Lab Technician

PCA • DeRidder, LA

62d • $58,000 - $65,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) is a Fortune 500 company and an ideas and solutions provider. Our corrugated packaging business aims to be the leader in assisting customers with packaging, transporting, and displaying products. Our white paper business provides 'Paper With Purpose' through exceptional customer service and operational excellence. With approximately 15,000 team members across over 100 locations in the United States, we focus on meeting local customer needs. Our mission is to serve customers today and tomorrow with products and services that surpass expectations for performance and environmental responsibility.

Requirements

• Post high school education in a science or technical related curriculum, or equivalent experience (3-5 years) in a specialized paper mill or lab.
• Must be authorized to work in the U.S.
• Ability to work well under pressure and within time constraints.
• Ability to multi-task.
• Ability to build sound relationships with both internal and external customers.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Excellent analytical skills.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Excellent computer skills.
• Capable of independently making sound decisions through creative problem-solving and detailed information-gathering.
• Ability to understand and use basic chemistry.
• Must be capable of working with ambiguity and change.

Responsibilities

• Ensure the accuracy and sufficiency of process data generated in the assigned mill process area through manual operator testing or automated lab-supported testing equipment.
• Provide technician support for all quality and production-related concerns.
• Attend safety meetings, adhere to mill safety rules and regulations, complete OSHA required annual safety training, and routinely present department safety meetings.
• Initiate Safety Work Orders as necessary, perform scheduled lab hygiene inspections, and maintain personal housekeeping in the assigned lab work area.
• Maintain required personal protective equipment for assigned job responsibilities.
• Train and cross-train hourly employees in the assigned process area on proper testing procedures.
• Write and update proper testing procedures and collaborate with process area supervision to indirectly supervise hourly employees' 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 proper calibration standards and spare parts for all lab-supported testing equipment in the assigned process area.
• Verify the validity of testing equipment through the appropriate use of mill operating data, Total Quality tools (e.g., control charts, measurement error), and other appropriate outside services.
• Maintain involvement with quality teams, trials, or projects in the assigned process area.
• Advise supervisors, engineers, and hourly employees on daily quality, testing, or process-related issues.
• Assist with process troubleshooting.
• Perform additional analytical testing and reporting specific to the assigned process area.
• Cross-train and maintain working knowledge of other lab technicians' duties to provide vacation relief and train new technicians.
• Perform vessel entry and hot work permit atmospheric testing, primarily in the assigned process area and millwide when necessary.
• Collect routine environmental samples, perform testing, and record process effluent and potable water analysis data to monitor and maintain environmental regulatory compliance.
• Assist operating areas with spill response and containment.
• Assist with maintaining the health of the wastewater treatment system.
• Attend periodic training and maintain certification for job responsibilities.
• Perform weekend environmental duty and weekly call duty responsibilities.
• Perform other miscellaneous projects and duties assigned by the Department Supervisor.

Benefits

• Competitive comprehensive benefits package
• Paid Vacation: Three (3) weeks per calendar year. Pro-rata Vacation during the initial year of hire based upon start date within the calendar year.
• Paid Holidays.
• Medical coverage
• Dental coverage
• Vision coverage
• Life insurance
• AD&D coverage
• Disability coverage
• 401k plan with pre-tax and Roth contribution options
• Employer matching contributions to 401k plan

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED