Quality Control Chemist

Summary

The Quality Control Chemist will play a crucial role in ensuring the excellence and consistency of our chemical products through rigorous testing and analysis. Position is full-time at the Pipestone, MN plant laboratory reporting to the Director of Quality and Process Chemistry. (approximately 40 hours): Monday through Friday with flexibility to work additional hours and different schedules during peak customer demand times.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Conduct Quality Control Testing:

1. Execute a variety of chemical and physical analyses on raw materials, intermediates, and finished products to guarantee compliance with established quality standards.
2. Utilize analytical instrumentation, including but not limited to ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy), HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography), Gas Chromatography, Karl Fisher, Viscometer, Specific Gravity, and pH to perform quantitative and qualitative analyses.
3. Perform method validation and verification for new testing methods in the laboratory.

• Data Analysis and Troubleshooting:

1. Perform data analysis, identify trends, and troubleshoot issues, taking corrective actions as necessary.

• Compliance and Approval Checks:

1. Ensure products meet specifications and conduct final product approval checks.
2. Confirm label claims adhere to quality control specifications.

• Documentation, Record-Keeping, and Quality Assessment:

1. Maintain meticulous and precise records of all testing procedures, results, and any deviations from anticipated outcomes.
2. Generate Certificates of Analysis (CoA) for each product batch, providing comprehensive documentation of quality specifications.
3. Assess daily quality parameters and quality systems, covering cross-checks, raw materials, calibration, maintenance, procedures, training, auditing, and oversight of analytical testing.
4. Document standard operating procedures and identify trends in testing results using data analysis from daily result entries.

• Training and Support:

1. Train new quality chemists, and provide technical support to stakeholders, investigating quality problems and implementing actions to follow up.

• Troubleshoot and Investigate:

1. Identify and investigate any discrepancies from quality standards, collaborating with production and relevant departments to promptly resolve issues.
2. Handle basic issues and problems under direct supervision, escalating more complex issues to appropriate staff.

• Continuous Improvement:

1. Participate in continuous improvement initiatives by suggesting and implementing enhancements to existing testing methods and processes.

• Compliance and Safety:

1. Guarantee that all quality control activities adhere to industry regulations and safety standards.
2. Contribute to maintaining a safe, clean, and orderly laboratory environment.

• Other duties:

1. Perform additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Proficient understanding of analytical techniques and instruments.
• Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy in documentation.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team setting.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to convey complex information clearly.

Education/Experience

• Bachelor’s or master's degree in chemistry or related field.
• 2 years’ work experience in plant nutrition formulation/development desired.

Physical Requirements

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to sit and use hands to touch, handle, or feel. Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with hands, and arms, climb or balance and stoop, kneel, or crouch.
• The employee is occasionally required to lift up to fifty pounds.
• The vision requirements include close vision and ability to adjust focus.
• Employees must be able to stand for extended periods of time.

Working Environment

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• The employee will primarily be in a laboratory setting onsite, with occasional plant walk throughs to assist in quality related matters.
• The noise level in the work environment is typically minimal, with normal chemical manufacturing duties occurring daily.

The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and levels of work performed by employees, but are not a complete list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.