k) matchingHealth insuranceLife insurancePaid time offRelocation assistanceVision insuranceBerkner Group has been retained to execute this search. If contacted by Berkner Group, please reply to the person who contacted you. To apply, email your resume and a brief introduction to . Include your name and the title for this position in the subject line.Seniority levelMid-Senior levelEmployment typeFull-timeJob functionScience, Engineering, and ResearchIndustriesPlastics Manufacturing and Chemical ManufacturingNote: This job description may include additional roles or postings for related positions. #J-18808-Ljbffr

Created: 2025-09-17