Distillation Chemist III

This function provides purification of organic chemicals using distillation techniques and related support systems supervision with wide latitude for use of initiative and independent judgment. Duties may include transporting, weighing, pumping, mixing, cooling, analysis of various chemical substances, and completion of batch process documentation and administrative tasks. Duties may also involve process scale ups, and implementation of new processes and process improvements as outlined by R&D. May be required to assist in training of new hires, as well as mentoring of Distillation staff.

This involves a range of activities including:

• Adeptly sets up and adjusts distillation equipment. Will operate heating, cooling, and vacuum and pressure systems.
• Transports, weighs, mixes, and pumps chemical materials.
• Uses analytical equipment for assessing quality of distillation fractions and final products. Understands principles of operation of the equipment and can interpret results.
• Serves as a technical authority and offers suggestions to modify in-process parameters to accommodate unexpected deviations from the norm.
• Monitoring of process parameters to ensure product quality, yields and lot consistency.
• Expected to assess sub-optimal distillation conditions, discuss and recommend corrective system parameters.
• Calculates materials needed for processing operations and can adjust scale quantities appropriate to the equipment.
• May serve as a mentor for less experienced distillation personnel and a technical resource for the widest range of distillation related issues.
• Will train new Distillation Staff and advise supervisor on progress, including recommendations on further training requirements or sign-off.
• Maintains all necessary production, safety, inventory, training and other records and/or logs as required, in written and/or computer format.
• Understands and complies with all BRI safety, environmental, food safety policies and procedures.
• Ensures proper care, safety, maintenance and usage of technology, equipment, and/or systems.
• Maintain an organized and clean work area.
• May be asked to write or assist with new Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) for safely executing distillation related tasks, and departmental operations.
• Performs related work as assigned, with very low error rates and continues to learn from experience.
• May become authorized by a supervisor to review, sign-off, and scan completed batch paperwork. This includes checking for yield variation and verification of relevant costing information.
• Will serve as a shift leader in the absence of the supervisor.
• Will serve as a shift leader in the absence of the supervisor.

You Offer…

• BS in Chemistry or related field and seven or more years’ experience in distillation.
• In depth, mastered knowledge of the principles and techniques of distillation and analytical chemistry and a broad overview of its relationship to BRI Production.
• Must exhibit the ability to research specific product details and historical data to optimize distillation parameters.
• Can correlate data from all distillation related processes and apply information to troubleshooting and process improvements.
• Knowledge of piping and valve operations to control processes.
• A solid knowledge of health, safety and regulatory related issues and a broad overview of its relationship to production issues.
• Ability to use interchangeably Metric and Imperial standards of weights and measures and their application to determining molar quantities.
• Must be proficient with skills in the operation of gas chromatographic analyses, interpretation of results and formulation of sound processing plans based on those results
• Have awareness of product flow and the current state of the department.
• Has mastered the skills in the operation of distillation and related support equipment. Ability to offer sound recommendations for new and replacement equipment.
• Must be adept in the evaluation of materials by odor.
• Demonstrates initiative by: anticipating production needs, formulating suggestions to improve operations, and performing at a high level in the absence of supervisors.
• Demonstrates good judgement by: assessing and arriving at quick, pragmatic decisions and understanding the implications thereof.
• Must be able to quickly recognize emergency situations and think clearly in periods of high stress.