Development Chemist

Alcoa Australia; Wagerup; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Parental leave for all caregivers

18 weeks parental leave for primary

Alcoa Benefits program – travel, life,

Leisure day off every 4 weeks

Diversity and inclusion groups

Job summary

Alcoa Australia at the Wagerup Refinery seeks a Development Chemist to apply Bayer process chemistry and analytical expertise across the lab and refinery. You will lead laboratory activities, troubleshoot issues, and support safe, reliable operations while driving capability building across the team.

The role combines hands-on problem solving with lab leadership, aiming to improve analytical capability and process performance within a multi-disciplinary environment.

Qualifications

• Strong chemical and analytical expertise with data interpretation skills.
• Experience with laboratory method development and instrumentation.
• Knowledge of Bayer refining process or ability to apply chemistry in complex environments.
• Safety-focused with leadership and project coordination abilities.

Responsibilities

• Review laboratory and refinery data to troubleshoot issues and identify improvements.
• Provide Bayer process chemistry expertise to refinery teams and projects.
• Develop and implement analytical methods and instrument calibration.
• Lead investigations and coordinate resources, timelines and costs.
• Support safe laboratory operations, planning, costs and certification of results.
• Coach and train team members in Bayer chemistry and instrument operation.

Skills

Chemical analysis

Bayer process chemistry

Analytical instrumentation

Laboratory leadership

Problem solving

Safety culture

Tools

Analytical instruments

Job description

Shape Your World At Alcoa, you will become an essential part of our purpose: to turn raw potential into real progress. The way we see it, every Alcoan is a work-shaper, team-shaper, idea-shaper & world-shaper. This is an opportunity for you to bring your wealth of experience to the team and help shape the future of sustainability with world-changing innovations and low carbon technologies. You have the power to shape things to make them better.

About the Role

Based at our Wagerup Refinery, the Development Chemist provides chemical, Bayer process and instrumental expertise across the laboratory and refinery.

Reporting to the Chemical Services Manager, you will combine hands-on technical problem-solving with laboratory leadership to improve analytical capability, process performance and safe, reliable operations.

This role is an M-F onsite position.

In this role, you will:

• Review laboratory and refinery process data to troubleshoot issues and identify improvement opportunities.
• Provide Bayer process chemistry expertise and technical support to refinery teams and improvement projects.
• Develop, standardise, implement and commission analytical methods and laboratory instrumentation.
• Lead laboratory and refinery-based investigations and improvement projects, coordinating resources, trials, timelines, reporting and costs.
• Support safe and effective laboratory operations, including business planning, equipment reliability, cost management and certification of results.
• Build capability across the team through technical coaching and training in Bayer process chemistry, analytical methods and instrument operation.

What’s on offer

• Parental leave support for all caregivers.
• 18 weeks Parental leave for primary caregivers.
• My Alcoa Benefits program offering travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing discounts.
• Generous leave entitlements including a leisure a day off every 4-week period.
• Connect and be part of a community that celebrates diversity through our employee inclusion groups.

What you can bring to the role

• Strong chemical and analytical expertise, with the ability to interpret laboratory and process data and translate findings into practical solutions.
• Experience supporting laboratory method development, analytical instrumentation, commissioning and technical troubleshooting.
• Knowledge of the Bayer refining process, or the ability to apply chemistry expertise within a complex processing environment.
• A strong safety focus and the confidence to contribute to laboratory leadership, operational planning and continuous improvement.
• Well-developed project coordination, problem-solving and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to collaborate across teams and share technical knowledge through coaching, training and support.

Additional information Interviews may progress prior to the closing date, although all applications will be considered. You will only be contacted if you are shortlisted for an interview, this process can take up to four weeks from the closing date.

About the Location

Alcoa's Wagerup Refinery is one of the world's most environmentally and technologically advanced alumina refineries, and produces approximately 2.9 million metric tons of alumina each year.

Located approximately 150 kilometres south of Perth, it is located on the border of WA's picturesque Peel and South West regions.

Our workplace is an inclusive and respectful environment, where we embrace change, new ideas and equal opportunity to succeed. We are values led, vision driven and united by our purpose of transforming raw potential into real progress.

Our commitments to Inclusion, Diversity & Equity include providing trusting workplaces that are safe, respectful and inclusive of all individuals, free from discrimination, bullying and harassment and that our workplaces reflect the diversity of the communities in which we operate.

This is a place where you are empowered to do your best work, be your authentic self, and feel a true sense of belonging.

Discover the possibilities a career with Alcoa can have for you.

Come shape your career with us!

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