Senior Research Scientist Manager

Oil-Dri Corporation of America is a leading manufacturer and supplier of specialty sorbent products for consumer and business-to-business markets that has been voted as a Top 100 workplaces in the Chicago Tribune. Oil-Dri’s products are sold in the pet care, animal health, fluids purification, agricultural, sports field, industrial and automotive markets. Oil-Dri controls millions of tons of specialty mineral reserves, including calcium bentonite, attapulgite, and diatomaceous shale. The company’s mines and manufacturing facilities are located in Georgia, Mississippi, Illinois, and California. Oil-Dri is a family-controlled and operated organization that emphasizes honesty, integrity, and accountability. The company is dedicated to fulfilling its mission to Create Value From Sorbent Minerals.

Job Overview  

This position requires a hands-on manager working in a collaborative environment. The Senior Research Scientist Manager not only will conduct independent research but will supervise the day-to-day activities related to the area of oleo-chemistry and fluids purification. This will include technical support for customers and manufacturing as well as new product development projects. An individual in this position consistently demonstrates initiative in recognizing opportunities of commercial importance and assists in assessing technical and economic feasibility. They carry out the most difficult and complex projects, particularly those requiring broad experience and knowledge in chemistry. This individual can recognize key issues and develop the approach and design of research projects with limited supervision. The impact of this position to the overall R&D program is consistently very high.

Responsibilities

• Supervise, develop, and review the work of a team of research scientists and lab technicians, with a "hands-on" approach as the central resource to answer questions and provide guidance.
• Conducts independent research and/or development work including the conception, planning and implementation of investigations that could substantially influence scientific knowledge and company stature or growth.  This involves determining the approach, project design and objective for complex research projects with little supervision.
• Explores and analyzes the interactions between clay minerals and various chemical systems, applying advanced scientific knowledge to develop insights that enhance product applications and support customer solutions.
• Manages and administers comprehensive product technical support for manufacturing, sales and new product development projects. 
• Demonstrates initiative in recognizing opportunity of commercial importance and assists in assessing technical and economic feasibility.
• Begins to perform the most difficult and complex projects, requiring broad experience and scientific knowledge
• Performs advanced studies and gives technical guidance to the R&D organization
• Consistently develops solutions to complex R&D problems where little or no precedent exists, and the use of considerable ingenuity and creativity is required
• Accurately analyzes, interprets and successfully applies research data and results from complex projects
• Provides support to manufacturing and /or Sales and Marketing where a high level of technical expertise is required.  This support could include:
• Conducting detailed product performance analyses and interpreting results to guide manufacturing adjustments for optimal quality and efficiency.
• Collaborating with Sales and Marketing to develop technical documentation, presentations, and training materials that effectively communicate product benefits and technical details to clients.
• Assisting in customer-facing technical discussions, addressing complex inquiries, and recommending tailored product applications to meet client needs.
• Troubleshooting technical issues in production or in customer applications, working cross-functionally to resolve challenges and ensure product consistency.
• Generating insights on customer requirements and market trends to drive continuous product improvement and innovation.
• Evaluates work for patentability
• Expected to identify and actively initiate technical publication opportunities; proper clearance must be obtained
• Consistently generates new ideas or designs for research projects
• Participates in conference proceedings and professional societies
• Reports project status, results, implications and recommendations to R&D and Corporate Management.

Qualifications

Education:

• Minimum of Ph.D. degree in chemistry with 0-5 years related experience

Skills & Abilities:

• Skilled in team leadership and project management, capable of guiding research teams, overseeing project timelines, and providing mentorship to foster growth and ensure project objectives are met effectively.
• Possesses a thorough theoretical and practical understanding of chemistry; analytical, organic, and inorganic.
• Proven ability to work both within and outside his/her field(s) of expertise
• Solid scientific knowledge, able to search literature and generate ideas and/or hypotheses
• Good at designing experiments and data analysis, able to draw sound conclusions for the data, and to summarize and present findings to internal and external stakeholders.
• Inquisitive mindset with a strong desire to understand chemical phenomena – driven by curiosity to investigate and interpret observations at a molecular level and adept at translating findings into actionable insights.
• Strong interpersonal skills, ethics, and integrity
• Well-organized and good at documenting work
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills
• Customer focus, creativity, and problem-solving skills

Compensation & Benefits

Compensation

• Salary Range: $106,606 - $160,718

Benefits

• 401(k) with 6% match (Fully Vested at 2 Years)
• Annual Incentive Bonus
• Annual Merit increase opportunity
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• 11 Corporate Holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• Pre-Tax Transit
• Fitness & Gym Reimbursement
• Employer Contribution - Health, Dental, Vision

Oil-Dri is committed to providing equal opportunity for all teammates and qualified candidates without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, mental or physical disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Accordingly, all employment decisions and personnel actions or programs such as hiring, promotion, discipline, compensation, benefits, transfers, reductions in workforce, and training, etc. will be consistent with the principle of equal employment opportunity.