Lab Technician

Packaging Corporation of America; United States; On-site; USD 58,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Packaging Corporation of America is hiring a Lab Technician to work onsite in DeRidder, LA, supporting mill process testing and data integrity. The role requires maintaining lab equipment, training staff, and ensuring safety compliance in a fast-paced production environment.

Starting salary range is $58,000 to $65,000 per year, with overtime eligibility. This non-exempt position emphasizes data accuracy, equipment maintenance, and collaboration with engineers and operators in the DeRidder mill.

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Ensure process data accuracy from manual and automated lab testing.
• Attend safety meetings and maintain lab hygiene and PPE.
• Train and cross-train hourly employees on testing procedures.
• Maintain lab equipment availability and perform preventative maintenance.

Skills

Lab testing

Equipment handling

Quality assurance

Team collaboration

Education

Post high school education or equivalent (3–5 yrs)

Tools

Calibration equipment

Laboratory instruments

Safety procedures

Job description

DeRidder Lab Technician Position

PCA is hiring a Lab Technician to work onsite in our 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.

PCA provides a competitive comprehensive benefits package. Starting salary range is $58,000 to $65,000. This position is salary non-exempt with paid overtime.