Quality Assurance Chemist

Ecolab is seeking a Quality Assurance Chemist to join our team in Vancouver, WA. The Quality Assurance Chemist is responsible for ensuring product quality, regulatory compliance, and laboratory excellence through inspection, testing, documentation management, and continuous improvement initiatives. This role supports manufacturing, warehouse, and quality systems activities by conducting inspections, maintaining laboratory operations, investigating quality issues, and supporting internal and external audits. The successful candidate will serve as a technical resource to Operations and Warehouse teams while maintaining compliance with company, customer, and regulatory requirements.

What You Will Do:

Quality Inspection & Testing

• Perform batch inspections in accordance with Quality Control Requirements (QCR).
• Prepare reagents, standards, and test solutions for laboratory testing.
• Conduct non-routine testing, sample preparation, and special project work as required.
• Review inspection methods, specifications, and testing requirements through the Management of Change (MOC) process.

Laboratory Operations

• Inspect, calibrate, verify, and maintain laboratory equipment.
• Maintain adequate inventory of laboratory consumables, chemicals, reagents, and testing supplies.
• Maintain accurate records related to inspections, reagent preparation, equipment calibration, and laboratory activities.
• Dispose of expired chemicals and reagents in accordance with company safety and environmental procedures.
• Maintain laboratory notebooks and quality records in accordance with retention requirements.

Quality Systems & Compliance

• Support external audits and certification activities, including NSF, Kosher, Halal, ISO, and Responsible Care (RC) programs.
• Maintain audit-ready documentation and records.
• Review and maintain laboratory Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and work instructions.
• Review controlled documents through the Electronic Quality Management System (eQMS).
• Submit and manage Quality Change Requests (QCRs) and correction requests as needed.

Investigation & Continuous Improvement

• Perform root cause analysis (RCA) for first-pass failures and quality deviations.
• Recommend material treatment, rework, release, or disposition decisions.
• Support customer complaints, laboratory inquiries, quality investigations, and corrective actions.
• Identify and implement process and quality improvement opportunities.
• Participate in Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) initiatives and cross-functional improvement projects.

Inventory & Material Management

• Review blocked, restricted, expired, and short shelf-life inventory for disposition decisions.
• Coordinate the management and physical inventory of restricted and blocked stock.
• Provide quality support related to material status, release decisions, and inventory controls.

Safety & Environmental Compliance

• Record, communicate, and escalate safety and quality observations.
• Conduct stormwater inspections and disposition evaluations.
• Support environmental compliance programs and site safety initiatives.
• Promote a culture of quality, safety, and continuous improvement throughout the organization.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Food Science, or a related scientific field.
• 2 years of experience in Quality Assurance, Quality Control, laboratory testing, or manufacturing quality systems.
• Knowledge of laboratory techniques, analytical testing, and quality documentation practices.
• Experience with equipment calibration, maintenance, and laboratory recordkeeping.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with experience in root cause analysis.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and electronic quality management systems.
• No immigration sponsorship is available for this role

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in chemical manufacturing or related industries. Water chemistry experience.
• Familiarity with ISO or Responsible Care standards.
• Experience supporting internal and external audits.
• Knowledge of quality management systems, and change control processes.
• Experience with environmental compliance programs and stormwater inspections.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy.
• Ability to interpret specifications, testing requirements, and quality standards.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Effective organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to prioritize multiple projects and meet deadlines.
• Strong customer service mindset when supporting internal and external stakeholders.

Working Conditions:

• Laboratory and manufacturing environment.
• Frequent standing, walking, and movement throughout production and warehouse areas.
• Occasional lifting of laboratory supplies and samples.
• Use of personal protective equipment (PPE) as required.
• Exposure to chemicals, laboratory reagents, and manufacturing processes in accordance with established safety procedures.

The pay range for this position is $74,700 - 112,200 USD Annual Many factors are taken into consideration when determining compensation, such as experience, education, training, geography, etc. We comply with all minimum wage and overtime laws.

Benefits 

Ecolab provides the following benefits: medical, dental, vision, life insurance, accident insurance, critical illness insurance, hospital indemnity insurance, auto insurance, home insurance, pet insurance, identity theft protection, short-term and long-term disability, 401k, pension plans, retirement health care benefits, short-term incentives, vacation (12 days), holidays, parental leave, employee stock purchase plans (Full-Time Associates), discount on day care services and caregiver services, adoption assistance, group legal services, employee assistance program, employee discount program, and education assistance program, on-Site childcare and fitness facilities may be available at select Ecolab locations. Click here for additional benefits information. If you are viewing this posting on a site other than our Ecolab Career website, view our benefits at jobs.ecolab.com/working-here.

Potential Customer Requirements Notice

To meet customer requirements and comply with local or state regulations, applicants for certain customer-facing roles may need to:

- Undergo additional background screens and/or drug/alcohol testing for customer credentialing.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 

Ecolab will provide reasonable accommodation (such as a qualified sign language interpreter or other personal assistance) with our application process upon request as required to comply with applicable laws. If you have a disability and require accommodation assistance in this application process, please visit the Recruiting Support link in the footer of each page of our career website.