Field Chemist

About the role

A Field Chemist (4-Month Contract) to operate and maintain the analytical laboratory supporting our pilot lithium extraction facility in Indonesia. This position will be responsible for the day-to-day operation of the laboratory, ensuring high-quality analytical data is delivered safely, accurately, and on schedule to support pilot plant operations. This is a hands-on role requiring strong analytical chemistry skills, excellent troubleshooting ability, and the flexibility to work in a fast-paced pilot plant environment.

Key responsibilities

• Operate the pilot laboratory and perform routine chemical analyses supporting pilot plant operations.
• Operate, calibrate, maintain, and troubleshoot laboratory instrumentation, including ICP-OES, automatic titrators, pH, conductivity, and density meters, analytical balances and other routine laboratory equipment.
• Prepare standards, reagents, calibration solutions, and quality control samples.
• Maintain laboratory quality systems, including QC samples, calibration records, control charts, instrument maintenance logs, and laboratory documentation.
• Review analytical data for accuracy and identify potential analytical or process issues.
• Troubleshoot laboratory instruments and coordinate repairs with equipment vendors when necessary.
• Maintain laboratory cleanliness, organization, and compliance with company laboratory standards.
• Manage laboratory inventory, including consumables, chemicals, reagents, gases, spare parts, and laboratory supplies.
• Coordinate purchasing of laboratory consumables and ensure sufficient inventory to support continuous operations.
• Support pilot plant operations by communicating analytical results in a timely manner and assisting with process investigations when needed.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Science, or a related scientific discipline.
• 3+ years of laboratory experience in industrial, mining, chemical processing, environmental, or metallurgical laboratories preferred.
• Experience operating and maintaining ICP-OES instruments is strongly preferred.
• Experience with auto-titrators and other routine analytical laboratory instrumentation.
• Strong understanding of analytical quality control principles, calibration, and laboratory documentation.
• Experience troubleshooting analytical instrumentation and laboratory equipment.
• Familiarity with aqueous and inorganic chemistry.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently while managing multiple priorities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English.