Manufacturing Process Chemist

Manufacturing Process Chemist

Kelly is seeking an experienced Facility Process Chemist to join a growing manufacturing team in Shakopee, MN. This is a hands-on position supporting the production of fertilizer and plant nutritional products in a large-scale manufacturing environment.

The ideal candidate has extensive experience with inorganic chemical processes, fertilizer manufacturing, ammoniation, and acid-based chemistry, and enjoys working directly on the production floor to solve process challenges, improve efficiency, and ensure consistent product quality.

• Support, oversee, and optimize large-scale production of plant nutritional products.
• Monitor acid-based reactions and ammoniation processes to ensure product quality and consistency.
• Troubleshoot process issues including off-spec materials, foaming, scaling, crystallization, and product stability.
• Provide hands-on technical support during batch and continuous manufacturing.
• Adjust formulations based on raw material variability and seasonal production changes.
• Investigate quality deviations and implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Support scale-up and implementation of new or modified products.
• Develop and maintain batch records, SOPs, and process documentation.
• Partner with Operations, Maintenance, and Engineering to improve process efficiency and reliability.
• Ensure compliance with safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements.

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related scientific discipline (required).
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in fertilizer manufacturing, plant nutritional products, and related chemical production.
• Strong hands-on experience with ammoniation, acid-based chemistry, and large-scale manufacturing processes.
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot chemical manufacturing processes.
• Strong understanding of fertilizer raw materials, intermediates, and finished products.
• Excellent mathematical aptitude for formulation calculations, scaling, and process adjustments.

Experience using and interpreting analytical equipment, including pH meters, density meters, viscometers, XRF, and HPLC. Ability to interpret analytical data and apply findings to process control and product quality.

Practical knowledge of reaction vessels and neutralizers, pumps and piping systems, external cooling systems and heat exchangers, mixing and blending equipment.

• Experience with liquid plant nutrition products, UAN, KTS, phosphate-based fertilizers, micronutrients, surfactants, defoamers, stabilizers, inhibitors, continuous or semi-continuous fertilizer production systems.

This is an opportunity to join an established manufacturing organization where your technical expertise will directly impact product quality, process improvement, and operational success. You'll work alongside experienced operations and engineering teams in a collaborative environment that values innovation, safety, and continuous improvement.