Lab Technician

Packaging Corporation of America; DeRidder (LA); On-site; USD 58,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

401(k) plan with matching contributions

Job summary

Packaging Corporation of America is seeking a Lab Technician for its DeRidder, LA pulp and paper mill. This role involves ensuring the accuracy of process data through testing and providing support in quality-related concerns.

The successful candidate will attend safety meetings, train employees, and perform essential testing while maintaining a safe lab environment. Candidates should have post-high school education in a science-related field or equivalent experience and the ability to work under pressure.

Salary range for this position is $58,000 – $65,000 with a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of experience in a specialized paper mill or lab.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet time constraints.
• Capable of working with ambiguity and change.

Responsibilities

• Ensure process data accuracy through operator testing and lab equipment.
• Attend safety meetings and maintain a safe lab environment.
• Train hourly employees and maintain lab testing procedures.
• Verify the validity of testing equipment and maintain its availability.
• Monitor environmental regulatory compliance through routine testing.

Skills

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Organizational skills

Computer skills

Problem-solving

Education

Post high school education in science or technical related curriculum

Job description

DeRidder Lab Technician Position

PCA is hiring a Lab Technician to work onsite in DeRidder, LA pulp and paper mill.

Principle Accountabilities

• The primary function of this position is to ensure that the process data generated in the assigned mill process area by manual operator testing or by automated lab‑supported testing equipment is correct and sufficient and to provide technician support in all quality and production related concerns.
• Attend safety meetings, stay abreast of all mill safety rules and regulations, complete all OSHA required annual safety training, routinely present department safety meetings, initiate Safety Work Orders as necessary, perform lab hygiene inspections as scheduled, maintain personal housekeeping in assigned lab work area, and maintain the required personal protective equipment for the assigned job responsibilities.
• Train and cross‑train hourly employees in the assigned process area to perform proper testing procedures with minimal supervision to ensure that the process data generated is correct. Write and update the proper testing procedures and work with process area supervision to indirectly supervise the hourly employees in all of their testing functions. Add new tests and manual or automated lab‑supported test equipment as they become available and feasible.
• Maintain 100% availability of all lab‑supported testing equipment in the assigned process area by writing purchase requisitions, repairing, calibrating, maintaining back‑up equipment, and performing preventative maintenance.
• Maintain an inventory of the proper calibration standards and spare parts for all lab‑supported testing equipment in the assigned process area.
• Verify validity of testing equipment through the appropriate use of mill operating data, Total Quality tools, such as control charts and measurement error, and other appropriate outside services.
• Maintain involvement with any quality teams, trials, or projects in the assigned process area, as necessary.
• Advise supervisors, engineers, and hourly employees on daily basis regarding quality, testing, or process related issues.
• Assist with process troubleshooting. Perform additional analytical testing and reporting that is specific to the assigned process area.
• Cross‑train and maintain working knowledge of the duties of all other lab technicians in order to provide vacation relief and to train new technicians.
• Perform vessel entry and hot work permit atmospheric testing primarily in the assigned process area and millwide when necessary.
• Collect routine environmental samples and perform testing and record process effluent and potable water analysis data to help monitor and maintain environmental regulatory compliance. Assist operating areas with spill response and containment. Assist with maintaining the health of the wastewater treatment system. Attend periodic training and maintain certification for job responsibilities.
• Perform weekend environmental duty and weekly call duty responsibilities.
• Perform other miscellaneous projects and duties assigned by the Department Supervisor.

Basic Qualifications

• Post high school education (science or technical related curriculum), or equivalent experience (3‑5 years) in a specialized paper mill or lab.
• Must be authorized to work in the U.S.

Knowledge‑Skills‑Abilities

• Ability to work well under pressure and within time constraints, multi‑task, and build sound relationships with both internal and external customers.
• Excellent communication, analytical, organizational and computer skills.
• Capable of independently making sound decisions through creative problem‑solving and detailed information‑gathering.
• Ability to understand and use basic chemistry.
• Must be capable of working with ambiguity and change.

Compensation & Benefits

• Starting salary range for position: $58,000 – $65,000.
• Paid Vacation: Three (3) weeks per calendar year. Pro‑ra­ta vacation during the initial year of hire based upon start date within the calendar year.
• Paid Holidays.
• Within the first 30 days of employment, an employee (and their dependents) is eligible to enroll in certain benefit coverages – medical, dental, and vision – and are automatically enrolled in life, AD&D, and disability coverages.
• Upon hire, an employee is automatically enrolled in the 401(k) plan. The plan offers both pre‑tax and Roth contribution options along with employer provided matching contributions.
• Disclaimer: The Compensation and Benefits information in this posting represents PCA’s good faith and reasonable estimate of what it may pay for this position. The Company reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.

This position is salary non‑exempt with paid overtime.

PCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer.