Senior Analytical Specialist

Bliss Brands; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Bliss Brands in Wadeville is seeking an Analytical Specialist to lead our analytical operations and manage the complete lifecycle of laboratory equipment. This hands-on role ensures precision, maintenance, and certification of GC-MS, HPLC, FTIR, and UV-Vis instruments within FMCG and specialty chemical manufacturing.

You will fingerprint incoming raw materials and finished products to meet exact chemical profiles, develop and validate test methods, write SOPs, and drive data integrity across the

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Analytical or Industrial Chemistry.
• 5–10 years of proven laboratory experience in FMCG or specialty chemicals.
• Expert-level GC-MS (QQQ), HPLC, FTIR, and UV-Vis instrumentation.
• Proficient chromatography data software (ChemStation, MassHunter).
• Experience maintaining ISO 17025 accreditation and calibration logs.
• Strong documentation: SOPs, method development, data integrity.

Responsibilities

• Oversee lifecycle management and calibration schedules for lab instruments.
• Lead GC-MS and HPLC analyses to fingerprint materials and products.
• Develop and validate new analytical methods; author SOPs.
• Perform preventive maintenance and troubleshoot instrument issues.
• Ensure quality compliance and support audits.

Skills

Lifecycle management

Calibration scheduling

Quality audits

Reverse engineering

Vendor management

Safety leadership

GHS labeling

Hazardous waste handling

Data integrity

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Analytical or Industrial Chemistry

Tools

GC-MS

HPLC

FTIR

UV-Vis

ChemStation

MassHunter

Job description

Location: Wadeville

Employment Type: Full-time
Start Date: As soon as possible

We are seeking a highly skilled Analytical Specialist to lead our analytical operations and manage the complete lifecycle of laboratory equipment. This is a hands-on expert role responsible for the precision, maintenance, and certification of high-end instrumentation (GC-MS, HPLC, etc.) within the FMCG (HPC) and specialty chemical manufacturing sectors. You will ensure that every raw material—from surfactants like SLES and LABSA to complex polymers—is deconstructed and verified against strict product specifications.

Key Responsibilities:

• Equipment Lifecycle Management: Act as the primary custodian for all laboratory assets. This includes coordinating professional servicing, managing internal and external calibration schedules, and ensuring all equipment maintains valid ISO/IEC 17025 or relevant industry certifications.
• Advanced Analytical Testing: Lead the deconstruction of complex chemical formulations using GC-MS and HPLC. You must be able to "fingerprint" incoming raw materials and finished products to ensure they meet exact chemical profiles.
• Method Development & SOPs: Independently develop, validate, and document new analytical test methods. You will write and maintain all Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure repeatability and data integrity across the lab.
• Maintenance & Troubleshooting: Perform routine preventative maintenance (e.g., cleaning ion sources, replacing GC liners) and provide high-level troubleshooting for instrument breakdowns to minimize downtime.
• Quality Compliance: Monitor measurement uncertainty and ensure all lab protocols align with global quality standards. You will lead technical preparations for internal and external quality audits.

Required Qualifications & Experience:

• Education: BSc or MSc in Analytical Chemistry or Industrial Chemistry.
• Experience: 5–10 years of proven technical experience in an FMCG (HPC) or specialty chemical manufacturing laboratory.
• Instrumentation Mastery: Expert-level operation of GC-MS (including QQQ), HPLC, FTIR, and UV-Vis. Proficiency in chromatography data software (e.g., ChemStation, MassHunter) is essential.
• Chemical Knowledge: Deep understanding of the chemistry of HPC products (soaps, detergents) and intermediate raw materials like Polymers, LABSA, SLES, and Sodium Silicates.
• Certification Standards: Proven experience managing equipment in an ISO 17025 accredited environment, including maintaining meticulous calibration logs and traceability records.

Additional Essential Skills:

• Reverse Engineering: Skilled in the "breakdown" of multi-component chemical mixtures to identify impurities or formulation shifts.
• Vendor Management: Experience liaising with instrument manufacturers and third-party service providers for specialized repairs and certifications.
• Safety Leadership: Expert knowledge of chemical hygiene, GHS labelling, and hazardous waste protocols specific to surfactant and polymer manufacturing.