Product Performance Scientist- Soils+Substrates at Midwest Trading – Maple Park, Illinois
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About This Position
OBJECTIVE / ACCOUNTABILITY
Provide applied scientific guidance to laboratory and quality functions, leading quality control and assurance efforts for soils and substrates. Transform data into meaningful insights that inform product standards, performance, and continuous improvement initiatives.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Product and Quality Performance
- Support day-to-day and long-term product performance by providing scientific guidance to lab and quality functions
- Develop and maintain product specifications and quality decision criteria
- Investigate product and process variability using root cause analysis
- Partner with production to maintain consistent product quality
Testing, Data & Technical Analysis
- Design and execute experiments to evaluate materials, processes, and product performance
- Ensure integrity, consistency, and usability of laboratory and production data
- Analyze trends and develop reporting to support decision-making
- Develop and refine testing methods and data analysis approaches
Quality Systems & Continuous Improvement
- Support execution and continuous improvement of the quality program (e.g., Every Cubic Foot Matters)
- Contribute to development and refinement of quality systems, workflows, and tools (e.g., LIMS, automation)
- Ensure testing programs and data collection align with established standards and requirements
Materials and Supplier Quality
- Define and maintain raw material quality specifications
- Support evaluation and qualification of raw materials
- Participate in supplier quality assessments and audits
Technical Support, Product Performance & R&D
- Lead technical troubleshooting for product performance issues (internal and customer-facing)
- Provide technical support to internal teams and customers as needed
- Support product development and formulation improvements to meet performance specifications
Team Support & Collaboration
- Lead day-to-day operations of lab and quality program
- Collaborate cross-functionally with production, sales and operations
- Serve as subject matter resource for substrates and soils
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
- Demonstrated ability to design experiments, analyze data, and translate results into practical recommendations
- Demonstrated ability to translate observations and data into process or product improvements
- Experience with soil and substrate laboratory methods
EDUCATION AND / OR EXPERIENCES
- BS in Horticulture, soils science, agronomy, engineering or related fields (MS a plus)
- 3+ years of experience in horticulture, agriculture, composting or related production or laboratory environments
SKILLS AND ABILITIES
- Strong problem-solving skills with ability to apply scientific thinking in practical environments
- Able to balance hands-on work with data analysis and strategic thinking
- Effective communication skills
- Strong organizational skills
- Detail oriented
- Proficiency in MS office (Excel), experience with statistical software or databases a plus
BENEFITS
- Medical, Dental and Vision insurance options
- Employer paid life and short-term disability insurance
- 401k
- Paid time off and paid holidays
- Employee discounts
ABOUT THE COMPANY
Proudly ranked as a 2024 + 2025 Top Work Place in several categories, including Woman-Led companies and Cultural Excellence for Professional Development. Midwest Trading is a wholesale supplier leading the Green Industry in Chicagoland with sustainable products for over 40 years. We specialize in greenhouse and nursery mixes, custom-engineered soils for green roofs, bioswales and rain gardens. We also provide landscape mulches, soil amendments, and horticultural supplies.