Senior Chemist / Group Leader – Food Testing

EFRAC Lab; Kolkata District; On-site; INR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

EFRAC Lab in Kolkata is seeking a Senior Chemist / Group Leader to drive analytical operations in the Food Testing laboratory. You will oversee HPLC-based analyses, validate methods, and ensure compliance with NABL and ISO/IEC 17025 standards, while mentoring chemists and analysts.

The ideal candidate has 6–10+ years in food testing, strong expertise in BIS, FSSAI, AOAC, and GC/HPLC techniques, and proven leadership skills to manage workflows, audits, and data integrity.

Qualifications

• 6–10+ years of experience in food testing laboratories.
• Strong hands-on experience with HPLC (mandatory).
• Graduation or Similar Qualifications in Chemistry / Analytical Chemistry / Food Technology.
• Experience with NABL accreditation and ISO/IEC 17025 is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise day-to-day operations of the Food (EFRAC) laboratory.
• Perform and oversee analysis of various food and water samples using standard methods (BIS, FSSAI Lab Manual, FCC, AOAC).
• Conduct analysis of milk, oil, and fat samples per FSSAI Lab Manual, AOAC, and IS methods.
• Perform Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) analysis (AOAC 996.06).
• Execute and supervise HPLC analysis for food parameters including additives, preservatives, vitamins, and contaminants.
• Develop, validate, and verify analytical methods as per ISO/IEC 17025 and NABL guidelines.
• Review, interpret, and approve analytical data and reports.
• Lead, train, and mentor chemists and lab analysts.
• Manage sample workflow, turnaround time (TAT), and reporting timelines.
• Ensure adherence to GLP, safety, and quality systems.

Skills

HPLC

GC-FID

UV-Visible Spectrophotometer

Viscometer

Density Meter

Refractometer

Tintometer

Leadership

Education

Graduation in Chemistry/Analytical Chemistry/Food Technology

Tools

LIMS

Job description

Job Title:

Senior Chemist / Group Leader – Food Testing

Location:

Kolkata, West Bengal

Role Overview:

The Senior Chemist / Group Leader will lead analytical operations in the Food Testing laboratory, ensuring compliance with regulatory and quality standards. The role requires strong expertise in HPLC-based analysis, food chemistry, and method validation within a NABL accredited environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and supervise day-to-day operations of the Food (EFRAC) laboratory
• Perform and oversee analysis of various food and water samples using standard methods such as BIS, FSSAI Lab Manual, FCC, AOAC, and internal laboratory methods
• Conduct analysis of milk, oil, and fat samples as per FSSAI Lab Manual, AOAC, and IS methods
• Perform Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) analysis (AOAC 996.06)
• Execute and supervise HPLC analysis for food parameters including additives, preservatives, vitamins, and contaminants
• Develop, validate, and verify analytical methods as per ISO/IEC 17025 and NABL guidelines
• Review, interpret, and approve analytical data and reports

Instrumentation & Technical Expertise:

• Hands-on experience with:
• HPLC (mandatory)
• GC-FID (e.g., Shimadzu 2010 Plus)
• UV-Visible Spectrophotometer (e.g., Agilent)
• Viscometer (Brookfield)
• Density Meter
• Refractometer
• Tintometer
• Responsible for instrument calibration, maintenance, and troubleshooting

Documentation & Compliance:

• Ensure analytical raw data recording and integrity
• Maintain documentation in compliance with NABL and ISO/IEC 17025 requirements
• Prepare SOPs, test methods, and validation protocols
• Handle NABL audits, internal audits, and regulatory inspections

Team & Operations Management:

• Lead, train, and mentor chemists and lab analysts
• Manage sample workflow, turnaround time (TAT), and reporting timelines
• Ensure adherence to GLP, safety, and quality systems

Required Qualifications:

• Graduation or Similar Qualifications in Chemistry / Analytical Chemistry / Food Technology
• 6–10+ years of experience in food testing laboratories
• Strong hands-on experience with HPLC (mandatory)

Required Skills:

• Expertise in food analysis methods (BIS, FSSAI, AOAC, FCC)
• Strong knowledge of chromatography techniques (HPLC & GC)
• Experience in FAME analysis and food composition testing
• Familiarity with NABL accreditation and ISO/IEC 17025
• Strong documentation, audit handling, and data interpretation skills
• Leadership and team management ability

Preferred Experience:

• Experience in EFRAC / residue / contaminant analysis
• Exposure to LIMS systems
• Audit-facing experience in NABL accredited la