Facility Process Chemist

About the role

We are seeking a highly experienced Facility Process Chemist to support the manufacturing of fertilizer and plant nutritional products in a production-scale environment. This role is hands-on and process-based, focusing on large-scale chemical reactions, ammoniation processes, and real-time troubleshooting of manufacturing and quality issues.

Responsibilities

• Oversee, support and optimize large-scale production of plant nutritional products, including acid-based reactions and ammoniation.
• Monitor reaction parameters and product quality to ensure consistency with specifications.
• Troubleshoot process upsets, off-spec material, foaming, scaling, crystallization, and stability issues.
• Provide hands-on technical support on the production floor during batch and continuous production.
• Assist with formulation adjustments, raw material variability, and seasonal production changes.
• Investigate quality deviations and implement corrective and preventative actions.
• Support scale-up and implementation of new or modified plant nutritional products.
• Develop, maintain, and improve batch records, SOPs, and process documentation.
• Collaborate with operations, maintenance, and engineering teams to improve process reliability and efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, or related scientific discipline (4-year degree required)
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in plant nutritional products, fertilizer manufacturing, or related chemical production.
• Strong hands-on experience with ammoniation and acid-based chemistry in large-scale systems.
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot chemical processes in a manufacturing environment.
• Solid understanding of fertilizer raw materials, intermediates, and finished products.
• Strong mathematical aptitude for formulation calculations, scaling, and process adjustments.

Qualifications

• Experience using and interpreting analytical instruments and techniques, including:
• pH meters
• Density Meters
• Viscometers
• XRF
• HPLC
• Ability to interpret analytical data and apply findings to process control and product quality.
• Practical knowledge of chemical processing equipment, including:
• Reaction vessels and neutralizers
• Pumps and piping systems
• External cooling systems and heat exchangers
• Mixing and blending equipment

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with nutritional liquid plant products (UAN, KTS, phosphate-based products, micronutrients.)
• Familiarity with additives such as surfactants, defoamers, stabilizers, and inhibitors.
• Experience in continuous or semi-continuous fertilizer production systems.
• Background supporting process optimization and continuous improvement.

Personal Attributes

• Hands-on, self-motivated, and comfortable working in a production environment.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills with a practical, operations-focused mindset.
• Effective communicator able to work closely with operators and leadership.
• Strong commitment to safety, quality, and environmental stewardship.

Benefits and Pay

Join microSource and enjoy a competitive benefits package, including generous paid time off, medical, dental, vision (insurance available from day one,) employer-paid Short/Long Term Disability and Life Insurance, a company funded HSA account, and a 401k with company matching.