PVC Process Support Technician

Contribute. Grow. Lead...with OxyChem. Looking for a challenge? Desire to achieve your true potential? OxyChem is a growing, action-oriented, safety driven chemical manufacturing company continually striving to be the best in the business while staying focused on environmental protection. The secret to our success has and will continue to be our people.

OxyChem, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is a leading producer of essential chemistry with operations in the U.S., Canada and Latin America. OxyChem’s products play an essential role in everyday life, supporting critical applications in water treatment, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, manufacturing, automotive, personal hygiene, and residential and commercial construction. OxyChem actively participates in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Voluntary Protection Program, underscoring our commitment to safety. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, OxyChem is a top three U.S. manufacturer of polyvinyl chloride, chlor-alkali and chlorinated organic chemicals, and calcium chloride. Visit oxychem.com for more information.

In a fast-paced industry that demands precision, we create a supportive workplace where the safety and well-being of our employees are paramount. We are committed to rewarding top performers, offering very competitive pay and benefits, and providing tremendous career development opportunities.

Essential Job Duties:

• Maintain, as our highest priority, the protection of the environment, the health and safety of our employees, customers, and the communities in which we operate and/or transport our products.
• Understand and work in accordance with all site safety and environmental procedures including the site Chemical Hygiene Plan.  Adhere to the use of personal protective equipment as required.
• Conduct laboratory experiments and perform chemical, physical, and mechanical property measurements on PVC raw materials, resins, and compounds.
• Create experimental recipes for the pilot plant within an experimental framework determined by a scientist.
• Recommend PVC formulation adjustments to modify finished product parameters.
• Function as business administrator for the Avon Lake Pilot plant by:
• Ordering raw materials and supplies in SAP, managing inventory of raw materials & reagents.
• Manage PVC pilot plant batch and maintenance schedules to ensure customer requirements are met.
• Review/manage pilot plant expenses and invoices.
• Provide secondary supervision of pilot plant operations.
• Generate technical and department reports as needed.
• Lead projects to simplify and modernize utility, process chemical storage, and transfer equipment.
• Determine the success of experiments by evaluating gel tests, stability tests, color, solution viscometry, GC, FTIR, Laser Particle Size analyzer, Torque Rheometer Plastigraphs, and other laboratory tests common to the PVC industry.
• Record experimental data in a laboratory notebook and/or LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System) for review by a scientist.
• Report results in the form of spreadsheets, charts, graphs, and formalized technical reports.
• Provide technical support to PVC customers and manufacturing facilities.
• Actively participating in site safety program.
• Ensure compliance with OxyVinyls safety data sheets, product labels, regulatory and Responsible Care to promote the safe handling and use of OxyVinyls' PVC products.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, chemical engineering or other relevant technical disciplines, or 4+ years of experience in PVC product development, production, or compounding will be considered in lieu of a completed bachelor’s degree.
• Prior experience working in a laboratory environment with basic working knowledge of HAZCOM including SDS, NFPA, HMIS, OSHA, and GHS. PVC
• High proficiency in Microsoft applications including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, SharePoint, and Teams.
• Basic knowledge in the area of mathematics and statistics.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to read, write, and speak fluent English.
• Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to work as part of a team.
• Ability to work overtime as needed.
• Ability to travel infrequently to support customers and manufacturing plants.
• Physical requirements – Must be able to lift 40 pounds and ascend/descend stairs. Walking, bending, stooping is required. Must be able to wear personal protective equipment as required.  Must be able to respond to visual and audible alarms.

Additional Desired Qualifications:

• Experience using statistical software for evaluating data.
• Basic working knowledge of SAP.
• Experience in PVC pilot plant maintenance and operation.
• Able to read and interpret pilot plant process drawings. 

Fraud Statement:

It has come to our attention that various individuals and/or organizations are contacting people falsely pretending to recruit on behalf of OxyChem. Please be aware that these recruiting scams and communications do not originate, nor are they associated with our recruitment process. All OxyChem job postings and offers will require a completed application through our company website.
 
OxyChem does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruiting process. We will never:
 
•  Ask you to pay for applications, interviews, meetings, processing, training or for any other fees
 
•  Use recruiting or placement agencies that charge candidates an advance fee of any kind or
 
•  Request personal information such as passport and bank account details at an early stage of our recruitment process.
 
We recommend against responding to unsolicited business propositions or offers from people you don't know. Do not disclose your personal or financial details. If you believe you have been the victim of a recruiting scam, please contact your local police department.