Researcher - Academic jobs in Vallejo, CA

Concrete and Aggregates Researcher

POSITION SCOPE:

Join us at Westlake Royal Building Products as a Concrete and Aggregates Specialist, where you'll play a key role in our Research and Development Laboratory. This position is vital for driving innovation in our Roofing & Stone division. Your primary focus will be to characterize and understand various aggregates, including alternatives like recycled and lightweight aggregates, and explore new generations of cement and supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs). Your expertise will be crucial in leveraging these materials to optimize concrete mix designs and to work effectively with both conventional and non-conventional concrete types. You will directly contribute to the advancement of the sustainability of our product range and manufacturing processes, ensuring that we stay at the forefront of the industry.

Duties/Responsibilities

Safety Leadership: Demonstrate a strong commitment to promoting, improving, and adhering to safety practices and policies in all work environments and areas.

Technical Expertise and Innovation:

• Materials Testing & Inspection Expertise: Provide specialized engineering expertise in aggregate materials testing and inspection. Manage diverse projects, including manufactured stone veneer, roof tiles, and lightweight concrete panels.
• Laboratory Operations Support: Aid in laboratory operations, ensuring compliance with ASTM requirements for testing aggregates and concrete.
• Aggregate and Concrete Performance Oversight: Oversee the performance of aggregate and concrete materials, from sourcing to final product applications and approvals.
• Continuous Improvement and Innovation: Actively participate in the characterization and understanding of various raw materials and concrete to optimize concrete mix designs.
• Additional Responsibilities: Undertake other duties as assigned, in alignment with the dynamic needs of the R&D Laboratory and the Roofing & Stone division.

Management and Supervision:

• Project Management & Supervision: Direct and supervise junior to intermediate engineering staff in preparing summary & technical reports, field inspection reports, and other documentation, ensuring adherence to specifications.
• Cost and Compliance Management: Prepare cost estimates, schedules, and compliance documents. Conduct periodic monitoring of activities in the field.
• Business Development Contribution: Prepare proposals and significantly contribute to business development activities, emphasizing the development of vendor/producer relationships.
• Operational Collaboration: Build strong partnerships with operations leaders to assess and integrate new business initiatives, deploying them successfully onsite.

Knowledge Transfer and Staff Development:

• Staff Training and Mentoring: Supervise, direct, train, and mentor field staff, providing leadership in materials testing and inspection disciplines.
• Culture of Performance: Foster a performance-based culture through excellent communication, stakeholder management, setting clear expectations, and utilizing appropriate KPIs. Engage in operational collaboration through performance circles and brainstorming exercises.

JOB-RELATED QUALIFICATION STANDARDS:

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, Materials Science, or related fields, with significant work experience in concrete and aggregate materials. The role demands a strong emphasis on practical, hands-on expertise in these areas.
• Master's or Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, Materials Science, or related fields is a plus, particularly those with specialized expertise in the required fields.

Knowledge/Skills

• Financial and Business Acumen: Strong financial acumen with an excellent understanding of aggregate financial statements.
• Industry-Specific Knowledge: Knowledge and experience of aggregates production in hard rock, limestone, and alluvial deposits.
• Analytical Skills: Demonstrable mathematical and analytical skills to drive decisions in a business environment, back up assumptions, and develop business cases.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to think strategically and execute methodically.
• Collaboration and Independence: Able to work both independently and in a team environment.
• Problem-solving: Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Time Management and KPI Development: Experience with time management and creating Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Additional Special Skills and Certifications: Proficiency in coding, modeling, life cycle analysis, machine learning, or other related skills will be considered a plus. Relevant certifications and training in the field are also highly valued.

Additional Requirements:

• Safety in Work Environments: Ensure safe practices in both an office environment and a high-volume manufacturing setting.
• Adaptability to Work Environment: Desire to work well in a fast-paced, deadline-driven, and customer-focused environment. Must be adaptable to overtime when required to meet project or production deadlines.

• Lifting: Ability to lift materials, which could be up to 40 pounds.
• Travel Requirements: Willingness to travel between plants as required.
• Driving: Capability to drive as needed for work-related tasks.

Pay Range

$88,000 to $114,000

Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several US markets. The base pay range for this position is $88K to $114K. This range is based on relevant market data in our lowest and highest geographic markets. Pay is based on several factors including market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, experience and skillset. Westlake is a total compensation company. Dependent on the position offered, sign on payments, and other forms of compensation may be provided as part of a total compensation package (also to include a full range of medical and other benefits.