Sr. Research Scientist

Serve as a senior technical resource for Product Development. Focus is new product development. Develop close working relationships with Customers, Suppliers, Marketing, Sales, and Manufacturing teams. Discern customers needs and desires, and develop new high-value specialty composite products (Composite Strand Lumber and Composite Fiber products) that satisfy these needs and can be successfully produced and profitably sold. Strive for intellectual property protection, first-to-market opportunities, and exclusive customer/supplier relationships.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
Participate in technical activities as a member of the Development Department. Work as a member of a technical team of approximately 10 scientists and technologists, which is widely viewed as the OSB industries premiere R&D team. Identify new composite product opportunities and current product enhancements, based on customer needs and technological developments. Develop Composite Strand Lumber (CSL) and lightweight structural boards using fiber, laminates, wood, and long strand technology for use as flange, header, beam and flooring applications. Develop new high-value specialty products that exceed customers articulated needs, as well as their unarticulated expectations and desires. Support the New Product Introduction process from earliest idea generation through successful product commercialization, while satisfying operational and profitability requirements.

Strive for intellectual property protection, first-mover opportunities, and exclusive customer/supplier relationships. Participate in the Intellectual Property (patent, licensing, trademark, etc.) efforts.

Proactively establish and maintain close working relationships with Customers and Suppliers, Marketing, Sales, and Manufacturing teams. Represent Product Development Group and/or serve as Project Leader of cross-functional program teams.

Challenges:

Participating in a customer-centered, market-focused (versus product-focused) approach to Product Development.
Championing the shift from commodity products to high-value specialty products.
Developing products that can be patented in an industry where few patents exist today.
Ensuring that products can be manufactured cost-effectively, once developed.
REQUIREMENTS
BS, Masters Degree, or PHD in wood science, wood chemistry, wood engineering, or closely related technical field required.
Experience in applied research and/or industrial product development, preferably in engineered wood composites or closely related field.
Prepares invention records and demonstrates ability to write patent drafts
Uses statistical design to develop experiments and analyze data
Trains and Assists others in problem solving and problem solving techniques
Prepares reports that support major operation decisions. (Reports are publication quality)
Provides technical assistance to customers
Proficient at technical and business presentations
Level of experience, education, and professional accomplishments will determine grade (from 35 to 38).
Multi-functional team leadership experience a plus.