Sulfonation Operator

Stepan Company•Elwood, IL

10d•Onsite

About The Position

The successful candidate will be responsible for Operating or tending to equipment in order to control chemical changes or reactions in the processing of chemicals at Stepan Millsdale. This role involves moving control settings to make necessary adjustments on equipment units affecting speeds of chemical reactions, quality, and yields. The operator will start pumps and/or operate control valves to wash and rinse reactor vessels, to exhaust gases and vapors, to regulate the flow of oil, steam, air, and to add products to blending vessels. They will interpret chemical reactions visible through sight glasses, on local instruments and gauges, or on HMI/PLC monitors, and review laboratory test reports for process adjustments. Responsibilities also include loading and unloading trailers, rail cars, totes, and drums, performing material staging for production areas, tote washing, receiving, and putting materials into storage locations, and inventory consolidation. The operator will manage valves to regulate the flow of products or byproducts through agitator tanks, storage drums, or neutralizer tanks, conduct equipment washouts as directed, and calculate material requirements or yields according to formulas. Monitoring recording instruments, flow meters, panel lights, and other indicators, as well as listening for warning signals, is crucial to verify conformity of process conditions. The role requires controlling or operating chemical processes or systems of machines, using panel boards, control boards, or semi-automatic equipment, and recording operating data such as process conditions, test results, and instrument readings. Conferring with technical and supervisory personnel to report or resolve conditions affecting safety, efficiency, product quality, or the environment is also a key duty. The operator will draw samples of products and conduct quality control tests to monitor processing and ensure standards are met. They will patrol work areas to ensure solutions in tanks and troughs are not in danger of overflowing and notify maintenance and other auxiliary personnel to correct equipment malfunctions and adjust power, steam, water, or air supplies. Performing regular product and raw material inventory, and gauging tank levels using calibrated rods are also part of the job. Additional tasks include defrosting frozen valves using steam hoses and regulating or shutting down equipment during emergency situations as directed. The role requires supporting all Environmental, Health, and Safety programs, policies, and regulations, performing general housekeeping duties as assigned, and participating in and maintaining compliance related activities including internal and external audits for applicable standards and certifications such as ISO 9001:2015, EFfCI, FSSC 22000, Kosher, Halal, RSPO, ISCC+ and others.

Requirements

High School diploma or equivalent.
3 years of operators’ experience in a manufacturing environment with hazardous materials.
Strong communication skills both written and verbal.
Detail oriented.
Work 12-hour rotational shifts, including some weekends and holiday work.

Nice To Haves

Petro Chemical Certificate from Joliet Junior College

Responsibilities

Operating or tending to equipment in order to control chemical changes or reactions in the processing of chemicals.
Moving control settings to make necessary adjustments on equipment units affecting speeds of chemical reactions, quality, and yields.
Starting pumps and/or operating control valves to wash and rinse reactor vessels, to exhaust gases and vapors, to regulate the flow of oil, steam, air, and to add products to blending vessels.
Interpreting chemical reactions visible through sight glasses, on local instruments and gauges, or on HMI/PLC monitors, and reviewing laboratory test reports for process adjustments.
Loading and unloading trailers, rail cars, totes, and drums.
Performing material staging for the production areas, tote washing, receiving, and putting materials into storage locations, inventory consolidation.
Operating valves to regulate flow of products or byproducts through agitator tanks, storage drums, or neutralizer tanks.
Conducting equipment washouts as directed.
Calculating material requirements or yields according to formulas.
Monitoring recording instruments, flow meters, panel lights, and other indicators, as well as listening for warning signals, in order to verify conformity of process conditions.
Controlling or operating chemical processes or systems of machines, using panel boards, control boards, or semi-automatic equipment.
Recording operating data such as process conditions, test results, and instrument readings.
Conferring with technical and supervisory personnel to report or resolve conditions affecting safety, efficiency, and product quality or the environment.
Drawing samples of products, and conducting quality control tests in order to monitor processing, and to ensure that standards are met.
Patrolling work areas to ensure that solutions in tanks and troughs are not in danger of overflowing.
Notifying maintenance and other auxiliary personnel to correct equipment malfunctions, and to adjust power, steam, water, or air supplies.
Performing regular product and raw material inventory. Gauging tank levels, using calibrated rods.
Defrosting frozen valves, using steam hoses.
Regulating or shutting down equipment during emergency situations, as directed by supervisory personnel.
Supporting all Environmental, Health, and Safety programs, policies, and regulations.
Performing general housekeeping duties as assigned.
Participating and maintaining compliance related activities including internal and external audits for applicable standards and certifications such as ISO 9001:2015, EFfCI, FSSC 22000, Kosher, Halal, RSPO, ISCC+ and others.