Senior Scientist, Formulations

About Vive

Vive is a high-growth trajectory, sustainable agtech firm founded in 2006 and headquartered in Mississauga, ON. Our Made in Canada, patented Allosperse® delivery technology helps farmers do more with less. By bringing the power of Precision Chemistry™ to agriculture, Vive is connecting the lab to the field, enabling growers to cut costs and reduce their environmental footprint. We are fully commercial with established distribution across the US, and our products were used on over 1.5 million acres in 2024.

We were recently selected as part of the inaugural cohort of the Government of Canada’s Global Hypergrowth Project, and we are well on our way to becoming Canada’s leading anchor agtech firm. Our global expansion ambition has started with our first product Canadian registration in spring 2023. We’ve received several awards for innovation, been named the SDTC Changemaker of the Year, and ranked #196 on the list of the fastest-growing companies in the Americas. With over 100+ patents, and a vision of having a Vive solution on every acre, we’re looking for passionate, growth-minded individuals to join us on our journey!

At Vive, our core values are the foundation of everything we do and are a guiding force for all the exciting and unique experiences you will have when working with us. 

• We are grower-focused
• We succeed through collective genius
• We are building something real
• We are confident and adaptive owners
• We are data-driven

If you’re looking to build something real with a team of smart, confident, and adaptive owners (and like to have LOTS of fun along the way), keep reading to learn more about the Senior Scientist position and the role you will play in helping us reach our goals!

Mission 

Your core mission as a Senior Scientist on the Formulation team is to provide technical expertise for the company’s current and future products by independently performing research and development activities to improve existing products, develop new products, or develop new product concepts and platforms for commercialization. 

You will deliver on this mission by: 
 

• Scoping projects to identify critical milestones and develop timeline estimates. 

• Leading complex projects through the relevant R&D process levels and milestones to ensure the projects meet the established goals and timelines.  

• Designing and executing experiments, analyzing results, troubleshooting challenges, and preparing detailed reports for assigned work, noting conclusions, and making recommendations to various audiences including
  Management, PDP Committees, product management and other members of the team through regular meetings, presentations, and technical reports.  

• Delivering impactful results by performing research and development activities with the expected scientific rigor and the knowledge of an established professional in the field. 

• Ensuring accurate calculations, making observations, and gathering complete and accurate data. Maintaining up‐to‐date working records, such as lab notebooks, sample reports and project summary files. 

• Developing strategies and methods to test and achieve the deliverables of a project. 

• Supervising, training, and mentoring junior staff on experiment design, methods, and data interpretation to facilitate advancement of departmental goals. 

• Adhering to local, provincial, and federal legislation pertaining to company employment and health and safety policies.  

• Demonstrating Vive’s corporate values in the performance of the work and interactions with others.  

Interacts with: 

• Internally – Joint Health and Safety Committee, Product Development Chemistry, Research, Biology, Application Science, Process, Marketing, Business Development 
  
• Externally – Service Providers, Suppliers, Consultants, Partners 

Specific Duties & Responsibilities 

• Take a lead role in assigned projects, internal and external, to ensure the projects meet timelines and goals. Maintain up‐to‐date records, such as lab notebooks, sample reports and project summary files by summarizing data, observations and conclusions, and writing detailed scientific reports as needed. Supervise junior staff. Complete other R&D tasks as assigned. 

• Independently troubleshoot and advance projects including early-stage product concepts or later-stage prototypes using appropriate formulation techniques, experimental designs, testing, and analyses. Of particular interest for this role is work with aqueous formulations including O/W emulsions, suspension concentrates, and suspo-emulsions. 

• Perform routine bench-scale formulation experiments including measurements of particle size, viscosity, pH, density, microscopy, zeta potential and storage stability. Less routine experiments could include soil columns, UV degradation screens, tank-mix compatibility, and viability assays. Develop and utilize new test methods as required for unique product and platform concepts.  

• Assist in scale-up processes, potentially including at external manufacturing toller facilities as needed for later stage projects. 

• Provide critical input into applied or advanced research and development projects to other teams (biology, regulatory, etc), on the design, development, characterization, and evaluation of new and existing products, and to new product concepts, systems and technologies.  

• Act as a technical leader to the team, other functional groups and external partners through advanced knowledge in area of specialization. Provide training, mentorship, and technical support to junior staff and work closely with other scientists towards department goals and company objectives. 

• Perform scientific activities with keen observation, accuracy of calculations, completeness of data and general adherence to prescribed methods.  

• Follow all laboratory safety rules and regulations. 

• Perform other job‐related duties, as necessary. 

Skills & Experiences 

• University degree or equivalent in an applicable scientific discipline (Chemistry, Chemical/Process Engineering, Materials Science, etc). Advanced degree preferred but not required if candidate has significant directly relevant experience. M.Sc. with 4+ years experience or PhD with 2+ yrs experience in a relevant field. 

• Excellent literature and experimental research skills; data analysis and statistical skills; very good computer skills including proficiency with spreadsheets, Microsoft Office programs and applicable software applications.   

• Good knowledge of formulation-related concepts such as formulation types and ingredient classes, surfactants and interfacial/colloidal phenomena, HLB theory, rheology, etc. Previous aqueous formulation experience an asset. 

• Experience with analytical techniques such as HPLC, NMR, DSC, GC, MS, ICP, FTIR, microscopy is beneficial. 

• Strategic thinker with very strong analytical and problem-solving skills, creativity and innovation. Propensity to continuous learning and experimenting 

• Excellent time management, planning and priority setting skills. Self-motivated and able to adapt to changing business priorities. Good oral and written communication skills.   

• Good computer skills including proficiency with spreadsheets and MS Office programs 

• Experience with role relevant laboratory instrumentation and techniques, and ability to quickly learn how to operate new instruments and develop other procedures as required.  

Work Environment

• Incumbents work under minimal supervision and use own judgment to ensure efficient and effective technical support to meet project deliverables. 

• Can initiate new processes and delegate responsibilities with the approval of supervisor. Has latitude to create and implement process improvements in order to achieve objectives of the role.  

• Decisions beyond the scope of the role are validated and approved by their manager. This may include changes to project goals and timelines, and large purchases and other budgetary considerations. 

• The majority of the work is performed in an environment that is normally clean and comfortable. Some of the work is performed in an environment where exposures to physical, chemical, and biological hazards exist under controlled conditions.  

• Potential hazards may include noise, temperature extremes, biohazards, and hazardous chemical products. Standard safety procedures will describe personal protective devices that are mandatory requirements of performing the work. All necessary safety equipment will be provided.