Reporting to the Manager of Product Quality and Research the Chief Chemist is responsible for leading the Quality Control Laboratory and Process Control functions for sugar manufacturing, including cane payment, white sugar/molasses quality control, raw sugar and refinery process control, and water treatment plant operations. This position supervises a multidiscipline workforce, oversees regulatory compliance, and ensures safe, efficient, and food-safe laboratory operations in alignment with Company standards and applicable regulations.

FUNCTIONS                   

•         Supervise daily laboratory and water plant operations, ensuring adherence to Company policies, Safe Quality Foods (SQF), GMP+, FSMA procedures, and all applicable Local, State, and Federal safety and environmental regulations.

•         Oversee quality control processes for cane payment, white sugar, blackstrap quality, and molasses accounting; ensure proper sugar and molasses accounting and reconciliation.

•         Direct the Process Control Laboratory, establishing processes to manage operations process-control data and enable accurate reporting and recordkeeping.

•         Review and approve all daily and weekly reports used for operational and juice analysis and any laboratory analysis related to cane payment.

•         Oversee water treatment plant operations, including regulatory compliance and maintenance of the reliability program.

•         Assist in developing and managing an operating budget of approximately $4.6 million for process and quality control laboratory functions, including identification of capital requirements for reducing operating cost, staffing, and improving operational efficiencies.

•         Identify capital improvement and maintenance or repair projects; coordinate with Maintenance Planners and Project Engineers to facilitate inception.

•         Prepare Union Notices and participate in all decisions regarding personnel and working conditions in accordance with Union agreements and all rules and policies as outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

•         Provide management coverage for the laboratory on weekends and holidays and on-call coverage for emergency response for the lab, QA/QC, and the water treatment plant.

•         Collaborate regularly with the Manager of Technical Services and Research to support continuous improvement and research projects; may provide management coverage when necessary.

•         Promote a safe work environment and enforce safe working practices that conform to environmental standards; identify and recommend operational improvements where possible.

•         Maintain a high level of current knowledge on technology and management techniques relevant to laboratory and process control operations.

•         Supervise, evaluate, train, and coach three (3) water plant operators responsible for the operation and maintenance of the water treatment plant.

•         Lead workforce development through coaching and training; make all staffing decisions within area of responsibility, including hiring, performance management, scheduling, and disciplinary action.

•         Foster a cohesive team environment by developing associates through appropriate coaching and discipline in order to maintain and improve operational effectiveness.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Food Science, or equivalent required. Experience in raw sugar factories, raw sugar refineries, water plant, or similar operations strongly preferred.
• Minimum of five (5) years of applicable experience supervising or managing a workforce in the operation of sugar processing laboratories, water treatment plants, or similar operations — preferably in the sugar industry.
• Proficiency in MS Excel and SAP or similar software required; incumbents will be required to master SAP within a reasonable amount of time.
• Must hold a Florida Class-B waterplant-operator license or obtain the Class-C license within 2 years and the Class-B license within 4 years of employment.
• Must demonstrate the physical ability to perform the essential functions of the job in good health.
• Must be able to read, write, and communicate effectively in English, including the ability to comprehend instructions on the job and in the classroom, communicate via radio, and write and interpret policies and procedures.
• Must ensure personal and co-worker safety on the job.
• New hires must pass a pre-employment drug test, background screening, and successfully complete all required training and orientation.

POTENTIAL KPI’S (KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS)

• Measurable outcomes used to evaluate operational performance — TBD.
• KPIs should connect to laboratory quality, safety, compliance, water treatment reliability, and team development.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• 90% of the work environment is conducted in an environmentally controlled office, operating computerized equipment containing colored flashing lights sound indicators while using repetitive hand and eye movements.
• 10% of the work environment is conducted in an open outdoor environment, exposed to heights and rapidly changing temperatures including extreme heat, weather conditions, blowing dust and particles, burning bulk and liquid fuel, while wearing PPE (i.e.: hard hat, goggles, hair net, ear plugs, and/or full body chemical resistant suites), regularly climbing stairs, kneeling, crawling, bending, stooping, reaching, and walking on uneven ground containing trip hazards. 

SOFT SKILL REQUIREMENTS

• Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and develop a multidisciplinary technical team.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills in a fast-paced, safety-critical industrial environment.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills; ability to interact professionally with union employees, management, and regulatory contacts.
• Working knowledge of food safety systems (SQF, GMP+, FSMA) and environmental compliance.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and respond to operational demands across laboratory, process, and water treatment functions.

REQUIRED TRAINING

• Onboarding
• Safety
• Human Resources
• Job-Specific as required
• SQF / GMP+ / FSMA as applicable