Lead Laboratory Technician

Your Job

We are seeking a safety focused, detail oriented Chemist / Lead Laboratory Technician to join the Koch fertilizer plant laboratory team. The role performs field sampling, routine wet chemistry and instrumental analysis, safe handling of hazardous materials, and laboratory data analysis to support plant process control and product quality.

In this laboratory, a Lead Lab Tech is distinguished by independent execution of advanced testing, ownership of methods and equipment, and responsibility for developing others-not by tenure alone.

This position is performed in a laboratory environment on a 9/80 compressed work schedule, allowing employees to work 80 hours over 9 days with every other Friday off.

We are targeting a start date in September 2026, with flexibility based on candidate and business needs

Our Team

Koch Methanol, part of Koch Ag & Energy Solutions, operates a world-class methanol production facility in St. James, Louisiana. Our team is focused on reliability, safety, and continuous improvement to produce methanol in the most efficient and responsible way.

What You Will Do

• Independently plan and execute advanced testing across multiple laboratory methods with minimal supervision.
• Provide backup coverage for the Lab Manager as needed.
• Perform laboratory and field sampling and analyses using established wet chemistry and instrumental methods (e.g., titration, pH, spectrophotometry, ion chromatography, gas chromatography, ICP).
• Prepare chemical solutions, standards, and dilutions; maintain accurate laboratory records and data systems.
• Maintain, calibrate, and troubleshoot laboratory equipment; document calibration and maintenance activities.
• Follow all site safety, environmental, and laboratory procedures; safely handle hazardous chemicals in accordance with SDS and PPE requirements.
• Support quality control activities including QC checks, control charts, investigation of out of spec results, and corrective actions.
• Collaborate with operations, maintenance, and engineering to support troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement.
• Provide coverage during plant events such as shutdowns and startups, as needed.

Who You Are (Basic Qualifications)

• 5+ years of hands on laboratory experience in an industrial or manufacturing environment.
• Experience in analytical data interpretation, chemical calculations, and preparation of solutions and dilutions.
• Experience performing laboratory analyses using wet chemistry and/or instrumental techniques. (titration, spectrophotometry, etc)
• Must be able to work shifts as required, and to respond to plant events beyond normal hours when necessary.

What Will Put You Ahead

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry or a related field with 5+ years of hands on laboratory experience in a plant setting
• Experience with advanced analytical techniques (e.g., Karl Fischer, GC, IC, ICP, TOC).
• Experience with quality systems, including QC/QA processes, basic statistics, and data trending.
• Experience using LIMS and strong Excel skills for data analysis and reporting.

This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship.

At Koch companies, we are entrepreneurs. This means we openly challenge the status quo, find new ways to create value and get rewarded for our individual contributions. Any compensation range provided for a role is an estimate determined by available market data. The actual amount may be higher or lower than the range provided considering each candidate's knowledge, skills, abilities, and geographic location. If you have questions, please speak to your recruiter about the flexibility and detail of our compensation philosophy.

Hiring Philosophy