Senior Analytical Chemist

AVN Corporation•South Charleston, WV

2d•Onsite

About The Position

AVN is a strategic innovation partner providing expertise and infrastructure to address challenging science and technology problems. Its chemical, energy, and environmental services business unit is headquartered in South Charleston, West Virginia, and provides industrial research and development services, from fundamental research to applied process and product development. The position is based in South Charleston and provides technical support to chemists and engineers working on customer projects. The role develops and refines analytical methods in a research environment and supports AVN’s safety-focused culture of diversity and respect. The chemist will work with a range of analytical instruments and techniques, evaluate data and methods, support method transfers, communicate with customers, prepare reports, and serve as the technical owner for assigned instrumentation. The regular schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with irregular hours possible based on project needs, including rotating or evening shifts, extended workdays, and weekend coverage. Occasional overtime is required. AVN offers competitive pay based on experience.

Requirements

Five years of related experience.
Experience setting up, operating, developing methods for, and maintaining analytical instruments.
Experience with three or more of the listed techniques: liquid chromatography (LC), gel-permeation chromatography (GPC), coulometry for CO2 and gas analysis, total dissolved solids, gas chromatography (GC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Karl Fischer titration, cation/anion titration, ion chromatography, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and infrared (IR) spectroscopy.
Ability to solve practical problems involving concrete variables and limited standardization, and interpret written, oral, diagrammatic, or schedule-form instructions.
Ability to read and interpret safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with customers or AVN employees.
Ability to write routine reports and correspondence, with strong note-writing and documentation skills.
Mathematical ability to calculate figures and amounts such as proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume.
High technical aptitude and creativity.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
Ability to lift 25 pounds.
Ability to wear all required personal protective equipment.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in chemistry is preferred.
Bachelor’s degree in chemistry with 10–15 years of experience developing analytical methods for chemical analysis and maintaining multiple analytical instruments; alternatively, a PhD in analytical chemistry with experience developing analytical methods for chemical analysis and maintaining multiple analytical instruments.

Responsibilities

Develop, optimize, validate, and troubleshoot analytical methods for research and customer programs.
Set up and conduct analyses using chromatography, spectroscopy, physical or chemical separation techniques, microscopy, and other instrumental methods.
Evaluate analytical data quality and recommend improvements to testing methodologies.
Support analytical method transfer among laboratories, projects, and clients.
Participate in customer discussions about analytical approaches, results, and project objectives.
Prepare technical reports and presentations for internal and external customers.
Independently establish methods for analyzing chemical mixtures using chemical and instrumental techniques.
Operate machines and processes using control mechanisms or direct physical activity.
Prepare chemical solutions using standardized or experimental formulas.
Carry out routine analytical tasks accurately and follow established methodologies.
Record results and, when appropriate, interpret them for senior colleagues.
Maintain and clean laboratory instruments and equipment, and help ensure the laboratory is stocked and resourced.
Use computers and mathematical calculations to determine compositions and prepare graphs and tables.
Follow procedural, safety, and quality requirements in AVN’s Safety Manual and company policies.
Train and mentor junior laboratory personnel in analytical techniques, data interpretation, and instrument operation.
Serve as technical owner for assigned analytical instrumentation, coordinating maintenance, calibration, troubleshooting, and vendor interactions.