Formulation R&D Team Lead, Ceramic Glazes & Finishes

What a day looks like

By mid-morning, you’ve checked the project tracker, unblocked two formulations moving toward pilot scale, and scheduled a brief stand-up to align priorities. You review SDS updates for a new underglaze colorway, spot-check viscosity and adhesion test data, and coach a teammate on a kiln-firing profile needed for reproducible results. After lunch, you walk to Manufacturing to plan a scale-up trial for an automotive styling clay, refine the handoff package with processing parameters and acceptance criteria, and wrap the day mentoring a junior chemist on root-cause analysis for a variance discovered in brush-on finishes.

Role overview

You will lead a small, talented team developing AMACO’s formulated products—glazes, underglazes, automotive styling clays, Rub N Buff waxes, and Brush N Leaf finishing materials—while ensuring the lab runs safely, efficiently, and on schedule. You are the operational heartbeat of New Product Development, keeping multiple projects moving and people growing.

Reports to: Director of New Product Development

About AMACO

Founded in 1919, AMACO is a fourth-generation, family-owned leader in ceramic and creative materials. We pair artist-informed craftsmanship with rigorous safety and quality standards, fostering a culture that values continuous improvement, collaboration, and hands-on innovation from the factory floor to the executive offices.

What you’ll drive

• Project and timeline leadership: Own day-to-day status across active formulation projects; maintain phase-gate docs, trackers, and schedules; surface risks early; and facilitate brief stand-ups to keep work flowing.
• Lab operations and safety: Run a compliant lab aligned with OSHA, SDS, and environmental regulations; maintain current Safety Data Sheets; uphold robust test methods and QC; manage inventory and preventive maintenance; champion a safety-first culture with regular audits and corrective actions.
• Scale-up and manufacturing handoff: Translate validated bench formulas to pilot and production, documenting specifications, processing parameters, and QA criteria; coordinate trials, observe runs, capture results, and troubleshoot with Operations and Quality.
• Team coaching and performance: Provide day-to-day supervision for 2–5 team members; assign tasks, set expectations, and run 1:1s; identify growth opportunities; partner with the Director on reviews and goals; nurture a collaborative, artist-informed mindset.

What you bring

• Education: Bachelor of Fine Arts (or equivalent) strongly valued; studio art experience with AMACO or similar products is a plus. Coursework or experience in chemistry, materials science, or ceramics science is beneficial.
• Experience: 3+ years working with formulated art materials (glazes, clays, waxes, or similar) in studio or professional settings; prior team leadership or mentoring preferred; hands-on familiarity with lab workflows, quality testing, OSHA standards, and SDS documentation; experience with manufacturing scale-up is a plus.
• Skills: Stellar project organization and follow-through across multiple streams; proactive communication; sleeves-rolled-up, resourceful approach; genuine passion for art materials; proficiency in Microsoft Office or Google Workspace; exposure to Smartsheet, Asana, or similar tools preferred.

Work environment and physical demands

You’ll work on your feet for extended periods in both hot and cold conditions. Regular duties include standing, walking, using hands for fine tasks, and reaching. At times, you may sit, climb/balance, or stoop/kneel/crouch/crawl. Lifting and moving up to 50+ pounds is frequent. Visual acuity required: close, distance, color, peripheral, depth perception, and focus adjustment. Clear verbal and auditory communication is essential.

Schedule and travel

This is a full-time role, Monday–Friday, typically 40+ hours per week. Occasional evenings or weekends may be needed based on project demands. Travel is not expected.

Minimum education

High School Diploma or equivalent.

Other information

Responsibilities may evolve as business needs change. You’ll thrive if you enjoy continuous improvement and collaborative problem-solving.

Compliance and notices

Classification:

Salary: Exempt

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities.

EEO Statement:

AMACO is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Prohibits Discrimination and Harassment of Any Kind: AMACO is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at AMACO are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, HIV Status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the location where we operate. AMACO will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.