Chemical Technologist

About Queen's University

Queen’s University is the Canadian research intensive university with a transformative student learning experience. Here the employment experience is as diverse as it is interesting. We have opportunities in multiple areas of globally recognized research, faculty administration, engineering & construction, athletics & recreation, power generation, corporate shared services, and many more.

We are committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcome applications from individuals from equity seeking groups such as women, racialized/visible minorities, Indigenous/Aboriginal peoples, persons with a disability, persons who identify in the LGBTQ+ community and others who reflect the diversity of Canadian society.

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Job Summary

1. Give a short summary of the duties and responsibilities of your job.

Undergraduate Program

An integral part of the laboratory component team of the undergraduate program, the incumbent assists in delivering a seamless undergraduate laboratory program. Anticipates and provides solutions to problems without interruption of the program, and in consultation with the Lab Co-ordinator, facilitates continual improvement of the laboratory component of the undergraduate programs. Responsibilities include: instructing and overseeing undergraduate students and teaching assistants in matters related to safety, operation of laboratory and scientific equipment.

Research Support

a) Assist principal investigators, graduate students and research associates in the design, purchase, construction and maintenance of research equipment.
b) Provide fundamental and timely resolution to issues encountered by researchers and actively involved in the execution of resolutions.

Health & Safety

a) Routinely perform hazard risk assessment to mitigate risk due to chemical or hazardous procedures.
b) Deliver safety lectures to incoming graduate students and to all personnel as a requirement for their entry to laboratories.
c) Exercise vigilance over safety in all areas of the department.
d) Prepare to lead in the handling of emergencies.
e) Perform the duties of Safety Officer.

General Support

Provide general support for the day-to-day operations in the department including: set-up/dismantle of laboratories and equipment; arrange for the disposal of chemicals, scrap metal and surplus equipment; provide advice with design, construction, purchase and maintenance of equipment; assist with deficiency resolution in laboratories; work with Physical Plant Services, contractors, architects on building maintenance and alterations; provide leadership and training to junior chemical technologist.

Job Description

2. To fulfil your duties what knowledge, skills and specialized techniques are required? How would each be normally acquired? How long would it take to become proficient in each of the areas of your work?

This position requires an Ontario (3 year) diploma in Chemical Engineering Technology or Chemical Technology. Several years of practical experience in the field of chemical engineering and/or several years experience of the chemical process industry.

Knowledge and Skills Required:

•Skill in instrumental analysis
• Demonstrated skills in design, assemble, interface, maintenance and repair of bench and pilot plant scale equipment used in undergraduate and research laboratories/projects
•Demonstrated skills in operating hand tools
•Demonstrated effective skills in troubleshooting
•Knowledge of the properties of chemicals and chemical mixtures, such as is necessary for their safe storage, handling and disposal
•Knowledge of electrical and electronics in laboratory applications
•Knowledge of machine shop procedures and capabilities
•Advanced knowledge in the use of computers and software in data acquisition systems
•Advanced knowledge of laboratory practices (safety, technique, housekeeping)
•Ability to demonstrate sound judgement in exercising authority as Safety Officer
•Must be able to work in a safe and diligent fashion so as to comply with regulations set out under the Occupational Health & Safety Act
•Knowledge, training and ability to take leadership role in handling emergencies
•Strong organizational, time management and interpersonal skills
•Leadership and training skills.

Proficiency should be reached with three years experience but only with continuous education through on-the-job training, workshops, seminar and self study to keep abreast of developments in areas of instrumental analysis, computer applications and software, and occupational health and safety.

3. Is it necessary in this position to oversee the work, or to instruct other staff? If so, what does this involve?

The incumbent instructs faculty, students and co-workers working in the undergraduate laboratories with respect to safety and provides instruction to undergraduate, teaching assistants, post-graduates, research associates and academic staff in the proper usage of various departmental equipment and analytical instruments.

a)Provides direction and guidance to the junior chemical technologist in achieving the objectives of the department.
b)Co-instructs “Industrial Aspects of Safety” session of the graduate level CHEM801 course “Departmental Safety in the Laboratory”.

