What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Scientist, Product and Analytical Development position at Ostara?
About Ostara
Ostara is passionate about changing the way the Ag and T amp;O industry thinks about phosphate management. Our continuing mission is, and will remain, “Feeding the World While Protecting It.”
We believe that passionate people can make a real difference and we are building a culture around innovation, sustainability, efficiency, nimbleness, honesty, compliance, and a sense of urgency to make a positive difference and create real value. Ostara’s CG P2X® fertilizers are the first granular phosphate fertilizers to release nutrients in response to plant demand. Using Crop Driven Release™, CG P2X is proven to increase yields, enhance soil health and significantly reduce phosphate tie-up and runoff, thereby improving food security while protecting local waterways from nutrient pollution.
Position summary
The Senior Scientist, Product and Analytical Development leads the development, characterization, and optimization of Ostara fertilizer products, raw materials, analytical methods, and supporting technical capabilities. This role combines product development, mineralogical and chemical analysis, manufacturing support, and technical commercialization to translate scientific findings into safe, practical, and scalable business solutions. The position serves as a subject matter expert in fertilizer chemistry and advanced product characterization, with particular emphasis on X-ray diffraction (XRD), process troubleshooting, product quality, and innovation.
Essential functions
Product and Process Development
- Lead bench- and pilot-scale development, screening, evaluation, and optimization of fertilizer formulations and product line extensions.
- Design laboratory simulations and technical studies that support scale-up, commercialization, and continuous improvement of manufacturing processes.
- Evaluate nutrient sources, additives, process aids, and alternative raw materials for technical performance, quality, cost, and supply flexibility.
- Define experimental plans, acceptance criteria, technical risks, and recommendations for product and process development programs.
- Coordinate plant trials and convert laboratory and production results into actionable operating guidance.
Analytical Sciences and Laboratory Capability
- Lead mineralogical, physical, and chemical characterization of raw materials, intermediates, finished products, and competitive products.
- Serve as the technical lead for XRD method development, instrument use, data interpretation, reference libraries, models, and user training.
- Develop, validate, improve, document, and maintain analytical methods, calculations, reporting tools, and laboratory SOPs.
- Expand internal analytical capabilities, improve data reliability and turnaround time, and coordinate external testing when specialized services are required.
- Apply appropriate statistical methods and sound scientific judgment to interpret results, identify trends, and communicate uncertainty.
Manufacturing, Quality, and Technical Support
- Partner with Operations and Quality to investigate product variability, contamination, curing, caking, corrosion, scaling, dissolution, handling, and other performance issues.
- Use laboratory studies, production data, and plant observations to identify root causes and recommend corrective or preventive actions.
- Support raw-material qualification, supplier evaluation, product specifications, and technical change management.
- Participate in plant trials and provide recommendations that improve first-pass success, product consistency, process reliability, and safe operation.
- Maintain complete, accurate, and traceable technical records in accordance with company procedures.
Commercialization, Innovation, and Technical Leadership
- Translate complex technical results into clear recommendations, presentations, product information, and decision-ready summaries for Commercial, Operations, Supply Chain, and leadership teams.
- Provide technical support for product launches, customer discussions, competitive benchmarking, claims support, and market differentiation.
- Identify and evaluate new fertilizer technologies, analytical approaches, and product concepts aligned with Ostara’s strategic priorities.
- Develop technical data packages supporting invention disclosures, patent activities, partnerships, and technical due diligence.
- Provide scientific leadership through mentoring, training, cross-functional collaboration, and the establishment of consistent technical standards.
- Manage multiple projects, priorities, and external relationships while meeting agreed scope, schedule, quality, and budget expectations.
Required skills/abilities
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Able to apply knowledge and experience to provide robust R amp;D and commercial solutions
- Self-confident and self-motivated person able to prioritize and focus on the completion of key targets, and comfortable in a fast-paced, growth-oriented, results-driven organization
- Advanced understanding of analytical chemistry, inorganic chemistry, fertilizer chemistry, mineralogy, crystallography, and product characterization.
- Strong experimental design, data analysis, troubleshooting, and root-cause analysis capabilities.
- Ability to work independently, exercise sound scientific judgment, and lead through influence in a cross-functional environment.
- Strong technical writing, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills for both scientific and nontechnical audiences.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Copilot, and relevant scientific data-analysis and instrument software.
- Strong commitment to safety, quality, scientific integrity, continuous improvement, and responsible stewardship of company information.
- Ability to travel to US and Canadian offices, and manufacturing sites.
Key Competencies
- Scientific rigor and curiosity
- Innovation and continuous improvement
- Data-driven decision making
- Technical leadership and guidance
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Project ownership and accountability
- Clear, audience-appropriate communication
- Safety and quality focus
Education/experience
- Bachelor’s degree in formulation science or related field (chemical engineering, materials science, etc.)
- Master’s degree preferred
- 5 or more years experience with hands-on experience in product development, analytical chemistry, and formulation science. Fertilizer technology, mineral processing, process development, or industrial research experience preferred.
- Demonstrated experience designing experiments, developing analytical methods, interpreting complex technical data, and preparing scientific documentation.
Physical requirements and work environment
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk on the phone, speak with the public, hear on the phone, hear in person, and use hands and fingers. This job requires the employee to sit for prolonged periods with minimal exposure to hot and cold temperature extremes that could be encountered at Ostara’s job sites and ability to walk around in labs and between sites. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and regularly lift up to 25 pounds. This job requires close vision and the ability to adjust focus. This role occasionally experiences high noise and dust levels, commensurate with manufacturing facilities and developing granular formulations.
Location and travel
This position is located in St. Louis area, either at the manufacturing facility or nearby lab. This position will require up to 40% travel in the US and Canada depending on relevant projects and business needs.
EEO statement
Ostara is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion or belief, age, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, parental status, gender identity or national origin.