Chemistry Production Specialist

We’re Watts. Together, we’re reimagining the future of water.

We feel proud every day about what we do. We're all part of the same crucial mission, no matter what function we support -- it's to provide safe, clean water for the world, and to protect our planet's most valuable resource.

What we do:

For 150 years, Watts has built best-in-class products that are trusted by customers in residential and commercial settings across the world. We are at the forefront of innovation, working with cutting-edge technology to provide smart and connected, sustainable water solutions for the future. Watts is a leading brand with a quality reputation — and we have a dynamic future ahead.​

Scope of Position

The Chemistry Production Specialist serves as a technical resource within the Chemistry Department, supporting manufacturing, laboratory operations, quality, safety, and continuous improvement activities.

This position develops expertise across chemistry products, manufacturing processes, laboratory methods, and equipment while providing hands-on technical support, troubleshooting, documentation, and training.

The position reports to the Quality and Sustaining Engineer Manager and is onsite in Fort Myers, Florida.

Primary Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop comprehensive knowledge of chemistry products, raw materials, formulations, manufacturing processes, laboratory methods, equipment, and quality requirements.

• Become qualified to independently perform chemistry manufacturing work orders and laboratory testing for raw materials, in-process materials, finished products, validations, and investigations.

• Serve as a technical resource for laboratory and production personnel by providing hands-on support, troubleshooting, training, and guidance on manufacturing and laboratory processes.

• Monitor manufacturing and laboratory activities to ensure product quality, consistency, efficiency, safety, traceability, and compliance with approved procedures.

• Troubleshoot manufacturing, laboratory, equipment, raw material, and product issues using data, experimentation, and structured root cause analysis to support corrective actions.

• Analyze manufacturing and laboratory data to identify trends and opportunities to improve quality, yield, repeatability, throughput, and process control.

• Operate and support laboratory and manufacturing equipment, including calibration, verification, maintenance, troubleshooting, and validation activities.

• Support quality investigations, nonconforming materials, customer complaints, CAPA activities, engineering changes, process validations, manufacturing trials, and new product introductions.

• Develop and maintain SOPs, work instructions, laboratory methods, manufacturing procedures, process documentation, and training materials.

• Train and mentor laboratory and production personnel on manufacturing processes, laboratory methods, equipment, quality requirements, documentation, and safe chemical handling.

• Support ISO 9001, EHS, audit, supplier, raw material, and other quality or regulatory activities related to Chemistry Department operations.

• Collaborate with Production, Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, Continuous Improvement, EHS, and other teams to resolve technical issues and improve departmental performance.

• Participate in Lean, Six Sigma, and Continuous Improvement initiatives and communicate technical findings and recommendations to appropriate stakeholders.

• Continuously develop technical knowledge with the expectation of becoming a subject matter expert for Chemistry Department products, processes, and laboratory operations.

• Assume responsibility for other projects and duties as assigned by Quality and Sustaining Engineer Manager or Company management.

• Responsibility directly tied to Watts Value (Integrity, Accountability, Continuous Improvement, Transparency)

• Travel Requirements: 0%

Required Qualifications

• Associate degree in a related field with equivalent relevant laboratory, manufacturing, quality, or scientific experience.

• 4+ years of laboratory, manufacturing, production, quality, regulatory, or scientific operations experience.

• Experience with analytical testing, laboratory investigations, scientific experimentation, manufacturing support, or similar technical activities.

• Working knowledge of laboratory methods, manufacturing processes, scientific equipment, process controls, and quality principles.

• Strong technical aptitude with the ability to learn and master multiple laboratory methods, manufacturing processes, work orders, equipment, and product lines.

• Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and root cause investigation skills with the ability to use data and structured problem-solving methods.

• Experience developing or maintaining SOPs, work instructions, laboratory procedures, or other technical documentation.

• Strong technical writing, communication, organizational, and documentation skills.

• Ability to work independently, train others, manage changing priorities, and collaborate effectively across functions.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.

• Understanding of and adherence to applicable laws, codes, policies, regulations, and safety practices and procedures, as applicable.

• Must successfully establish employment eligibility and satisfactorily complete background checks, and required pre-employment testing as a condition of employment

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related scientific/engineering discipline.

• Experience in chemical manufacturing, reagent production, laboratory operations, biotechnology, microbiology, or other scientific production environments.

• Experience with ISO 9001, CAPA, GMP, EHS, or other regulated quality systems.

• ISO 9001 Auditor, Lean Six Sigma, or comparable quality/process improvement certification or experience.

• Experience with chromatography, purification, spectrophotometry, assay development, analytical instrumentation, or laboratory method development.

• Experience with equipment calibration, verification, validation, troubleshooting, or preventive maintenance.

• Experience serving as a technical resource, trainer, or subject matter expert within a laboratory or manufacturing environment.

• Bilingual or multilingual communication skills; Spanish language skills are beneficial.

General Applicable Company Competencies

• Commitment to Watts’ values of integrity, accountability, continuous improvement and innovation, and transparency.

• Punctuality and dependability.

• Ability to be flexible and adapt to changing work priorities and stressful conditions.

• Adherence to all personnel policies, procedures, and standards of process as implemented by Watts.

• Maintain productive and collaborative relationships with other Watts employees.

• Adherence to Watts’ seven cultural beliefs: Growth Mindset, Customer-Focused Innovation, Constant Communication, Clear Goals, Collaborate Globally, Be Inclusive, and Take Action.

Working Conditions:

While performing job duties, the employee will work on-site in a manufacturing facility. You will be required to work at the Company’s Fort Myers location in Fort Myers, Florida. Your scheduled work hours will be communicated to you by your manager.

Physical Requirements: Specific physical abilities required for this position include, but are not limited to:

• Ability to stand for long periods of time.

• Ability to lift and carry up to 25 pounds.

• Ability to push and pull up to 25 pounds.

• Ability to physically move around manufacturing floor.

• Ability to read documents and communicate clearly with management and coworkers.

• Ability to wear personal protective equipment, which may include, but is not limited to, safety shoes, hearing protection, and safety glasses.

Nothing in this job description restricts Watts’ right to assign or reassign duties, responsibilities, and working hours/conditions to this position at any time. This position is “at will,” which means that either the employee or Watts may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without notice, and for any lawful reason.

#LIOnsite

Watts in it for you:

Please note that the following benefits apply only to permanent roles and do not apply to internship roles.

• Competitive compensation based on your skills, qualifications and experience
• Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits
• Family building benefits, including paid maternity/paternity leave
• 10 paid holidays and Paid Time Off
• Continued professional development opportunities and educational reimbursement
• Additional perks such as fitness reimbursements and employee discount programs
• Learn more about our benefit offerings here: https://tapintowattsbenefits.com/

How we work:

At Watts, our culture is team-oriented and supportive. Employees here genuinely care about the quality of their work, and about each other. Our people are the heart of who we are and contribute to our longevity and continued success.

And this is a place where you can have a big career. No matter your role, there are opportunities for learning and development, and your daily contributions make a meaningful impact on the lives of people who use our products and on the future of water.

Watts is committed to equal employment opportunity. We follow a policy of administering all employment decisions and personnel actions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, pregnancy, national origin, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, genetic disposition or carrier status, marital status, military or veteran status, minorities, or any other category protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. Consistent with the obligations of state and federal law, Watts will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. Any employee who needs a reasonable accommodation should contact Human Resources.