4. What other people must you deal with in this job and why? (i.e. is there direct contact with students, teaching staff, other departments, people outside the university community).

a)Daily interacts with undergraduate students, teaching assistants and academic staff on issues pertaining to the undergraduate program.
b)Interacts with graduate students, faculty and research associates in connection with their research.
c)Builds good working relations with other groups so as to resource goods and services from other departments and from external sources such as suppliers and contractors.
d)Regularly liaise with the University’s Environmental Health and Safety Department in matters related to chemical storage, waste disposal and other safety issues.
e)The incumbent on occasion will represent the Department and/or the University when dealing with inter-university issues such as chemical data base, and scientific equipment.
f)Under the direction of the Department Manager the incumbent routinely orders building and service renovations and oversees Physical Plant Staff and outside contractors performing these renovations.

5. How is your work assigned to you and how closely is your work checked by someone else?

The incumbent works independently, reporting directly to the Department Manager.

When the incumbent has an assigned project/job/task, she/he will work directly with the originator until completion, initiating changes or redesigning equipment in consultation with the originator. The originator may be a faculty member, graduate student, and researcher, Department Manager or the Department Head.

To support the undergraduate laboratories, the incumbent participates in the discussion on new equipment, the improvement of existing apparatus and works with the Lab Coordinator and the supervisor of that project.

6. a) Are the sorts of problems encountered in this job usually covered by established procedures or do you frequently have to develop or invent solutions to problems yourself?

Problems differ widely and solutions have to be developed according to circumstances. A significant portion of the job is applying common sense to trouble-shooting techniques in the undergraduate laboratory. Academic staff, and in particular the Lab Coordinator, provide general information and technical assistance, and the incumbent is then required to design, construct, assemble the apparatus, and frequently writes and/or recommends and reviews Standard Operating Procedures for equipment and experimental procedures.

6. b) Are you involved in establishing standard procedures? (Give examples)

The incumbent will, upon completion of a modification of a project, present a set of guidelines that pertain to that equipment’s safe operation and maintenance, and provide technical information. All experimental work is reviewed by the Safety Officer and hazardous work must have a written Standard Operating Procedure that is reviewed by the Safety Officer and the Principle Investigator. The incumbent may be called upon to review or establish safety protocols for the Competitive Teams such as Fuel Cell, Solar Car, Concrete Canoe and Mostly Autonomous Sailboat Team (MAST).

7. a) What is the size of your department (i.e. #of classes for which you are involved with labs., # of students, # of staff you might come in contact with, # of technicians in department).

Number of Undergraduate Lab courses involved= 6
Number of Undergraduate Students = 400+
Number of Graduate Students = 90+
Number of Academic Faculty = 24
Number of Technicians = 2
Number of Research Associates/Post-Doc = 15+
Number of Support Staff = 9
Number of Supervisory = 1

7. b) What kind of equipment or material are you responsible for? Are you solely responsible for it and what is its approximate value?

The incumbent is responsible for maintaining approximately $4 million worth of laboratory equipment. The Undergraduate equipment would be valued at > $1,000,000. The Research equipment would be valued at > $3,000,000

8. Give details of any unusual factors affecting this job? i.e. hazards, unusual working conditions, requirement for a high degree of manual dexterity etc.

The incumbent must:

•work in areas where toxic, flammable, explosive, carcinogenic chemicals and bio-hazardous materials are utilized and stored
•work with and/or handle all chemicals and bottled gases (potential explosion)
•work on systems that generate extreme heat or cold
•maintain delicate and expensive lab equipment
•occasionally work in a machine shop environment and its inherent hazards
•occasionally spend considerable time in noisy, distracting, or dirty environments
•occasionally move heavy objects (lab/research equipment, computers, etc.)

The incumbent must also adhere to legislated safety guidelines and is also bound by the same law to ensure the safe operation of all equipment, and advise others of their potentially dangerous operation of equipment and correct them. It is expected that the incumbent take WHMIS training, a fire extinguisher training course and also maintain a valid 1st aid certificate.

9. Do you have any general comments about this position which may not be covered by the preceding questions?

The incumbent must deal with conflicting demands and frequent interruptions. Contributes in numerous activities in the Department and University activities, such as Homecoming, Orientation, Hechmet, often representing the Department.

Employment Equity and Accessibility Statement

The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Queen’s is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcomes applications from women, visible minorities, Aboriginal Peoples, persons with disabilities, and persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity. In accordance with Canadian Immigration requirements, priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

The University provides support in its recruitment processes to applicants with disabilities, including accommodation that takes into account an applicant's accessibility needs.