Job Summary

The GC/Analytical Chemist is a technical level position responsible for the development of analytical procedures, implementation of quality control programs, overseeing the routine production of analytical data, planning and implementing equipment updates, participating in routine planning and execution of production test runs, and providing analytical support to refinery engineers regarding planning and compliance in accordance with applicable permits and water and fuels regulations. This includes but is not limited to calibration, troubleshooting, cleaning, QA/QC compliance, and maintenance of laboratory instruments. Specifically, the GC/Analytical Chemist focus is in support of the Gas Chromatography (GC) and Analytical and instrumental component analysis areas of the Refinery Laboratory. This position also serves as a consultant and SME for training and oversight of technician staff and technical support teams such as turnaround, laboratory site audit teams, and capital project teams. Additionally, this position has responsibility to ensure that all safety rules are followed in the lab and that work areas and conditions are adequate and safe. 

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry or related field with a minimum of 8 years of job related experience.
• Experience using and maintaining complex analytical testing equipment. 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. 
• Well developed skills using common software including Excel and Word.

Experience in the following is preferred:

• Refinery process testing laboratory
• GC, GC/MS, and IC calibration and repair
• Petrochemical testing
• LIMS administration experience

Job Duties

• Maintain GC and analytical testing instrumentation and analysis. Review and ensure accuracy and validity of GC chromatograms and Analytical instrumental component analyses. Make adjustments to operating parameters and perform calibrations for GCs and Analytical instruments to ensure proper operation and instrument accuracy.  Work with QA/QC Chemist and staff to ensure compliance with applicable QA/QC programs for GC and analytical instrumentation and drive continual improvement in instrument data reliability, accuracy and bias reduction to allow refinery to minimize product specification giveaway.  Work with various respective GC and analytical equipment software packages (ex. OpenLab Chemstation, Chromeleon, Envantage Sim Dist Software, Dragon Software).
• Establish routine maintenance schedules for GC and Analytical analysis areas and instrumentation.  Perform troubleshooting on GC and Analytical instrumentation and repair and replace components and parts as necessary to ensure consistent and reliable performance.  Perform root cause analysis and implement corrective actions for release of erroneous data from GC and/or Analytical instrumentation. Develop and conduct GC and Analytical instrument care, maintenance, and operation training modules for internal and external staff.  Oversee LPG Sample collection systems including sample cylinder system maintenance repair and replacement.
• Set the example for Laboratory Safety Awareness. Participate and support all Laboratory Employee Safety Programs including, but not limited to, safety meetings, safety audits, and housekeeping programs. Monitors the laboratory for violations of safety guidelines and maintains an excellent laboratory safety and housekeeping culture. Conduct periodic departmental safety meetings as requested.  
• Support and maintain laboratory statistical quality control and cross-check programs. Reviews and interprets data and testing records and QA/QC data validation.  Reviews instrument QA/QC data logs for abnormalities, trends or leading indicators and reports or takes corrective actions as needed. Promotes and enforces all regulatory and quality assurance compliance programs.
• Provide technical support, troubleshooting, maintenance, and calibration of laboratory instrumentation to ensure consistent and reliable performance.  Maintain inventory of parts and consumable for responsible laboratory equipment.  Perform or coordinate the repair and maintenance of analytical equipment, maintain comprehensive maintenance and calibration logs, and aid in justification for replacement or upgrading of equipment as needed.

Job Duties II

• Support and implement the training/certification and continual education programs of the laboratory technicians, chemists and other company support staff.  Train Laboratory Technicians in the areas of general  instrument and method concepts and theories, running of analytical procedures, routine troubleshooting and maintenance, and QA/QC programs. Crosstrain and provide continual education to expand knowledge of the laboratory and refinery operations to both internal and external staff.
• Provide technical support to technicians, refinery, and direct management. Assist in troubleshooting efforts within the refinery and company by advising of methodologies and capabilities. Perform non-routine chemical analyses in support of troubleshooting or optimization efforts within the refinery.  Represent CITGO in professional, industry, and regulatory associations as requested.  Represent the Laboratory in chartered teams as necessary.  Keep abreast of developments in laboratory testing technology and assess the applicability of these to our operating environment.
• Oversees testing performed by assigned hourly and contract personnel. Implements corrections and improvements to test methods, as required. Works with operations and provides technical assistance to identify, investigate and resolve process discrepancies.