Chemist II - Crop Protection Development

About Us

Helena Agri-Enterprises, LLC is a leading full-service agronomic solutions provider that has been in business since 1957. With over 450 locations nationwide and more than 6,000 employees, our corporate office is located in Collierville, Tennessee, a suburb of Memphis. We rank at the top nationally for volume and sales in our industry and operate across multiple facets, including product development, sales, operations, precision technology, and manufacturing.

About the Role

The Formulation Chemist is responsible for performing a wide range of tests and research services required for the development, manufacturing, and support of fertilizers as well as pesticides on fertilizer for both liquid and dry products. This position is also heavily involved in the quality control of raw materials and finished goods. This role is with Helena Products Group (HPG), which develops Helena's extensive portfolio of proprietary products covering crop production and crop protection. HPG leads the industry in innovation and formulation technologies, operating out of a state-of-the-art research, development, and training facility in Memphis, TN.

Responsibilities

• Bench tests physical properties of agricultural products, such as pH, density, contact angle, water content, surface tension, viscosity, particle size distribution, emulsion performance, flashpoint, and refractive index testing.
• Performs other quality control tests and analyses.
• Collects data and maintains appropriate records on all testing; reports results to leadership in a timely manner.
• Screens pure products and diluted mixtures for compatibility and stability.
• Blends small batches of finished goods for use in testing.
• Maintains chemical inventory, instruments, equipment, glassware, and laboratory spaces.
• Aids in the development and implementation of new laboratory methods and protocols.
• Maintains physical and electronic document storage, including Safety Data Sheets (SDS).
• Cleans glassware per Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) instructions.
• Performs evaluations of raw materials for sourcing approval.
• Interprets and maintains the reading of storage stability project samples weekly.
• Manufactures lab batches for field efficacy protocol trials.
• Operates bead mill and particle size analyzer equipment to ensure product specifications are met.
• Responsible for data entry and writing of SOPs in Filemaker Pro software.
• Assists in the GHS classifications of SDS generation.
• Writes certificates of analysis (COA) for production products when applicable.
• Attends vendor/supplier meetings as needed.
• Regularly attends internal product development and formulation development meetings.
• Assists in product quality notification complaint resolution.
• Visits manufacturing facilities for quality control of new product production and/or troubleshooting production issues.
• Assists in determining acceptable cleanout levels (ACLs) from product to product to support manufacturing.
• May be required to drive a company vehicle.
• Provides excellent customer service to all internal and external customers.
• Performs other work-related duties as assigned by leadership.
• Regular and reliable attendance is required.
• Follows all company policies and procedures.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry, biology, agriculture, or a related field is required.
• Five years of formulation development experience in agricultural formulations is required.

Skills & Qualifications

• General laboratory skills and critical thinking.
• Organizational, time management, and record-keeping skills.
• Interpersonal and communication skills.
• Flexibility with changing objectives and priorities.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office, including OneDrive, Teams, and OneNote.
• Travel by various means up to 10% of the time is required.
• Ability to read, write, and speak in English is required; communicating in Spanish is a valuable skill.
• Valid U.S. driver’s license is required to drive a company vehicle.
• Successful completion of a drug test and background check is required.

Work Environment & Physical Aspects

At Helena, safety is our highest priority. The work environment for this position is typical of a plant/laboratory setting where the noise level is usually moderate to loud. Responsibilities include:

• Regularly working near moving equipment/mechanical parts.
• Potential exposure to fumes, airborne particles, chemical and biological hazards, vibrations, and a risk of electrical shock.
• Using hands for various tasks, including talking, hearing, walking, sitting, standing (8 hours a day or more).
• Lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling up to and including 50 lbs or more.
• Reaching overhead (up to and including 25 lbs).
• Climbing, gripping, grasping, and twisting using hands and wrists.
• Bending and stooping for long periods.
• Working below knee level and above shoulder level for short periods.

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision insurance starting the same day of employment.
• Earn up to $3,000 in Reward Dollars for your Health Savings Account (HSA).
• Robust 401(k) Savings Plan with a 100% company-match up to 5% starting on your first day; match increases with years of service up to 10%.
• Three-year vesting on company match with 1,000 hours of service.
• Access to earned pay between paydays through Earned Wage Access (EWA) with DailyPay.
• Up to 15 days of paid time-off plus 9 paid holidays.
• Free term life insurance at 1x your annual base pay.
• Free short- and long-term disability.
• Up to 80 hours of paid parental leave.
• Education assistance.

For more detailed information about our benefits, visit helenacareers.com/benefits.