Chemical technicians are responsible for a wide range of duties, including monitoring chemical processes and testing their quality to ensure they meet company and legal standards. They also maintain laboratory equipment, troubleshoot problems and conduct chemical and physical experiments.
When you write your chemical technician job description, mention the need for someone who is detail-oriented, as this trait helps employees prepare their reports, graphs and charts, which they then present and summarize. Because chemical technicians work with volatile substances, they must be able to closely follow safety procedures.
Chemical technicians must be highly analytical and have excellent critical thinking skills to ensure proper analyses and recording of results. Time management and observation are also important. Finally, chemical technicians should be able to read, write and speak English as well as have a professional and friendly demeanor when communicating with peers. Check out the chemical technician job description below for more.
Chemical Technician Job Summary
Are you ready to show off your skills in the chemistry lab? We are looking for talented chemical technicians who can bring their knowledge of chemical composition and proper experimentation methods to our facilities and use those skills to ensure we produce quality products that meet our high company standards as well as standards set forth by local, state and federal authorities. As a highly organized individual, you will have the opportunity to lead other technicians, design and conduct new experiments and present your findings to your peers and superiors. A position within our facility is an opportunity to grow your skills and set yourself on the path to achieving your career goals.
Job Responsibilities
- Maintain laboratory equipment by keeping it clean and sterilized as well as repairing faulty equipment or requesting replacements
- Assist scientists by conducting chemical and physical laboratory tests, analyzing qualitative and quantitative results of liquid, gaseous and solid materials and then presenting your results to your peers and superiors
- Conduct experiments and analyses using common chemistry laboratory techniques, including spectroscopy, microscopy, physical or chemical separation or chromatography
- Create experimental chemical solutions or prepare standardized formulas for use in products or processes
- Monitor experiments to determine product quality and ensure they are within company standards as well as in compliance with the relevant local, state and federal regulations
- Participate in safety programs, teams or committees, and conduct regular safety audits to ensure a safe work environment for all employees
- Train new employees in company policies regarding proper use of lab equipment and relevant safety procedures when working inside or outside of the laboratory
- Record inventory numbers and order supplies when necessary
Job Skills & Qualifications
Reqiured:
- Associate degree in a relevant field
- Ability to stand or sit for long periods of time
- Must have your own safety goggles, gloves and shoes
Preferred:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Some experience
Chemical Technician Job Responsibilities
Searching for new employees is a big responsibility and often a time- consuming endeavor. The best way to simplify the process is to make sure you’re putting out the best job description possible. You shouldn’t underestimate the benefits of a well-written chemical technician job description; when readers come across a position posting, they often skim the job responsibilities section to determine if they’re a good fit. Thus, carefully crafting chemical technician job responsibilities is one of the best ways to prevent unsuitable candidates from applying.
Start by thinking of compelling action verbs to begin each item. While tempting, it’s best to avoid adjectives such as “successfully” or “efficiently.” Use bullet points to make your chemical technician job description easy to read. You don’t want readers to spend too much time sifting through your words to figure out the essential tasks and duties of the position. Be detailed, but don’t include more than eight bullet points.
The following examples are common job responsibilities for the chemical testing industry:
- Perform routine chemical tests on solids, liquids and gases to assist in the manufacturing of company products
- Report test results in notebooks and computer databases
- Collaborate with senior scientists and staff to assist in manufacturing research
- Set up and troubleshoot machinery and computer programs
Chemical Technician Job Specifications
The job qualifications and skills section of a chemical technician job description is not as lengthy as the job responsibilities but just as important. Often, potential candidates have trouble determining the level of education, technical skills and interpersonal abilities they need for a position. Hence, chemical technician job specifications are meant to give readers a clear picture of the minimum requirements they should have. Ideally, you want potential candidates to meet a majority of the job specifications you put forth.
Many hiring managers are at a loss of what job specifications to list, and that’s understandable. If you’re having trouble, consult with co-workers or senior management to accurately lay out the “preferred” versus “required” qualifications. A well-written chemical technician job description, after all, can avoid dozens or even hundreds of poor applications clogging up your inbox.
While every organization has unique expectations for employees, the following examples are common in the chemical industry:
- Minimum high school diploma or GED with courses in chemistry required; associate degree in chemistry, biology or a technical discipline preferred
- Effective verbal and written communication, with the ability to work independently and in teams
- Ability to comprehend and efficiently carry out instructions in oral, written or diagram format
- Excellent problem-solving skills, with an ability to multitask