Analytical Chemist

Provectus Algae is a biosolutions discovery and development platform. Using our technology, we take each discovery from problem selection through to a product a customer can buy and use. Our first product, Surf’nTurf®, a methane-inhibiting feed supplement for ruminant livestock, is manufactured and supplied through Proteus Ag Pty Ltd, with many other product lines ready to follow behind it.

Position summary

The Analytical Chemist carries out routine testing in the analytical laboratory at our Noosa headquarters, reporting to the Analytical Chemist. You will prepare and run samples on GC-MS, HPLC and ICP-MS, check results against quality control criteria, and keep the laboratory clean, organised and safe. Our laboratory is working towards ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation with NATA, so your experience of how an accredited laboratory runs day to day will be put to good use.

This is a predominantly bench-based role. Most of your day will be sustained routine sample preparation, instrumental analysis and laboratory housekeeping, so it suits someone who takes pride in accurate, consistent work and wants to build depth on the instruments.

Key accountabilities & responsibilities

• Carry out routine sample preparation, extraction, dilution and instrumental analysis to approved methods.
• Prepare standards, reagents and quality control samples.
• Operate GC-MS, HPLC and ICP-MS instruments, including routine maintenance and basic troubleshooting.
• Assess results against quality control criteria and report any deviation or out-of-specification result to the Senior Analytical Chemist straight away.
• Log and track samples, and keep accurate, traceable records at the time the work is done, following approved laboratory procedures.
• Complete daily housekeeping, including cleaning benches and equipment, washing glassware, disposing of waste and organising supplies.
• Manage your daily workload to meet turnaround times while maintaining accuracy and safe work practices.
• Follow the laboratory’s quality system and support its ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, including training, competency checks and audit preparation.
• Follow our WHS procedures, use safe chemical and manual handling practices, and report incidents and near misses.

Essential skills & experience

• Tertiary qualification in chemistry, analytical chemistry or a related discipline.
• 3 or more years of routine analytical testing within a NATA-accredited laboratory, ideally 4 or more.
• Hands-on experience with GC-MS, HPLC and ICP-MS, including the associated sample preparation and quality control procedures.
• Able and willing to perform sustained, repetitive bench work with consistent attention to detail.
• Able to safely lift and move laboratory supplies and equipment weighing up to 15 kg, using appropriate manual handling techniques and aids where required.
• Organised and reliable, works well in a team, and able to work independently once trained.

Desirable / advantageous

• Experience using a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) for sample registration, tracking, data entry and results management.
• Experience testing feed, food, agricultural or natural product samples.
• Exposure to method validation, or to a laboratory going through initial NATA accreditation.

What we offer

• Daily hands-on time across GC-MS, HPLC and ICP-MS in a laboratory working towards ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation.
• Training and support from experienced analytical chemists, with room to grow your skills as the laboratory expands.
• Work that matters. Our product reduces methane from livestock, and the results you generate support it.
• A small, technically strong team where good ideas move quickly.
• Regular team events and social activities during work hours.
• Based in Noosa, Queensland.