Chemical Manufacturing Lab Technician - Nuance Solutions

Nuance Solutions, LLC, a Hospeco Brands Group Company is growing and seeking an Entry-Level Chemical Manufacturing Lab Technician to join our Award-Winning Team! The ideal candidate will report directly to the Technical Director, and is responsible for assisting Research and Development Chemists in executing project work, manage all aspects non-routine customer sample requests including blending of ingredients, packaging, and shipment, and will be trained to become competent on QC Lab functions and serve as periodic assistant and back up to current QC Lab Supervisor.

In this role, you will collaborate with Inventory Control, Research and Development, Chemist, Quality Control, Purchasing, and Department Managers.

Who We Are:

Nuance Solutions is a chemical development and manufacturing company that recently celebrated our 50^th year in business. We are all about cultivating chemistry in and out of the lab and committed to building lifelong, trusted relationships with our customers in all three of our divisions.

Our Mission is to “Provide creative solutions for our customers. People and products you can count on.” Our Vision is to “Create chemistry that bonds our people and serves our customers.”  What Core Values are important to our team: Caring, Dependable, Productive, Self-Starters, Team Players, and Accountable.

At Nuance Solutions, our 60 plus employees have access to big company benefits and we encourage our staff to have a healthy work-life balance. We owe much of our success to our bright and innovative employees. The people at Nuance are dedicated, creative, and forward thinking and all an integral member of a family business.

To learn more about Nuance Solutions long history in chemical development and innovation, visit us at Nuance Solutions History Wall

Duties & Responsibilities:

• R&D Staff assistance such as routine analytical testing and sample preparation.
• Responsible for preparing and coordinating all non-stocked sample orders and “demo kits” (i.e., assure proper blending, packaging & labeling, inclusions such as MSDS, shipping, and distribution of paperwork) as requested by Customer Service and Sales.
• Maintain Raw Material stocking levels in R&D Lab.
• Obtaining samples and performing routine quality tests for solids and bacteria plate counts daily as requested by the QC Lab Supervisor.
• Organization and maintenance of production retain sample areas at both facilities.  This includes monthly visual inspection and rotation of retain samples according to SOP and identification of any obvious quality problems directly to R&D Director.
• Train to become competent on QC Lab functions and serve as periodic assistant and back up to current QC Lab Supervisor.

Job Requirements and Environment:

Competency:

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

Observationally: Proficient at making observations, reporting, and correctly assessing the believability of reports of observations.

Problem Solving: Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Works well in group problem solving situations.

Quality Focus and Accuracy: Assuring quality standards are met within appropriate specifications by accurately checking process and tasks over time. Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Applies feedback to improve performance.

Attention to Detail: Ability to accomplish/complete a task while demonstrating a thorough concern for all the areas involved, no matter how small. This means monitoring and checking work or information, while organizing time and resources efficiently.

Critical Thinking: Reasoning effectively and coming to logical conclusions as one type of analysis for problem solving.

Decision Making: Breaks complex issues into manageable parts and organizes them in a systematic way before making decisions.

Initiative: Seeks new/additional responsibilities, projects, tasks; Acting independently in new/routine situations.

Innovation: Promoting creative, novel thinking and applying it to existing and emerging situations. Exhibits resourcefulness when researching opportunities or facts.

Customer Service: Responds promptly to customer needs; Responds to requests for service and assistance; Meets commitments.

Oral Communication: Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions.

Teamwork: Balances team and individual responsibilities; Contributes to building a positive team spirit.

Written Communication: Writes clearly and informatively; Able to read and interpret written information.

Organizational Support: Follows policies and procedures; Supports organization's goals and values.

Adaptability: Adapts to changes in the work environment; Able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.

Attendance/Punctuality: Is consistently at work and on time; Ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent.

Dependability: Follows instructions, responds to management direction; Takes responsibility for own actions.

Safety and Security: Observes safety and security procedures; Reports potentially unsafe conditions; Uses equipment and materials properly.    

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education/Experience:

Associate’s degree in chemistry or related science.  Bachelors Preferred in Chemistry/ Chemical & Materials Engineering (CHME) or related science.

• Chemical Laboratory Experience Preferred but not required.
• A background in manufacturing is a plus.  

Language Ability:

Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos.  Ability to write simple correspondence.  Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization.

Math Ability:

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.  Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.  Must pass test including percentages and metric conversions.

Reasoning Ability:

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed written or oral instructions.  Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.

Computer Skills:

Basic computer skills required. Must be competent in Microsoft Windows, Excel, Outlook and Word. The ability to learn in-house computer software.

Certificates and Licenses:

Company safety courses. Valid driver’s license – job requires driving a short distance between plant and warehouse locations.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Work 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.

Person filling the job will be located at the 900 e 103rd street building but work back and forth at both of our facilities on a daily basis.  While performing the duties of the Job, the employee is regularly exposed to work near moving mechanical parts and some outdoor weather conditions.  The employee is sometimes exposed to wet or hot & humid conditions (non-weather) and fumes or airborne particles.  The employee will be occasionally exposed to hazardous chemicals.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but is occasionally loud.

Physical Demands:

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 individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to sit.  The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 100 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include Close vision, Distance vision, Peripheral vision, Depth perception and Ability to adjust focus. 

The Lab Technician position is a full-time non-exempt position, eligible for overtime after 40-hours work per week, Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.

Hourly range is $20.00 to $27.00, compensation is commensurate with experience.

Nuance Solutions, LLC is An Equal Opportunity Employer - We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, or any other status protected by law or regulation. It is our intention that all qualified applicants are given equal opportunity and that selection decisions be based on job-related factors.