Research Scientist

JOB TITLE: Research Scientist

REPORTS TO: Head Scientist of Cesco Solutions 

STATUS: Full Time, non-exempt, $34.00-$36.00/hr 

LOCATION: Bellingham, WA 

BENEFITS: Medical, dental and vision insurance, optional FSA, 401(k) with employer match, life and AD&D insurance, Employee Assistance Program, short- & long-term disability, tuition reimbursement, 21.67 days of Paid Time Off + 10 holidays. 

Tidal Vision: 

We believe that sustainability should not require customers to compromise on price, convenience, or performance. Our mission is to create positive and systemic environmental impact by making our biopolymer solutions cost competitive, more convenient, and better performing than the synthetic chemicals we displace. We value innovation and take pride in challenging the status-quo; we choose to view obstacles as opportunities. We value new ideas and encourage the team to apply creativity and invent new solutions to meet challenging demands. We value open, direct communication and foster a collaborative working environment through our unique approach to work culture. We value our employees and demonstrate that through our compensation and benefits programs and opportunities for growth and development. 

About Tidal Vision’s Unique Work Culture: 

Tidal Vision strives to build and invest in the highest performing and most innovative team. We put our people and customers above process, avoid company-wide rules as much as possible, and have the courage to take unusual approaches to advance our mission. With this approach, we believe we can create a more flexible, fun, stimulating, creative, collaborative, and innovative organization. 

Job Summary:  

The Research Scientist will directly support Cesco Solutions – a branch of Tidal Vision’s Water Treatment Division, by conducting commercial research and development and technical sales support to drive water treatment opportunities, with a focus on engineered water treatment solutions for chitosan products to determine their effectiveness within various water treatment applications. 

As the Research Scientist for Cesco Solutions, you will be responsible for conducting laboratory analysis to support commercial R&D, as well as assisting with technical support for Cesco’s sales team. Incumbent will also be cross trained on basic QA/QC procedures pertaining to Cesco’s ISO 9001:2015 quality program. This position will participate in other non-routine water treatment experiments, as well as support non-water treatment related laboratory projects as needed. The chemist will be responsible for collaborating/coordinating with a broad group of team members inside and outside the water lab, independently performing experiments, collecting data, and presenting to research managers and project stakeholders. As a member of Cesco’s technical department, the incumbent is part of Tidal Clear’s cross-functional laboratory research group and will help fulfill Cesco’s role in Tidal Clear’s product development pipeline and commercial research efforts.  

Essential Job Functions: 

• Conduct treatability analyses on commercial water samples as directed by the Head Scientist of Cesco Solutions. 

• Help engineer scalable and commercially viable water treatment solutions for Cesco’s sales team. 

• Provide technical sales support to Cesco’s sales team including both laboratory and field support when necessary. 

• Collaborate with Tidal Clear foundational R&D team on development and commercial implementation of new chitosan-based water treatment products, and other research efforts. 

• Keep detailed and accurate records of laboratory experiments and results. 

• Produce succinct technical reports communicating results and key takeaways of experiments to peers. 

• Participate in project reviews. 

• Work well independently or with minimal guidance; ask for guidance as needed. 

• Prioritize tasks and efforts to align with team leaders on objectives. 

• Work with other members of Cesco’s technical department and operations team to ensure the ongoing functionality of essential laboratory services including QA/QC. 

Routine Duties 

• Follows SOPs and work instructions to perform water treatment experiments. 

• Work with team members to design and carry out experiments. 

• Manage sample intake and process commercial samples with sensitive hold time restrictions in a timely manner to produce quality data. 

• Maintain stock of all materials needed to perform research. Inform supervisors when materials need to be ordered. 

• Update research documents with results of experiments. 

• Perform other duties as assigned by leadership. 

• Regularly consult primary literature for insight.  

• Ensure all work areas are kept clean, organized, operational and safe for all team members, guests of Tidal Vision, and contractors. 

• Ensure that all work environments, practices, procedures and interactions are safe and productive. 

Basic Qualifications: 

• Operate and work within our Mission Driven Culture Core Values and Principles.  

• Bachelors of Science in a laboratory, physical or natural science field. 

• Working knowledge of standard laboratory equipment and instrumentation, such as scales, pH and conductivity meters, volumetric measurement equipment, and spectrophotometric analytical techniques.  

• 1-2 years professional experience in an analytical, commercial, or water treatment laboratory. 

• Excellent project management and organizational skills. 

• Proficient in Microsoft Office, especially Excel or demonstrated ability to learn this software. 

• Ability to read, understand, and follow safety rules and regulations. 

• Ability to plan, organize, develop, implement, and interpret the programs, goals, objectives, policies, procedures, etc.  for success in this position. 

• Critical thinking skills; ability to make independent and sound decisions. 

• Verbal and written communication, presentation, and negotiation skills. 

Preferred Qualifications:  

• Knowledge of industrial water treatment equipment, chemicals, and applications 

• Experience with water treatment laboratory testing, such as jar testing. 

Pre-Employment Requirements:  

• The incumbent is subject to a background check. 

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements: 

Most of the work is performed in a lab or warehouse setting with occasional travel to various facilities. Must be able to move throughout the lab, warehouse, and office. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands and fingers to handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls, and reach with hands and arms.  The employee is frequently required to stand, talk, hear, walk, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, detect odors; and must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Required to wear PPE at appropriate times. 

Tidal Vision provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. 

The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions of this job, the level of knowledge and skill typically required, and the scope of responsibility, but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned including work in other functional areas to cover absences or relief, to equalize peak work periods, or otherwise to balance the workload. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.