Laboratory Analyst

Journeyman Laboratory Technician

Are you the kind of person that is always thinking, sketching, seeking, and adjusting? Who needs to understand how things work and then figure out how they can work better? Are you a passionate, tenacious, solver who loves to work with others who share your drive? Are you positive, constructive, and ingenious?

Are you always solving?

Then we'd like to meet you and bet you'd like to meet us.

Ashland has an exciting opportunity for a Journeyman Laboratory Technician to join our Ashland, Inc. (ISP Technologies, Inc.) business at our Texas City, Texas plant. This is a very visible, significant role within the Company and the Quality Assurance function. This position will report to the Quality Assurance Manager.

The responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Work with the Quality Assurance Department to ensure department and Company goals are achieved and products manufactured at Ashland's Texas City site meet the quality standards required by our customers, ISO, cGMP and other regulatory requirements.
• Perform laboratory tests by: titrations, pH, color measurements, anions by IC, refractive index, viscosity, gas chromatography, spectrophotometers, impurities by HPLC, and other tests as required
• Maintain detailed legible and neat records of analytical work performed in log books, forms, documents and computer entries.
• Perform and document daily and weekly calibration checks, stability checks, system suitability tests of instruments and conduct calculations according to policies and procedures.
• Record and validate data in the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).
• Prepare and standardize solutions as needed to assure solutions are within expiration date.
• Report results, difficulties or abnormalities to appropriate personnel then enter data in appropriate data system when required.
• Compare analytical tests and calculations with published specifications and reports results.
• Properly store and label all chemicals, solutions, and solvents in designated safe storage areas.
• Maintain continuous good housekeeping practices, clean work and break areas, dispose samples as needed, and clean glassware.
• Perform other duties as required.
• Participate in Safety and Environmental initiatives that will contribute to compliance of State/Federal regulations and improve existing Company programs.
• Actively contribute to the organizational goals by taking initiative, executing on goals and focusing on performance and safety.
• Improve the organization capacity and capabilities through building collaborative relationships, optimizing diverse talent and utilizing positive communications and influence with others.

What This Role Is Not:

• Not a management position – while you will collaborate with other team members, this is an hourly, union affiliated role with no direct reports
• Not an office based role – you will spend a majority of your time at the lab bench, conducting quality testing and handling chemical samples

In order to be qualified for this role, you must possess the following:

• Associate or bachelor's degree in chemistry or related discipline.
• Minimum of four (4) years of analytical laboratory experience.
• Knowledgeable and capable of performing wet test methods, qualitative and quantitative measurements, and wastewater analysis License/Cert.
• Capable of performing GC, HPLC, UV-Vis, infrared spectroscopy, auto viscometry, auto titrators, and FTIR testing.
• Ability to work independently, complete lab assignments in a timely and efficient manner and able to interact effectively with other site employees.
• Ability to remain calm during site emergencies and respond appropriately as directed by Site Emergency management and capable of evacuating the manufacturing process areas in a timely manner should an emergency arise.
• Able to walk and stand continuously performing assigned duties which may require turning, stooping, kneeling, and carrying containers with materials or product samples weighing up to 60 pounds.
• Color vision and depth perception are required to properly perform testing.
• Work overtime, holidays or weekends as needed on a rotating shift schedule.
• Able to wear and properly utilize appropriate personal protective equipment to work within the laboratory or visit manufacturing process area including hard hat, safety glasses, respirators, ear plugs, steel toed shoes, or other equipment as required by the work performed and location the work is being done.
• Always demonstrate responsible and ethical behavior.
• The ability to help the company drive greater value through understanding the business, making complex decisions and creating the new and different.
• Must have a valid driver's license.
• Must be authorized to work in the US.

The following skill sets are preferred by the business unit:

• Experience in a chemical manufacturing environment.
• Ability to identify Quality improvement opportunities and formulate action plans for implementation. This requires exceptional work planning and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to interface well with employees involved in Quality Assurance work, including Quality Assurance staff, Process Operators, Manufacturing Engineers, and members of site Leadership Team.

Perks of working at Ashland:

• Team recognition rewards and monetary incentives based on company performance.
• Comprehensive Benefit package, Medical, Dental and Vision starting first day of month after date of employment for you AND your family.
• 401(k) plan with company match.
• Hourly wage $52.59 (8-hour scheduled rate), $46.15 (12-hour scheduled rate).
• Rotating shift based on DuPont schedule.

In more than 100 countries, the people of Ashland LLC. provide the specialty chemicals, technologies and insights to help customers create new and improved products for today and sustainable solutions for tomorrow. Our chemistry is at work every day in a wide variety of markets and applications, including architectural coatings, automotive, construction, energy, personal care and pharmaceutical. Visit to see the innovations we offer. At Ashland our vision is to be a leading, global specialty chemicals company whose inspired and engaged employees add value to all we touch. In fact our people, employees, customers and vendors define who we are. They are the driving force behind everything we do. Not only do we value our customers but we value our employees, and we work to offer them a dynamic and challenging environment. We hold ourselves to high standards at Ashland, and we value integrity and honesty. Ashland has a history of attracting the best people and keeping them. The reasons are simple: industry competitive salary and benefits, pay-for-performance incentive plans and a diverse work environment where employees feel challenged and valued. People come to Ashland and stay. As a growing Fortune 500 specialty chemicals company, we offer opportunities for development and advancement throughout our global organization. Our values define who we are and what we care about as a company. If you are looking for a relationship with a company instead of simply a job, this may be a great fit. Ashland is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled/Gender Identity/Sexual Orientation. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.