Quality Lab Leader

Job: Quality Lab Leader

Every day, Braskem’s 8,000 team members work to improve people’s lives through sustainable solutions in chemistry and plastics.

We pride ourselves on a culture that promotes diversity and inclusivity (D&I) encouraging its team members to be who they are, following the motto: “You are free to be you.” This mindset adds value to the organization by unlocking untapped potential. Braskem promotes collaborative behaviors that encourage new ideas and different perspectives. As a global organization, Braskem offers competitive employee benefits such as parental leave and educational reimbursement. We strongly encourage people with all different backgrounds and experiences, of all races and ethnicities, abilities, and people from the LGBTQIA+ community, to apply.

Braskem America is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Braskem S.A. headquartered in Philadelphia. The company is the leading producer of polypropylene in the United States, with six production plants located in Texas, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, an Innovation and Technology Center in Pittsburgh, and a new operation in Boston focused on leveraging groundbreaking developments in biotechnology and advanced materials. For more information, visit www.braskem.com/usa.

Department: Quality & Product Regulatory

Location La Porte

Travel Involved: 10%

Job Type: Full-Time

Description:

The Quality Lab Leader will supervise daily operations of the QC lab and will be the primary interface with Operations.  In this position, you will continuously look for ways to improve efficiency, accuracy and automation of routine analyses.  You are also responsible for leading and modeling the concepts of Braskem’s culture and in developing team members. 

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Participate in and/or facilitate meetings (Site Leadership, Safety, Quality, etc.) and support initiatives for the site and the lab
• Ensure Lab Training includes new digital Automation Technology used in Laboratory and management system of training is effective. Demonstrate proficiency in new digital technology.   
• Supervise the Laboratory Staff (Shift Technicians and Day Technicians) to support plant operation.
• Manage Quality Assurance, Procedures/Work Instructions, Product Introduction, Product Disposition, and LabSoft (Laboratory Information System).
• Ensure laboratory compliance with ISO 9001:2008 and RCMS and fulfill role of Management System representative in Customer and Registration audits.
• Ensure the Lab equipment is maintained, calibrated and documented per ISO 9001:2008 requirements
• Provide routine quality performance reports to operations as scheduled
• Coordinate ASTM Proficiency testing and other round robin testing.
• Use statistical analysis to improve the repeatability and reproducibility of analytical results.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, or equivalent.
• Supervisor experience (direct reports) in a chemical manufacturing plant with 3-5 years of polymer lab experience.
• Technically strong with ability to work collaboratively with other departments and support functions.
• Good knowledge of laboratory practices, use of ASTM standards, basic statistical process control, and ISO Management System.
• Knowledge in the analysis of polymers (polypropylene) preferred.
• Excellent communication skills and leadership abilities.
• Must be organized, detail-oriented with excellent follow-up skills, goal oriented, resourceful, have a positive attitude and take initiative.
• Must be able to think critically, troubleshoot and problem-solve. Computer skills are required (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SAP, LIMS).

Must be currently eligible to work in the United States without the need for any type of sponsorship.