Laboratory Development Technician / East Yorkshire

Purpose of the job: 
This role is responsible for the planning and safe execution of experimental technology development work involving process development, catalyst synthesis, experimental testing and analysis. The role includes laboratory SHE performance and commissioning, maintenance and operation of laboratory scale experimental capability.  The role undertakes detailed experimental data evaluation, scientific interpretation and written / verbal reporting. The post holders will take the lead in driving continuous improvement in experimental operations and capability, management of change and control of work to achieve required outcomes.

Accountabilities of the job:

• Maintain safety as the first priority in development laboratories with a focus on process safety, personal safety and the safety of others. Contribute to the development of a SHE culture, fully aligned with business goals.
• The scope of experimental work supports all current and future company technologies to deliver key elements of asset improvement roadmaps and future business development opportunities.
• The initial focus is anhydride development but work also supports Cativa, EtAc developments and future / emerging technology opportunities
• The work spans homogenous and heterogeneous process catalysis lab experimental operations, materials and by-products analysis, purification and separations lab investigation to solve process research challenges.
• The roles undertake detailed experimental data evaluation and scientific interpretation. The post holders will take the lead in driving continuous improvement in experimental operations and capability, management of change and control of work to achieve required outcomes.
• Develops and executes operating systems and procedures as required e.g. authoring operating instructions and task risk assessments, issuing permits, MoC operations signatory, COSHH, Manual Handling assessments.
• Responsible for contributing to analysis method development and validation efforts, communicating with clients, documenting results in report format and in the laboratory notebook.
• Maintain instruments and laboratory infrastructure in a one team environment.  Analyse and solve instrument and equipment problems in collaboration with lead lab staff and vendor service engineers.

Required profile:

Level of education & Experience in general

• Minimum of 'A' level or equivalent in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or relevant subject
• Min. 5 years’ experience working in relevant technology / manufacturing roles

Technical Skills

• Extensive practical experience of laboratory, process development and pilot plant operations and analytical techniques acquired over a number of technologies or unit operations.
• Experience and knowledge of chemistry, process catalysis, catalyst testing, data analysis / work-up and drawing insights from experimental data
• Skilful use of the laboratory instruments, glassware, and high temperature/high pressure experimental unit operations
• Practical awareness and experience of operational processes including Management of change, control of work, COSHH and task risk assessments
• Experience of developing operating procedures, identifying hazards and developing task risk assessments for new chemistries and experimental programmes
• Awareness of the process chemistries in use on the Hull manufacturing assets
• Knowledge of analytical chemistry and techniques required to support the delivery of technology development programmes
• Knowledge and experience of DCS systems used to operate laboratory process development and experimental units
• Knowledge of design of lab scale high pressure / high temperature testing units and experience of working with Swagelok

Behavioural Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including capture of operational and scientific output from experimental programmes
• Ability to communicate findings to a range of multi-disciplinary stakeholders including technical experts, both verbally & through written technical documentation including accurate and timely technical records.
• Document test methods and operating, maintenance and safety procedures
• Strong networking skills particularly across engineering, operations and craft disciplines to ensure operability, maintenance and modification of laboratory experiment equipment
• Detailed planning of experimental work on a range of assets working closely with development chemists, engineers and analytical teams
• Ability to work with little direct supervision, exercise initiative and take responsibility for achieving technical results
• Apply logical thinking, comfortable with independent decision making, and can articulate issues and observations to wider team to support problem solving
• Organise work and time to efficiently manage multiple project responsibilities. 
• Adapt to and perform work optimally under changing priorities and deadlines