Application Specialist

The Application Specialist is a critical position that will work closely with commercial groups, as well as operations, quality, and R&D personnel to handle analytical and application testing projects of complex nature. Activities entail characterizing product quality, developing and owning experimental research plans that address unique customer problems, and accurately analyzing data and communicating conclusions. Additional efforts will involve the development of new procedures, modification of existing procedures for experimental work and laboratory administration (e.g., ISO, Safety, etc.), and conducting training for new/existing employees on these procedures.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

- Support various R&D and plant improvement projects; on-occasion assist in troubleshooting plant issues.

- Document findings and report results in a timely manner. Collaborate with R&D, commercial, production, quality teams when interpreting/communicating results.

- Continuously strive to improve analytical skills by operating the analytical instruments and interpreting the results from these tests. Example instruments include: scanning electron microscope with EDS, XRF, XRD with Jade software for peak identification, various particle size measurement techniques, among others.

- Assist with the maintenance and upkeep of instruments in the Analytical Lab. Help ensure instruments (examples above) are operational; troubleshoot instruments and service or schedule service as needed.

- Develop calibration and verification procedures to ensure the instruments are up to date for providing accurate and reliable results. Comply with SOPs, analysis records, and controlled documentations.

- Develop new application-specific characterization techniques for assessing kaolin clay properties that would be used as guiding tools for current customer support or development of new kaolin clay products.

- Provide input for justification of the purchase of new equipment with enhanced capabilities that are vital to address customer issues, production support, R&D projects and to help better understanding the properties of kaolin and other materials.

- Train and potentially supervise lab personnel (including lab technicians and temporary personnel such as summer interns and temp lab technicians) in experimental and administrative procedures and equipment operation and maintenance to ensure appropriate technical support to the R&D, technical, operations and commercial teams in a timely manner.

- Perform and document laboratory work and interact with essential personnel, suppliers, and customers. Assist R&D, operations and technical service representatives in developing new products and lower cost/more efficient process technologies that are beneficial to production and for our customers.

- Treat data with the highest level of integrity and ethics.

- Help prepare and/or modify procedures both for experimental analytical work and associated laboratory administration, e.g. ISO, safety, etc. Additionally, provide specific technical expertise and organizational skills necessary to maintain safe and efficient functioning of the laboratory and its equipment.

- Conscientious with safety procedures and knowledgeable of hazardous waste procedures.

- Follow KaMin policies, practices and ethics in the performance of individual duties.

Competencies:

- 10+ years related experience in a minerals or related application support/specialist type role. Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, materials science, geosciences, or related discipline. >10+ years of experience in a plant/process/applications lab setting will be considered in lieu of a bachelor’s degree.

- Must have a desire to learn, be receptive to feedback, and possess a growth-oriented mindset and coachable personality.

- Demonstrated strong collaboration and problem-solving abilities.

- Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively with attention to detail and accuracy.

- Demonstrated ability to use interpersonal skills to interact and communicate well with others

- Demonstrated ability to organize time and priorities to effectively stay on track regarding project timeline.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

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