Specialist Sr. - Technical Service at Westlake Chemical Corporation in Plaquemine, Louisiana

Job Description:

Westlake Chemical offers you the potential to enrich your work life and career experience in an entrepreneurial environment. We work together to enhance peoples' lives through our products and presence in the communities in which we operate. Westlake Chemical is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any characteristics protected by applicable legislation.
If you are an active Westlake Chemical employee (or an employee of any Westlake Chemical affiliates), please do not apply here. Please go to your Workday homepage and click on the "Careers" worklet and view "Westlake Career Opportunities".
SPECIALIST SR. - TECHNICAL SERVICESUMMARYThis position supports PVC resin sales efforts through providing technical service to our customers, both internal and external, and to other stakeholders such as Sales Team, Customer Service, Manufacturing, Product Managers, Logistics, etc. Service includes, but is not limited to, investigating problems and recommending solutions, assisting in placing of non-conforming product, assisting in commercializing new products, assisting in improving existing products, and improving processing of products at customer accounts. This position plays an important role to ensure Westlake understands and meets their existing and future customers' ever-changing needs.DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIESMay include, but are not limited to, the following:Demonstrate positive personal behavior and commitment to environmental, health & safety
Participate in the PACE culture of safety
Act as a technical contact for all U.S. produced suspension PVC
Drive improvement of quality of products and testing of products
Lead development of new products
Lead customer processing of products downstream, including customer trials
Lead training of customers on manufacturing processes
Process, investigate, and ensure resolution of customer complaints
Assist in development of customer specifications
Assist in comparison and analysis of comparative PVC grades across all sites
Assist in response to customer questionnaires
Coordinate or conduct analytical, physical property, and process testing
Understand, run, and interpret data from all lab and processing equipment in building
Organize, conduct, and evaluate/communicate results of projects
Prepare reports and letters
Keep abreast of new technologies
Understand regulatory requirements and restrictions
Travel of 20-25% of time required
Lead capital improvement efforts around lab/processing equipment and Tech Svc building
Other duties as assigned

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONSBachelor's degree in Science or Engineering, or closely related field; Master's Degree preferred
Minimum of five (5) years of experience in the Technical Service / Resin Development field/ PVC Application field
Excellent organizational, interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written is required
Good computer skills with working knowledge of standard software applications (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and SAP experience preferred
Must be able to multi-task, adjust priorities, and work either independently or with a team
Must be flexible to adjust to new ideas and possess ability to suggest new ideas

PHYSICAL DEMANDSWhile performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, sit, walk, use hands to touch, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to climb, stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, and occasionally or infrequently 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 ability to adjust focus. This position regularly must make general decisions requiring judgement and perform activities requiring sustained concentration.WORK ENVIRONMENTThe noise level in the work environment is sometimes moderate when working in an office, however, some of the work will be required in a plant setting or customer site which would mandate usage of required PPE including safety glasses, hearing protection, etc. May also result in exposure to outside elements and may require usage of stairs and elevators. Travel including air travel or auto travel is required 20 - 25% of the time.
Westlake Chemical is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any characteristics protected by applicable legislation.
If you are an active Westlake Chemical employee (or an employee of any Westlake Chemical affiliates), please do not apply here. Please go to your Workday homepage and click on the "Careers" worklet and view "Westlake Career Opportunities".