Senior LC Analytical Chemist

Company

INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA

34-35 Commensurate with experience

INEOS is a global manufacturer of petrochemicals, specialty chemicals and oil products. It comprises 18 businesses each with a major chemical company heritage. Its production network spans 80 sites in 16 countries throughout the world.

The O&P USA business includes the product lines Ethylene, Propylene, Butadiene, Polypropylene and Polyethylene. Manufacturing sites include Chocolate Bayou Works (Alvin, TX), Battleground Manufacturing Complex (LaPorte, TX), and Carson (Carson, CA), with the headquarters located in League City, TX.

INEOS offers a highly competitive compensation and benefits package.

The successful candidate will work as a leading member of the Analytical laboratory team located at the Battleground Site. The Analytical laboratory is responsible supporting Manufacturing through testing of their process materials and for providing services to assist in problem solving for the Manufacturing groups and to the Polymers Technical Service and Development group (TS&D).

This is an applied role in which the Analytical Chemist will use his/her knowledge of liquid and gas chromatography and other techniques such as extractions and solubles testing to lead the process sample testing, customer complaint resolution and production technical investigations. The Chemist will lead the Liquid Chromatography lab to perform testing on process materials, final products, developmental products, and other production related materials, insure quality of results and frame/coordinate investigations related to customer and plant issues.

The Chemist is also responsible for new method development, assessment of new instruments/techniques for the lab, and method reviews to ensure the lab methods are optimized and will provide continued support in the future. Technicians support each lab area and will help handle routine testing. The Chemist is also responsible for the training and development of the personnel that report into him/her.

The Chemist will work on small and medium size issues and provide fast response to the business. He/she will lead and/or work with peers in a cross-functional, team based environment to involve other techniques as needed to support production, product development, and operations projects. The issues faced are wide-ranging, requiring a good awareness of Analytical Techniques, specifically expertise in liquid and gas chromatography, as it relates to polymer uses, product additives, and polymer production plant processes.

The role involves many aspects of lab coordination: safety, leadership, technical know-how, equipment maintenance, calibrations and control testing, and working with both peers and technicians. Statistical tools will be used as part of the Six Sigma company model.

• Member of the Analytical team who supports the Technical Center, PE and PP Manufacturing, and the Catalyst Development Group
• Lead and/or work with peers in a cross-functional, team based environment to involve other techniques as needed to support production, product development, and operations projects.
• Coordinate the lab workload through timely testing and maintaining quality records, such as control charts.
• Actively participates in safety programs, promoting safe practices and behaviors
• Technical trouble shooting on instruments
• Technical lead for key aspects of Laboratory management (safety, procedures, training, equipment maintenance and purchase)
• Maintain laboratory area and equipment in outstanding conditions
• Technical support in several Analytical techniques.
• Implement methods and solutions to respond quickly and efficiently to business and internal customer needs
• Prepare reports and provide data-driven conclusions
• Manage priorities for incoming requests of different sizes and scopes
• Coach/mentor technicians and share their workload.

• Education/
  
  Experience:
  
  Degree in Chemistry, Material Science, or equivalent.
• Ph.D. preferred or BS with 10+ years relevant experience.
• Adept in instrumentation utilization required - HPLC, LC-MS, TOF-MS, GC-FID, GC-MS.
• Experience in equipment/knowledge utilization preferred - xylene solubles, chemical extractions.
• Strong safety leadership.
• Result oriented and performance bias.
• Teamwork
  - Relationship skills
  - Flexibility.
• Positive attitude - open to challenges and new ideas.
• Creative and Customer oriented.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Basic understanding of polymer structure/property relationships.
• Effective communication skills: verbal and written.
• Organized and capable of working under pressure.