Lab Technician Job

A career with Bostik offers a collaborative work environment and supportive development to reach your career goals, with benefits starting day one as part of our competitive total rewards strategy.  Bostik, an Arkema company, is a leading global adhesive specialist in construction, consumer and industrial markets. For more than a century, it has been developing innovative adhesive solutions that are smarter and more adaptive to the forces that shape daily lives. From cradle to grave, from home to office, Bostik’s smart adhesives can be found everywhere. With annual sales of €2 billion, the company employees 6,000 people and has a presence in more than 50 countries. www.bostik.com.  The diversity of our employees is an asset we value and commit to from recruitment through career management.  Bostik is an EEO/AA/Drug Free Workplace.  The above information has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees in this role. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications

Job title:   Lab Technician

Situation in organization: This position reports to the Technical Manager

Job dimensions: This position performs lab cooks and formulates adhesives as designed by the chemists, prepares wood boards, bonds into billets and later cuts into test specimens, and performs evaluation tests utilizing analytical methods and instrumentation. Documents and analyzes in lab notebook. Additional duties include, but are not limited to, basic maintenance of lab equipment, maintaining chemical inventory of lab chemicals, keeping labs and wood shop clean and organized, maintaining and properly conditioning wood inventory for upcoming tests. 

Activities:

Daily Lab Operations (75 %)

• Run lab cooks, formulate products, evaluate performance of chemicals / compounds / experiments, document and analyze results overall
• Pick the correct wood according to the test requirements, cutting the large wood boards into desired dimensions, plane the surface for adhesive bonding. – need to be comfortable operating various wood cutting saws.   
• Following instructions from the chemists, bond the boards into billets, and press for specific time
• Cut the billets into individual testing specimens, then performs various performance tests. Document and analyze results in lab notebook.
• Participate in special projects at the direction of the Sr.-level Scientists
• Perform adhesives performance testing accurately and timely.
• Proper and safe handling and disposal of hazardous chemical wastes and non-hazardous lab wastes.
• Participate and track lab trainings, provide lab training to new employees
• Maintain clean and safe work conditions reporting problem areas to Management.
• Perform housekeeping duties  as needed to maintain a clean working environment
• Sort wood based on their species, densities, grain patterns, moisture levels, and condition them for future use. Track and maintain a proper level of inventory – being able to lift wood boards up to 20+ lbs; ability to drive forklift is a plus
• Perform basic maintenance on wood cutting tools wood bonding equipment to ensure safety and a proper working condition
• Attend applicable seminars, conferences, and training programs as requested.
• Maintain accurate records in laboratory notebook
• Other duties or training as required or requested.

Materials Handling (5 %)

• Maintain current knowledge of safe chemical handling procedures and Safety Data Sheets for final products, raw materials and chemicals used in the laboratory.
• Proper handling and disposal waste chemicals and tested samples.
• Demonstrate ability to perform hazard analysis of new chemicals brought into the facility.

Equipment, Basic Care and Maintenance (20%)

• Operation of equipment necessary to perform in-process and final product testing.
• Ensure all equipment is calibrated and functional.
• Perform basic care routines and repairs, in depth troubleshooting including equipment cleaning, lubrication, condition monitoring, and replacing worn parts.

Accountabilities

• In depth troubleshooting abilities, attention to details.
• Ability to work independently, and safely. Confident at operating various cutting saws.
• Ability to work with scientists, other technicians, tech services, and manufacturing personnel.
• Good communications skills in English, both written and verbal.
• Critical thinking and data analysis skills.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks effectively.

Qualifications / experience required

• A minimum of an associate degree, preferably a bachelor’s degree in Science or Engineering or equivalent experience
• Minimum of 1 Year of Chemical Laboratory Experience required with degree
• Computer experience with knowledge of Microsoft Office programs.
• Strong attention to details, responsible for accuracy of data and precision of test equipment
• Ability to work in a laboratory handling chemicals, conducting experiments, operating wood cutting and bonding equipment
• Mechanical aptitude
• Ability and willingness to work in a team environment where equipment and ideas are shared
• Strong math skills, computer skills (excel, word, PowerPoint) and the ability to compile data accurately
• Follow all safety rules, work safely, participate and/or lead laboratory safety initiatives
• Must be authorized to work in the United States