Pilot Plant Lead Technician

 

Requisition ID: 23194

Built on talent, technology, and trust, Grace is a leading global supplier of catalysts and engineered materials. The company’s two industry-leading business segments—Catalysts Technologies and Materials Technologies—provide innovative products, technologies, and services that enhance the products and processes of our customers around the world. Grace employs approximately 4,300 people in over 30 countries.

 

Job Description

Do you have experience working in a pilot plant and enjoy conceptualizing and implementing process design improvements? Do you have a strong mechanical aptitude and experience keeping equipment running effectively? Are you a leader that has experience coaching others? If so, Grace has an opportunity for you to explore.  

 

 
We're hiring a Lead Technician for our Pilot Plant which is part of our Process Innovation Center (PIC), located in Baltimore/Curtis Bay, MD, and reports to the Principal Process Technology Engineer. You will support our Materials Technology (MT) and Specialty Catalysts (SC) business and help with the development of new and improved products and processes in a laboratory and pilot plant environment. As a Lead Technician, you will supervise Technician Specialists.  

 

 

This is a day shift position, Monday - Friday, 8 hours/day. We offer a flexible start time from 6am to 9am, however, during training you may be required to begin work as early as 6am. In frequent overtime may also be required. 

The physical environment you will be working includes fluctuation of climate and noise level, along with exposure to different chemicals. You will be performing hands on activities that requires the ability to meet physical demands to include lifting up to 50 pounds, standing, going up/downstairs/ladders, and using a forklift. Further details below on physical requirements. 
 

Responsibilities

• Provides functional direction to others work groups to ensure operations are conducted in a safe, environmentally sound and cost-efficient manner.
• Ability to conceptualize and help implement process design improvements, new installations and modifications utilizing standard pilot scale equipment.
• Conduct appropriate, effective executive of experiments and tests to help in the productions of new products.
• Schedule pilot plant operations, maintenance operations, preventative maintenance needs, as well as conduct Job Safety Analysis, Management of Change, Enablon event reporting and investigation. 
• Act in accordance with the site environment, health and safety protocols and accountable for achieving compliance with our EHS Policy including emergency preparedness and response as defined in site-wide and local area documentation.
   

Physical Requirements and Environment

• Ability to follow safety protocols and standards working in a laboratory environment with highly hazardous materials
• Ability to follow safety protocols and standards working in a pilot plant facility with highly hazardous materials
• Must be able to stand, walk, sit, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, and climb stairs and ladders over 100 ft.
• Must be willing to wear PPE (Personal Protective equipment) including but not limited to hard hat, protective eyewear, steel-toed boots, hearing protection, Level A suit, full face respirator

Required Qualifications

• H.S. diploma
• Minimum of 7 years’ experience working in a pilot plant or chemical manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated project management experience.
• Experience identifying new pilot plant equipment along with ensuring equipment is running efficiently and providing recommendations for troubleshooting. 
• Must possess strong mechanical aptitude, to include material manufacturing, material drying, milling, and sieving, highly preferred.
• Must have prior supervisory experience to include providing coaching/mentoring along with preparing and conduction performance appraisals.
• Strong project and people management skills as well as excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, to include vendors.

Preferred Qualifications

• BS in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or related<