Research And Development Associate

Overview

The Research and Development (R&D) Associate drives the commercialization of profitable products that add value and relevance to the core competencies of the company. This is accomplished through assisting in the development of prototypes, supporting new product trials and processes, and setting up new parts under the guidance of the R&D Manager, R&D Supervisor and R&D Specialists.

Responsibilities

• Develops understanding of how to design, experiment, prototype, scale-up, validate, and implement new products to meet critical quality characteristics.
• Learns and performs the basics of managing projects and being a supportive R&D team member.
• Gains an understanding of the R&D processes.
• Collects data while testing new concept designs, new materials, or new chemicals.
• Generates all documentation needed for ISO/EPA/FDA parts (i.e., OQ, PQ, PDR, etc.)
• Gains an understanding of various manufacturing processes and assists in troubleshooting issues with new products and processes.
• Develops the understanding of the company’s different industries to establish specifications for testing and evaluation of raw materials.
• Develops an understanding of Contec’s competitors within the various industries.
• Responsible for accurately setting up new parts within our ERP system- creation of parts, generate drawings, and purchasing specifications.
• Participates and works within ISO 9001 quality standards guidelines in accordance with Contec’s quality goals.
• Others may be assigned.

Competencies

• Action Oriented - Enjoys working hard and is willing to learn new things and help run trials and testing.
• Problem solving - Being able to review information and contradictory information to solve problems in the creation of new parts and the set-up process in our ERP system.
• Functional/Technical Skills - Picks up on technical skills or ideas quickly. R&D requires members to learn about textiles, chemicals, and ERP system.
• Communicates & Listens Effectively - It is critical to be able gather information from trials and testing and communicate the status across the organization. Listen to others and learn to share problems and projects.
• Drives for Results - Persists in accomplishing objectives despite obstacles and setbacks in the creation of new parts and testing. Pushes self and helps others to achieve results.
• Innovation and Creativity - Comes up with new and unique ideas to create new products, solve problems, or ways to test ideas.
• Manages Ambiguity - Projects are often changing to meet business objectives. It is important to be able to shift gears and projects comfortably.
• Supports Core Values - Able to demonstrate support and adherence to Contec’s core values: respect for others, doing “whatever it takes” within Contec’s core values, vision, and strategic direction, exhibiting integrity, having a tolerance for risk, understanding there is life outside of work, enjoying the ride.

Requirements

Associate degree (A.A.) or equivalent from a two-year college or technical school; or six months to one-year related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and training.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee will regularly spend time in an air-conditioned, relatively quiet office environment. The employee will occasionally spend time in a higher temperature, moderately noisy manufacturing or warehouse environment with forklifts or other material handling equipment. Hazardous chemicals are used in the manufacturing plant as well as the laboratory; the employee will rarely be exposed to the chemical but may occasionally contact the product packaging.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate and convey information. The employee is occasionally required to be in a stationary position, move or traverse; prepare, inspect, observe, or detect physical and visual characteristics of raw materials, products, and processes; position objects and items. The employee must occasionally move up or transport up to fifty (50) pounds. Regularly operates a computer and other office equipment such as a calculator, phone, copy machine, and printer. This employee frequently communicates with peers, supervisors, office staff, and other departments through both verbal and written communication such as email; must be able to convey and exchange accurate information in these situations. Must be able to discern oral and written instructions. Steel-toed shoes are occasionally required to be worn. Cleanroom garments are occasionally required to be worn, including suit, hood, boots, mask, and gloves. Safety glasses are occasionally required to be worn.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. Must be able to read small product labels, product drawings, and other documents.