Analytical Process Specialist

Colgate•Topeka, KS

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

As a key member of the Hill’s Corporate Analytical Services team, this role serves as the primary technical bridge modernizing and maintaining global analytical processes across our manufacturing network. You will collaborate directly with plant Laboratory Team Leaders and bench analysts to execute seamless technology transfers, troubleshoot complex chemical challenges, and introduce digital/AI-driven analytical tools. This opportunity offers high-impact visibility by driving operational excellence, laboratory capability building, and innovation across wet and dry manufacturing sites.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Analytical Sciences or a related discipline.
4+ years of quality manufacturing or analytical laboratory experience.
Technical experience with qualitative and quantitative chemistry techniques.
2+ years of experience managing professional or vendor business relationships.

Nice To Haves

7+ years of analytical quality experience within a food, cGMP, or regulated manufacturing environment (pet food experience preferred).
Experience with separation technologies, including HPLC, GC, TLC, and MS.
Practical experience or strong aptitude for leveraging AI tools, automated data interpretation, or predictive quality models within lab workflows.
1 year working knowledge of complementary disciplines.
Certified Quality Auditor credential.
Proven capability to build trust, lead peer teams, and drive organizational change across diverse manufacturing networks.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary technical resource across global manufacturing sites, leading technology transfers, method validations, hardware selection, and application development for raw materials and finished goods.
Provide expert hands-on troubleshooting, preventive maintenance strategies, and vendor management for complex laboratory instrumentation to ensure continuous operational excellence.
Drive laboratory modernization by evaluating, piloting, and deploying rapid testing methods, automated workflows, and AI/machine-learning tools to accelerate testing speed and data interpretation.
Modernize laboratory SOPs, equipment, and analytical methodologies across conventional, on-line, in-line, and at-line testing environments.
Partner cross-functionally with plant quality, production, and external contract laboratories to analyze data trends, execute internal/external quality audits, and recommend corrective action plans.