Lab Technician

OCI Nitrogen Iowa is looking for a Lab Technician to join our Health, Safety, Environmental, and Quality (HSEQ) team in Wever, Iowa.  This position supports laboratory staff by maintaining logs and record books, helping with special projects and troubleshooting and resolving problems. The incumbent will conduct chemical laboratory tests to assist making qualitative and quantitative analyses of solids, liquids, and gaseous materials for purposes, such as research and development or processes, quality control, maintenance of environmental standards, and other work involving experimental, theoretical, or practical application of chemistry and related sciences.

As a Lab Technician, you will:

• Work outdoors in all types of weather conditions wearing proper personal protective equipment.
• Perform on call duties after hours and weekends when scheduled and needs arise.
• Monitor product quality to ensure compliance to standards and specifications.
• Set up and conduct chemical experiments, tests, and analyses using techniques such as chromatography, spectroscopy, acid/base titration, digestion, and combustion.
• Conduct chemical laboratory test to assist in making qualitative and quantitative analyses of solids, liquids, and gaseous materials.
• Compile and interpret results of test and analyses.
• Provide technical interpret support and assistance to supervision, operators, and engineers.
• Prepare chemical solutions for products and processes following standardized formulas or create experimental formulas.
• Maintain, clean and sterilize laboratory instruments and equipment.
• Write technical reports or prepare graphs and charts to document experimental results.
• Order and inventory materials to maintain supplies.
• Develop and conduct programs of sampling and analysis to maintain quality standards of raw materials, chemical intermediates, and products.
• Follow company safety and health guidelines and other company policies.
• Ability to use our LIMs management system.
• All other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry or closely related field is preferred.

Experience and Skills

• 2+ years’ experience working in a laboratory or environmental compliance in a chemical industry or work in an analytical laboratory. Fertilizer manufacturing experience is a plus.
• Knowledgeable of the principles and processes of chemical, biochemical and treatment of wastewater.
• Experience with the standard analytical procedures for the analysis of water and wastewater.
• Previous operation of gas chromatograph/ion chromatograph.
• Experience conducting tests and inspections of products, services, processes to evaluate quality or performance.
• Experience controlling operations of equipment or systems.
• Perform routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
• Ability to Identify complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Ability to watch gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
• Ability to use computer software for word processing, spreadsheets, and database applications.
• Ability to read and produce technical reports and diagrams of the manufacturing process.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions.
• Bending, kneeling, lifting up to 50 pounds.
• Wearing a respirator when/where required to perform inspections/job duties.
• Ability to climb straight ladders. Some work may require heights more than 100 feet.
• Confined space entry may be required.
• Wearing hearing protection within high level noise areas as required.

Company Profile

OCI Global is a leading global producer and distributor of nitrogen products and methanol providing sustainable solutions to agricultural and industrial customers around the world. Our production capacity spans four continents and comprises approximately 16.1 million metric tons per year of nitrogen fertilizers, methanol, diesel exhaust fluid, melamine, and other nitrogen products. We are headquartered in the Netherlands and listed on Euronext in Amsterdam.  We are proud to have cultivated a strong community focused identity as a local employer with 3,600 employees around the world. Our employment strategy has resulted in a diverse global workforce encompassing 25 nationalities located in ten countries, with diverse ethnicities, religious beliefs, cultures, orientations, ages, and other traits working together respectfully and with a shared sense of purpose.

OCI is an equal opportunity employer that recruits, hires, trains, and promotes regardless of race, color, age, disability, sex, national origin, or religion.  We value diversity in our workforce and in the communities we serve.

OCI offers a comprehensive, first-class benefits package starting the first day of the month following an employee’s hire date.

• Medical insurance
• Prescription drug insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Disability insurance
• 401(k) program with company matching.
• Paid holidays.
• Paid time off (PTO)

Disclaimer

This is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skill, tasks, requirements, efforts, or working conditions associate with the job. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, OCI Nitrogen North America reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as business needs arise. In compliance of EEOC regulations, if the employee cannot perform the essential functions of this position in a satisfactory manner, further accommodations shall be made if it does not constitute undue hardships upon this organization.

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check, pre-employment physical and drug screen. A valid driver’s license is required.