Basic Research Operations Associate

Key responsibilities
- Prepare samples, formulations, laboratory batches and test specimens according to approved trial plans, methods and safety instructions.
- Perform assigned laboratory tests, characterization activities and comparative evaluations for development, reformulation, product-maintenance and raw-material-evaluation projects.
- Record experimental conditions, raw data, observations, calculations and results accurately, contemporaneously and completely in approved project records or laboratory systems.
- Maintain traceability of raw materials, samples, formulations, test specimens and retained project samples.
- Support laboratory and plant trials by preparing materials, collecting data, documenting observations and completing assigned technical follow-up activities.
- Support preparation of technical reports, data summaries, samples and documentation required for project reviews, validation and R&D-to-QC transfer.
- Identify and promptly report unexpected experimental results, equipment issues, sample-identity concerns, safety risks, deviations from the trial plan or data-recording errors.
- Maintain assigned R&D equipment, materials, reagents, workspaces and records in accordance with applicable laboratory, safety and document-control procedures.
- Develop competence in the product families, materials, methods and equipment assigned by the R&D Manager; specialization in organic or inorganic product families may be assigned
Decision authority

- Executes only activities, methods and equipment operations for which trained and authorized.
- May make routine adjustments explicitly permitted by an approved trial plan or method; all other changes require direction from the Senior R&D Operator or R&D Manager.
- Escalate to a senior where safety, sample identity, equipment condition, test validity or data integrity is compromised.
- Cannot approve formulas, technical conclusions, methods, specifications, transfer packages, project gates or production changes.


Key interfaces
- Senior R&D Operator, R&D Manager
- Success measures
- Timely and accurate execution of assigned trials and tests.
- Completeness, traceability and right-first-time quality of experimental records.
- Compliance with safety, trial, sample-management and equipment procedures.
- Timely escalation of anomalies and effective upkeep of assigned laboratory areas.
- Progression of individual technical qualification against the R&D competence matrix.