R&D Specialist II

Careers at AkzoNobel

About AkzoNobel

Since 1792, we’ve been supplying the innovative paints and coatings that help to color people’s lives and protect what matters most. Our world class portfolio of brands – including Dulux, International, Sikkens and Interpon – is trusted by customers around the globe. We’re active in more than 150 countries and use our expertise to sustain and enhance the fabric of everyday life. Because we believe every surface is an opportunity. It’s what you’d expect from a pioneering and long-established paints company that’s dedicated to providing sustainable solutions and preserving the best of what we have today – while creating an even better tomorrow. Let’s paint the future together.

Let's paint the picture of this role

Bring your research and knowledge-building skills to a forward-thinking research environment

AkzoNobel is a global leader in the area of Paints and Coatings. This success is based on the highest levels of research and innovation. Central to this research capability is the Innovation group in which several Expertise Centers work on future coating concepts. In this group the Expertise Center Substrate Protection (EC SP) works on challenging research projects aiming to understand the protective properties of coatings and develop new and innovative corrosion and other substrate protection concepts for the global Paints & Coatings market. The EC SP is an international team, and we are looking for a Specialist II to be based in Sassenheim, the Netherlands.

Within this context, your mission in this role is to assume technical responsibility for the planning and execution of experiments and the reporting of results and conclusions. Working under the supervision of a project leader you will make an essential contribution to new and sustainable paints & coatings to protect our substrates, while deepening our understanding of these coating concepts.

You will report to one of the team leaders in the EC SP, and work on projects across the whole team. As such, this is an exciting position for candidates with the energy and ambition to help a world-leading research team to develop breakthrough concepts for the global market.

The role and its responsibilities

This role is based at our major site in Sassenheim, the Netherlands. Your core task is to conduct formulation and technical work in the lab, effectively balancing priorities in line with the departmental research plan. Thus you:

• Set up and perform experimental designs for the dedicated development direction and the technological possibilities;
• Draw up the necessary hypotheses;
• Ensure correct use of methodologies, tools & systems;
• Take a critical view and discuss deviations and unexpected results with the project team;
• Document lab results in the lab notebook and report outcomes to the project leader and peers.

You will spend significant time in the laboratory formulating and applying coating concepts and you make yourself familiar with all relevant characterization techniques, ranging from mechanical and chemical techniques to electrochemistry and long-term coating performance tests. It is imperative that you take the initiative and ask appropriate questions to clarify requirements, expectations and critical performance parameters.

At all times you work safely and observe good laboratory practice and safety standards.

Candidate profile

To apply for this position you must possess the following attributes:

• Bachelor/Higher Vocational degree in chemistry or related field;
• Ideally you have experience with paints/coatings formulation, testing methods and tools;
• Interested in working with non-standard problems and exploring new topics;
• Critical attitude to assessing the set-up and results of experimental work;
• Good communication and interpersonal skills, result oriented, problem-solving attitude;
• Good English language skills, verbal and written;
• Pro-active and self-starter.

Our offer

We offer a fascinating international environment that rewards your skills and enthusiasm. In addition to a good salary, you can expect excellent terms of employment including group insurance, 8% holiday allowance, travel allowance and an above industry standard number of vacation days. Training opportunities and internal networks enable valuable personal and professional development.

If you have questions about the role or interview process, please contact Maria Botha, maria.botha@akzonobel.com

At AkzoNobel we are highly committed to ensuring an inclusive and respectful workplace where all employees can be their best self. We strive to embrace diversity in a context of tolerance. Our talent acquisition process plays an integral part in this journey, as setting the foundations for a diverse environment. For this reason we train and educate on the implications of our Unconscious Bias in order for our TA and hiring managers to be mindful of them and take corrective actions when applicable. In our organization, all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age or disability.