Company:

INEOS NITRILES USA LLC

Interested in joining a winning team? A team whose employees share in the ownership of the business and are empowered to make a difference?

Organizational context and Job Purpose

INEOS Nitriles is a global chemicals business with sales volume of 1200 kte and revenue in excess of $3 billion. The Nitriles business has 2 manufacturing operations in the US and 1 in Europe along with offices and headquarters in Rolle, Switzerland and Aurora, Illinois near Chicago. The Nitriles Business primary products include acrylonitrile, hydrogen cyanide, and acetonitrile.

Additionally, Nitriles also has a manufacturing operation that produces catalyst for internal use at the Lima Site, globally within Ineos, and for other Acrylonitrile producers. The INEOS Nitriles Plant at Lima is part of an industrial campus which includes a refinery and chemical complex. INEOS share services, utilities, products, and feedstocks with four adjacent manufacturing facilities: Nutrien (ammonia, urea, nitric acid), Fort Amanda Specialties (chelates), Ashland (1,4-butanediol), and Cenovus Refining (propylene, fuels, and refined oil products).

The Total Quality Management System shall be incorporated into all job activities. All job activities should be executed in a safe and efficient manner consistent with the INEOS 20 Principles.

The Chemist I position is a member of a multidisciplinary technical team that is tasked with the discovery and development of commercial catalyst technology for acrylonitrile manufacturers globally including INEOS and external customers and licensees of the technology. The primary responsibility of the position is execution of laboratory-scale experiments under the supervision of one or more R&D scientists. This position is generally the entry point for a graduate professional chemist.

Responsibilities AND Accountabilities

Laboratory Operations – Catalyst Testing: Conduct evaluations of the performance catalysts using laboratory-scale screening reactors involving:
- Calibration of gas flows, temperature, and pressure of screening units.
- Calibration, operation and troubleshooting of analytical equipment including gas chromatographs, infra-red on-line analyzers, and titration units.
- Safe and reliable operation of catalyst screening reactor units that includes loading/unloading catalysts, collection and accurate analysis of the reaction products.
- Making adjustments to reactor operating conditions.
- Assisting in the design, construction, modification and maintenance of laboratory equipment.

Laboratory Operations – Catalyst Preparation: Prepare experimental catalysts at the laboratory scale involving:
- Selecting and calculating chemical reagents based on chemical formulations.
- Using prescribed procedures, combine reagents using standard wet-chemistry laboratory methods to produce a catalyst precursor for processing into the final catalyst.
- Processing catalyst precursor by high temperature heat treatment into a final catalyst for testing.
- Submitting chemical and catalyst samples for analytical characterization.
- Receiving and summarizing analytical characterization data.

Record Keeping and Reporting: Maintain accurately and in a timely manner all experimental data and observations in an appropriate (electronic) laboratory notebook and database.

SHE and 20 Principles:
- Conduct all laboratory and operation of laboratory equipment in accordance with the appropriate written and approved Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and Task Hazard Assessments (THA).
- Ensure adherence to all SHE standards and policies including:
  - Management of change (MOC)
  - Handling and disposal of hazardous waste
  - Lockout-Tag out (LOTO)
  - Site safety and security requirements
- Follow and exemplify in all work activities the 20 Principles for Behavioral and Process Safety.

Non-routine and Professional Development:
- Take responsibility for one or more team-supporting function as required which can include among others:
  - Participation in the safety network
  - Participation in the site Emergency Response Team (ERT)
  - Management of the testing and maintenance process for pressure vessel and relief valves (VARIS)
  - Chemical Inventory System (CIS)

Skills & Knowledge Required

In compliance with INEOS COVID protocols, incumbent must be fully vaccinated (2 weeks past the last dose of COVID vaccine) prior to start date.

Education/Experience

B.S. or M.S. degree in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering required

Skills/Competencies

Excellent laboratory skills.
Ability to work on a team.
A pro-active approach to work.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

Our culture is one of honesty and integrity with an emphasis on safety, health and environmental performance.On our team, people are acknowledged for embracing new practices that help create real value for customers.