Senior Analytical Chemist

Lyragrowth; Dawsonville (GA); On-site; USD 77,000 - 96,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) plan with 3.5% match

80 hours PTO

Job summary

PURIS is seeking a Senior Analytical Chemist to lead our analytical strategy, ensuring safe, high‑quality food products compliant with regulatory expectations. You will manage a team of Quality Technicians, support PCQI duties, SOP development, and harmonize methods across sites.

Ideal candidates bring 5+ years in production/lab or food safety, PCQI/HACCP/SQF certification, and strong leadership and analytical skills.

Qualifications

• Degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Microbiology, Quality Engineering or related field.
• 5+ years in Production, Laboratory, or Food Safety Management.
• PCQI/HACCP, SQF certified.
• Strong leadership, organization and time management.

Responsibilities

• Own product release processes and ensure harmonization across sites and systems.
• Back up for Dawson product release and oversee QA/QC reporting.
• Lead and develop food safety and quality teams; drive KPIs.
• Coordinate audits, certifications and customer inquiries with analytical resources.
• Recommend predictive KPIs and support continuous improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical thinking

Communication

Project management

Problem solving

Education

Food Science degree

Tools

NIR Analyzers

pH meters

Allergen testing equipment

Job description

Description

At PURIS, we're dedicated to cultivating a better food system and making a positive impact. How do we do it? By transforming high-quality, USA-made ingredients into essential components for a wide range of everyday products. From cereals and snacks to protein beverages and beyond, our ingredients are powering a healthier future. This is more than just a job; it's an opportunity to be part of a growing food industry. You'll work with state-of-the-art engineering and work together with your peers to build a better food future.

The Enterprise Senior Analytical Chemist leads and oversees a comprehensive analytical strategy required to produce safe, high quality food products that meet the regulatory requirements and expectations of our customers.

The Senior Analytical Chemist role provides direction and motivation to a team of Quality Technicians. The Senior Analytical Chemist is an SQF practitioner and PCQI certified. This individual develops SOPs, programs, specifications, and protocols necessary for analytical operation. They oversee method lifecycle management and ensure harmonization across sites.

Pay Range: $77,000 - $96,000

Pay Frequency: Biweekly

Bonus Eligible: Yes

Work Location: Dawson, Minnesota

Travel: Minimal

*The salary for this role will be based on qualifications, experience, market data, and internal equity. Actual pay may vary due to factors such as location, skills, education, and performance. Pay is determined transparently, using market benchmarks and ensuring internal equity.

Responsibilities

Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) Certified

• Owns co-man & Plant B product release and ensures harmonization between co-man, Plant B and enterprise product release practices, included LIMS, and ERP implementation.
• Serves as a backup for product release at Dawson.
• Ensure the accuracy and timeliness of Food Safety and Quality reporting, product test results, product release information, and PCQI daily batch record review. Ensure product sampling is completed and lot retains are maintained.
• New product and commercialization scale up.

Quality Team Leadership

• Develops and implements leadership strategies. Can lead and develop high-performing teams. Regulatory reviews and updates leadership approaches to stay competitive. Frequently seeks feedback to improve leadership skills.
• Coach and validate Analytical and Grains Lab Technicians on job tasks to ensure capability on all testing protocols. Validate Lab Technician Capability minimum every 6 months at Harrold and Dawson.
• Recommend predictive Food Safety KPIs that will allow Puris to proactively meet our food safety ambitions.
• The Senior Analytical Chemist is a Member of the Dawson Quality Leadership Team working collaboratively to set direction and positively build the culture of the plant. Serves as a backup for the QA Manager and QA Team Lead. Provide required support during regulatory, certification and customer site audits.
• Build, lead, and develop a team of food safety and quality professionals, promoting a culture of excellence and continuous learning.

Analytical Expertise

Recommend the most proficient equipment to optimize ingredient analysis.

• Support Plant Operations on Problem solving requirements
• Provide analytical expertise for Customer and Regulatory inquiries.
• Manage cost to minimize analytical cost of overall product production.
• Manage consumables and material required in the analytical lab to meet budget and ensure no downtime.
• Calibration and preventative maintenance of all laboratory equipment including NIR Analyzers for ingredient and grain composition.
• Lead and manage routine analytical testing at the Dawson site, including use of combustion protein equipment, pH meters, rapid moisture analyzers, particle size analyzer and allergen testing and reporting.
• Coordinate 3rd party laboratory testing, support and qualification.
• Represent PURIS as a testing SME on industry panels for example ISO TAG member, AOAC, etc.
• Lead and collaborate on site and product validation/verification efforts, including but not limited CIP, ATP, Allergen, etc.

