Senior R&D Chemist – Protective Coatings

Senior R&D Chemist – Protective Coatings

Al Gurg Paints  ·  Research & Development  ·  Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Al Gurg Paints is the paints and coatings manufacturing business of Al Gurg Group, one of the UAE’s top-five family conglomerates. Founded in 1960, Al Gurg Group has grown into a diversified enterprise of more than 30 companies spanning building and construction, electrical and technical services, retail, interiors, industrial products, real estate and services, and its businesses have contributed products, systems and expertise to many of the nation’s landmark developments – including Burj Khalifa, Expo 2020 Dubai, Louvre Abu Dhabi and Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.

Established in 1988 and operating from its manufacturing facility in Sharjah Industrial Area, Al Gurg Paints produces coatings for the industrial, protective, decorative, wood and floor segments, serving the UAE and export markets across the GCC and beyond. The company’s portfolio includes its homegrown Oasis Paints range and the Viero Decorative collection, built on a long association with leading international principals in decorative and high-performance protective coatings for the oil and gas, marine, petrochemical and general industrial sectors, including passive fire protection systems.

The business is supported by in-house manufacturing, a dedicated Research & Development laboratory and rigorous quality control, and holds ISO 9001:2015 certification alongside Green Building certification – reflecting a deliberate commitment to environmentally responsible, low-VOC coating technologies. R&D sits at the centre of that ambition, translating market and customer requirements into validated, commercially viable formulations. More information: algurg.com/companies/al-gurg-paints

▶  Product Development & Innovation

–    Lead the development, reformulation, benchmarking and value engineering of industrial and protective coatings across the portfolio.

–    Develop innovative and sustainable solutions aligned with market requirements, customer needs and business objectives.

–    Drive continuous improvement in coating performance, durability, regulatory compliance and cost effectiveness.

–    Evaluate emerging technologies, raw materials and industry trends to maintain competitive advantage in the region’s protective coatings market.

▶  Formulation Development Across Coating Technologies

–    Epoxy coatings — amine, polyamide, polycyclamine and phenolic epoxy systems; high-build, high-solids, low-VOC and anti-corrosive formulations.

–    Polyurethane coatings — aliphatic and aromatic PU systems, moisture-cure and 2K technologies, UV-resistant and low-VOC formulations.

–    Vinyl ester systems — glass flake reinforced chemical-resistant coatings and heavy-duty immersion and barrier protection systems.

–    Tank lining systems — chemical-resistant and immersion-grade coatings, FDA-compliant applications where applicable, and high-temperature service systems.

–    Corrosion Under Insulation (CUI) systems — high-temperature phenolic epoxy coatings and advanced corrosion protection technologies.

–    Direct-to-Metal (DTM) coatings — primer-cum-finish systems and surface-tolerant anti-corrosive coatings.

–    Polyurea systems — pure and hybrid polyurea technologies for fast-cure, abrasion-resistant and waterproofing applications.

–    Passive fire protection systems — intumescent coatings for cellulosic and hydrocarbon fire protection.

▶  Project Management, Scale-Up & Commercialisation

–    Manage multiple R&D projects concurrently from concept through to commercialisation.

–    Plan and execute laboratory trials, pilot batches, industrial trials and production scale-up activities.

–    Ensure successful transfer of technology to Production through established handover processes and documentation.

–    Deliver projects within agreed timelines, quality requirements and cost targets, escalating risks to delivery early.

▶  Testing, Validation & Technical Documentation

–    Ensure products are validated in accordance with relevant international standards and customer specifications.

–    Oversee testing programmes covering salt spray resistance, adhesion, chemical resistance, weathering, mechanical performance, and high-temperature and immersion testing.

–    Review and approve Technical Data Sheets, product specifications, technical reports, application guidelines and product approval documentation.

–    Maintain complete, traceable development and validation records to support customer audits and third-party approvals.

▶  Technical Support & Customer Engagement

–    Provide technical support to Sales, Marketing, Production, Quality Control and customers across the product range.

–    Participate in customer visits, product presentations, field trials, complaint investigations and troubleshooting activities.

–    Support specification approvals and product qualification programmes with consultants, certification bodies and end users.

–    Translate field and customer feedback into formulation improvements and new development opportunities.

▶  Team Leadership, Cost Optimisation & Laboratory Governance

–    Lead, mentor and develop R&D chemists and laboratory personnel, establishing performance objectives and development plans.

–    Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, collaboration and continuous learning within the laboratory.

–    Evaluate new raw materials and alternative suppliers, and support supplier qualification and technical assessment activities.

–    Drive value engineering and cost reduction initiatives without compromising product performance or compliance.

–    Ensure effective management of laboratory operations, equipment calibration and testing accuracy.

–    Prepare and manage R&D CAPEX and OPEX budget proposals in line with business priorities.

–    Maintain compliance with HSE, quality and regulatory requirements, and promote safe laboratory practices and sustainability initiatives.

▶  Behavioural Competencies

▶  Technical / Functional Competencies

▶  Future-Ready & Emerging Competencies

▶  Education

–    Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Paint Technology, Coatings Technology, Chemistry or a related field.

▶  Certifications & Professional Development

–    Professional coatings or corrosion certification (for example NACE/AMPP or equivalent) is an advantage.

–    Training in project management, statistical design of experiments or laboratory quality systems is desirable.

–    Familiarity with relevant international standards and regulatory frameworks for protective and fire protection coatings.

▶  Experience

–    10–15 years of experience in Industrial / Protective Coatings R&D.

–    Including 3–5 years leading technical projects, teams or development programmes.

–    Demonstrated track record of taking products from concept through validation, scale-up and commercialisation.

–    Hands-on formulation experience across epoxy, polyurethane, vinyl ester, tank lining, DTM, polyurea and passive fire protection technologies.

▶  Skills & Attributes

–    Strong project management skills with the ability to run multiple development programmes concurrently.

–    Ability to lead cross-functional initiatives across R&D, Production, Quality, Sales and Procurement.

–    Technical documentation capability covering TDS, specifications, reports and application guidelines.

–    Customer support orientation, with confidence in field trials, presentations and complaint investigations.

–    Commitment to quality, safety and regulatory compliance, and willingness to travel as required.

–    Language: excellent communication skills in English; additional languages will be an advantage.