Analytical Chemist/Mineralogist

Covia responsibly provides minerals solutions for a better tomorrow. As a leading provider of diversified minerals, our products support a variety of industrial markets, including glass, ceramics, coatings, metals, foundry, polymers, construction, water filtration, and sports and recreation. Long-standing relationships with a broad customer base enable Covia's market-inspired approach to innovation to enhance solutions and customer benefits. Underpinning these strengths is an unwavering commitment to safety and to sustainable development, further enhancing the value that Covia delivers to all its stakeholders.

Covia is looking for a dynamic Analytical Chemist/Mineralogist who will have a positive impact on the Analytical Services Lab team at its Ottawa, IL location. This position will perform analytical test work required on routine plant samples and special samples submitted to the Analytical Services Department. This role will also be responsible for the calibration and maintenance of instrumentation including but not limited to X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectrophotometer (ICP), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), monitoring equipment performance and complying with standard operating procedures to ensure accurate data.

The successful incumbent will have the following Key Accountabilities:

• Responsible for method development, calibration, maintenance, troubleshooting issues with laboratory instruments including but not limited to XRF, ICP, SEM, and XRD.
• Schedule, request, and verify lab instrument maintenance activities.
• Use a range of methods to discern the nature of minerals.
• Develop and validate new analytical methods. Look for ways to improve existing methods.
• Determine method detection limits and precision of methods.
• Manage outside testing required for environmental compliance, government regulations, and customer specifications.
• Support and troubleshoot plant lab benchtop XRFs throughout the company, remotely, and at times traveling to plant locations.
• Keep up to date with scientific and technical developments. Evaluating and recommending new laboratory equipment.
• Train laboratory staff to perform analyses on instrumentation in the laboratory.
• Monitor laboratory data to ensure accuracy of results.
• Work with Labware, Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) and help trouble shoot any instrument communication issues with the LIMS Administrator.
• Adhere to all laboratory health and safety standards.
• Complete Technical Service Requests and reports in accordance with guidelines. Write procedures using the standard Covia format.
• Become part of the Covia Plant Lab audit team, requires traveling 1-3 times a year to a plant location.
• Other duties as assigned.

The successful incumbent will have the following Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required, concentration in Chemistry preferred.
• 3-5 years relevant experience in Mineralogy would be accepted in lieu of degree.
• 1-2 years of analytical inorganic chemistry experience required; 3-5 years preferred.
• 1-2 years lab experience with one or more the following instruments preferred: XRF, XRD, SEM/EDX, ICP.
• Analytical skills with attention to detail.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work independently or part of a team and to handle multiple tasks concurrently.

Commitment to Our Culture

Our core values - Safety, Team, Customers, Growth, and Courage-guide our work every day and will help us achieve our vision: Covia is the leading minerals solutions provider, and through the passion and commitment of our people, we enable customer success-ensuring a sustainable future for our company.

All Covia Team Members are expected to:

• Live the Life-Saving Rules
• Build high-performing work teams
• Focus on customers
• Demonstrate a growth mindset
• Do the right thing, always

At Covia, we strive for and support a diverse workforce as we firmly believe this lays the foundation of our success. Our compelling culture supports inclusion, individuality, and respect within the workplace. We are committed to providing employment opportunities to the most qualified candidate based on work-related factors and without regard to non-work-related factors including race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, or military service or reserve or veteran status.

The organization offers competitive salaries, advancement opportunities, and a full range of benefits.

Benefits:

• Excellent Healthcare Benefits - medical, vision, dental
• 401K with company matching
• Paid Time Off + Paid Holidays
• Disability plans and Life / AD&D
• Employee Assistance Program

An Equal Opportunity Employer

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