Product Release

• Evaluate products and assign appropriate disposition, review PCQI, Augmentir, product data, and create COAs to ensure a timely product release process that meets specified KPIs for product release.

Risk Assessment

• Use analytical expertise to identify, assess, and mitigate food safety and quality risks throughout the supply chain.
• Actively participate in Management of Change process regarding analytical and SOP processes and ability to execute.
• Serves as a key member of the Risk Assessment Team to recognize risks and appropriately categorize and communicate about them.
• Uses data to create thought leadership positions for PURIS that elevate PURIS from features and benefits discussions to true industry paradigm shifting conversations.
• Recommend predictive Food Safety KPIs that will allow Puris to proactively meet our food safety ambitions.
• Assess product specifications for raw materials and finished goods and ensure compliance to relevant requirements.

Customer Engagement and Problem Solving

• Represent PURIS in customer/product interactions, application support and follow-ups.

Specific Measures of Success

1. Zero food safety incidents and regulatory compliance issues.

2. Successful execution of product release targets and delivery on product release KPIs

3. Effective risk management strategies resulting in reduced quality incidents.

4. Achievement of team development goals, including training completion rates and employee engagement scores.

5. Successfully pass external audits, certifications with no major findings related to areas of responsibility.

Requirements

Experience/Qualification

• Degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Microbiology, Quality Engineering or other related field.
• 5+ years Production, Laboratory, or Food Safety Management experience.
• PCQI/HACCP, SQF certified
• Team leadership, organization and time management skills
• Excellent communication, interpersonal skills and cooperative attitude
• Strong analytical, investigative and critical thinking skills
• Strong sense of integrity and goal setting
• Ability to lead and integrate FSQR into manufacturing activities
• Familiarity with commercial food processing
• Strong Microsoft Office experience

Additional Requirements

• Capable of working at elevated heights
• Lift up to 50#
• Adapt to temperature and environmental extremes from hot to cold, noise, dust, dirt and chemicals
• Ability to sit or stand for long periods of time working on the computer.
• Travel to off-site training and sites for support as needed.

Benefits

At PURIS, we’re proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support you both personally and professionally. Benefits are effective the first of the month following your hire date. You’ll have access to medical plan options with competitive premiums, along with dental and vision coverage. All Team Members also receive free virtual health care and virtual counseling services. PURIS provides life insurance and short-term disability coverage at no cost to you. To support your long-term financial well-being, PURIS offers a 401(k) plan with a company contribution of 3.5% when you contribute up to 6%. You’ll also enjoy a healthy work-life balance with 80 hours of PTO accrued annually, eight paid holidays, and access to a variety of additional free resources. Join PURIS and experience benefits designed to support your well-being—today and into the future.

Why Work with Us

Career Growth

PURIS offers a dynamic work environment where you can develop your skills and advance your career. We are committed to nurturing talent and providing ample opportunities for professional development and growth within the company.

Comprehensive Benefits

Enjoy a range of benefits designed to support your well-being and work-life balance, including on-demand pay, and telehealth services.

Innovative Environment

You’ll have the opportunity to work with state-of-the-art engineering and cutting-edge technology. Our dedication to innovation means you'll be part of a forward-thinking team constantly pushing the boundaries of the plant-based food industry.

Strong Values

We uphold integrity and a global vision for the future. Our company culture is built on collaboration, excellence, and a shared commitment to our mission of creating a better food system. This commitment extends to fostering a workplace where safety is paramount in every operation.

Commitment to Sustainability

At PURIS, we are deeply dedicated to creating a sustainable future. Our manufacturing processes are designed to minimize environmental impact and promote regenerative agriculture. By joining our team, you'll contribute to a company that values sustainability and is committed to making a positive impact on the planet.

Join Our Team

PURIS is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are welcome, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The hiring process includes successfully completing a background check, and drug screen. We E-verify all new hires.