Quality Specialist - Metals, Minerals, & Solid Fuels - Marrero, LA

About the Role

Manage the Quality Assurance and Quality Control of the Marrero, LA Solid Fuels and Metal and Minerals laboratories to include local quality system, workflow, analyses, and meeting of deadlines while ensuring adherence to industry standards and regulations.

Responsibilities

• Manage Quality of samples’ preparation, SQC, and analyses.
• Ensure departments meet and uphold all quality standards per ISO 9001 and ISO 17025.
• Ensure accuracy and precision in all analyses and in data reporting.
• Develop new and revise current methods as necessary.
• Perform instrument troubleshooting, maintenance, basic repairs, and calibrations as needed.
• Advise personnel of special test instructions/procedures.
• Review raw data entered into LIMS, evaluate results, and report final certificates of analysis.
• Train and evaluate the performance of laboratory staff.
• Oversee inventory and order supplies.
• Monitor performance of the quality control system to ensure effectiveness and efficiency.
• Conduct root cause analysis, produce reports addressing nonconformance(s) and observation(s).
• Lead regular management review meetings to evaluate the corporate quality management system and its effectiveness.
• Manage traceability of data.
• Communicate any discrepancies to upper management.
• Maintain SQC materials and charts including statistical analysis to determine control status of systems.
• Maintain efficient and well-organized data collection and filing systems.
• Monitor performance in proficiency testing programs.
• Minimize instrument(s) downtime.
• Coordinate with team members to ensure quality standards are maintained.
• Address complaints and resolve problems.
• Attend required meetings and conferences.
• Learn and comprehend all analyses in both labs.

Requirements

• Metrics driven and solid decision maker.
• Well organized, disciplined, and self-motivated, with the capability to balance multiple priorities in a high-paced environment.
• Knowledge of analysis of coal and biomass solid fuels and the servicing of seaborne coal, coke, and wood pellets desired.
• Solid fuel knowledge/experience to include:
  • Crushing, grinding, and dividing bulk samples for analysis.
  • Analysis of physical and chemical parameters, e.g., proximate analysis, sulfur, calorific value; Hardgrove Grindability Index, ash fusion temperatures, CHN (carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen), particle size distribution, mineral ash analysis, free swelling index, chlorine, fluorine, and phosphorus.
  • Sample preparation and analysis performed according to ISO 17025 standards.
• Experience with testing of dry bulk metal & mineral products (e.g., iron, fluorspar, magnesite, etc.) to include knowledge of wet chemistry principles (titrations, spectrophotometric and gravimetric assays, etc.).
• Experience with ICP analyzers desired.
• Previous experience in the implementation of ISO 17025 desired.

Qualifications

• Associates or Bachelor’s Degree (Science) is preferred and/or minimum 5 years laboratory experience, of which a minimum of 3 years held in a supervisory capacity.
• Ability to read and interpret technical language.
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedures.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
• Ability to perform basic algebra and statistical analysis.
• Basic understanding of general chemistry.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office, especially Excel.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; and talk or hear.
• Frequently required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms.
• Occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Regularly works near explosive material (depending on site) and is regularly exposed to fumes or airborne particles (depending on site).
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.