Environmental Lab Technician

Position Summary: 

The Lab Technician is responsible for ensuring that the process data generated in the assigned mill, whether by manual operator testing or by automated lab-supported testing equipment, is correct and sufficient, and also to provide technician support in all quality and production related concerns.

Principle Accountabilities: 

• Attend safety meetings, stay abreast of all mill safety rules and regulations, complete all OSHA required annual safety training, routinely present department safety meetings, initiate Safety Work Orders as necessary, perform lab hygiene inspections as scheduled, maintain personal housekeeping in assigned lab work area, and maintain the correct personal protective equipment required.
• Train and cross-train hourly employees in the assigned process area to perform proper testing procedures with minimal supervision to ensure that the process data generated is correct.  Write and update the proper testing procedures and work with process area supervision to indirectly supervise the hourly employees in all their testing functions.  Add new tests and manual or automated lab-supported test equipment as they become available and feasible.
• Maintain 100% availability of all lab-supported testing equipment in the assigned process area by writing purchase requisitions, repairing, calibrating, maintaining back-up equipment, and performing preventative maintenance.
• Maintain an inventory of the proper calibration standards and spare parts for all lab-supported testing equipment in the assigned process area.
• Verify validity of testing equipment through the appropriate use of mill operating data, Total Quality tools, such as control charts and measurement error, and other appropriate outside services.
• Maintain involvement with any quality teams, trials, or projects in the assigned process area, as necessary.
• Advise supervisors, engineers, and hourly employees on daily basis regarding quality, testing, or process related issues.
• Assist with process troubleshooting.  Perform additional analytical testing and reporting that is specific to the assigned process area.
• Cross-train and maintain working knowledge of the duties of all other lab technicians in order to provide vacation relief and to train new technicians.
• Perform vessel entry and hot work permit atmospheric testing primarily in the assigned process area and mill wide when necessary.
• Perform weekend environmental duty and weekly call duty responsibilities.  Perform and record environmental wastewater analysis.
• May be responsible for portions of the monthly accounting closing, such as calculating and reporting raw material, chemical additive consumption, and electrical distribution for the mill, as designated by the Technical Supervisor.
• Perform other miscellaneous projects and duties assigned by the Technical Supervisor.
• Know and follow policies and procedures of the company, share information that would benefit other members of the team and find ways to improve the delivery of service to our customers.
• Strive to continually strengthen PCA’s business philosophy of meeting needs and exceeding expectation for customers specifically supporting PCA’s Commitment to Service which involves doing what’s right for our customers, focusing on strategies that add value and support growth, and keeping the promises that we make.

Position Requirements:

• Minimum of Associate of Science degree in chemistry, paper science, or related field is preferred.
• Laboratory experience is required.
• Computer skills with knowledge of Excel, graphing, and technical writing required. 
• Working knowledge of analytical procedures in the areas of chemistry, physics and biology. 
• Ability to work well under pressure and within time constraints, multi-task, and build sound relationships with both internal and external customers.
• Excellent communication, analytical, organizational and computer skills.
• Capable of independently making sound decisions through creative problem-solving and detailed requirements-gathering.
• Must be capable of working with ambiguity and change.
• Ability to follow technical instructions and laboratory procedures is a must.
• Previous work experience as a member of a team, or a strong understanding of the importance of open communication and information sharing between team members.