Quality Lab Technician

The purpose of the Lab Technologist role is to ensure the timely release of final
products by conducting laboratory analyses in accordance with established quality, procedures and product specifications. In addition to final product testing, the Lab Technologist performs contamination‑prevention, environmental, and other required analyses to support site needs. Working closely with Area Business Teams, the role, provides analytical support for out‑of‑specification products and in‑process samples. The position is also responsible for ensuring that all laboratory equipment is properly
calibrated, maintained, and available to support production.

The Lab Technologist performs predictive and corrective maintenance and troubleshoots equipment, computer systems, laboratory information systems, and network issues as they arise.

Main responsibilities:

• Working within the Corteva policies (Quality and EHS&S), ensuring and maintaining laboratory safety.
• Ensuring a high standard of housekeeping in the laboratory by maintaining a clean and tidy workspace.
• Performing routine validation and calibration of instruments and other laboratory equipment.
• Performing routine preventive maintenance of laboratory equipment as per schedule and troubleshooting equipment issues.
• Completing the testing of all routine samples received at the quality control, laboratory (product, in-process, raw materials, contamination prevention, wastewater etc.) and communicating the results to manufacturing personnel in a timely fashion, ensuring there is no delay resulting from the lab analysis.
• Recording all testing results as outlined in operating procedures.
• Preparing and validating analytical standards as required.
• Performing non-routine analysis when requested (e.g. customer complaint queries shelf-life extensions projects).
• Identifying opportunities for improvement and participating as needed in improvement projects.
• Identifying, communicating, and participating in investigations for any laboratory unplanned events.
• Drafting, reviewing, and updating lab Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) as needed.
• Always ensuring compliance with and utilization of lab SOPs.
• Maintain laboratory stock of consumable items and ensure replenishment as necessary.
• Ensure that retain samples are stored and logged appropriately.
• Understand the processes for supported units.
• Continuously improves and leverages analytical best practices.
• Provides support to the units for troubleshooting related to quality control activities (analytical equipment, LIMS)
• Communicate analytical issues to department leadership when issues impact process safety, lab safety, or product compliance.
• Monitor and improve analytical system performance and capability.
• Provide training and coaching (both technical and non-technical) for new team members and operations personnel.
• Anticipate analytical and product quality problems and address proactively.
• Provide plant operator training on new lab procedures or analytical processes.
• Perform technical reviews of analytical data.
• Maintain audit-ready laboratory records, sample traceability, equipment records, standards/reagent records, and retain sample documentation

Qualifications:

• Minimum 2-year degree (with some chemistry and analytical background)
• Experience in the chemical industry. Safe handling of chemicals
• Lab work experience for a minimum of one year.