Job Description

Associate Analytical Chemist Inorganic Chemistry

This role focuses on inorganic chemistry and elemental analysis to ensure food products and dietary supplements are free from heavy metal contaminants and meet nutritional standards. As an Associate Analytical Chemist, you prepare and process samples for instrumental analysis, support routine testing, and contribute to a fast-paced, high-throughput laboratory environment with strong opportunities for growth and internal promotion.

Responsibilities

• Perform weighing of samples using analytical balances, ensuring consistent sample weights and precise measurements for inorganic assays.
• Conduct sample digestions and prepare samples for analysis on ICP-MS instruments following established laboratory protocols.
• Set up samples for ICP-MS and support related workflows to test for heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, mercury, lead, antimony, tin, and nickel in food products.
• Use laboratory microwaves and other sample preparation equipment safely and effectively during digestion and preparation procedures.
• Carry out basic cleaning duties as needed, including cleaning and scrubbing vessels, maintaining glassware, and stocking supplies to keep the laboratory organized and efficient.
• Document all work accurately, maintaining clear, complete, and organized records of sample preparation, testing activities, and results.
• Follow aseptic technique and good laboratory practices to maintain sample integrity and avoid contamination.
• Support the inorganic chemistry team in running multiple assays, contributing to a testing portfolio that includes minerals, contaminants, and other elemental analyses.
• Work comfortably on repetitive and monotonous tasks, consistently performing basic lab work over an extended period while maintaining accuracy and quality.
• Train over time to serve as a backup operator on ICP-MS and ICP-OES instruments, with the expectation of gaining competency within approximately 1 to 1.5 years.
• Collaborate with team members in a fast-paced, production-like environment to meet client testing timeframes and throughput goals.
• Demonstrate strong work ethic, reliability, and coachability, responding positively to feedback and maintaining high performance standards.
• Contribute to a positive team environment by communicating effectively, supporting colleagues, and adapting to different groups or teams if needed.

Essential Skills

• Bachelors degree in Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, or a related life science or STEM field.
• Foundational knowledge of chemistry or biochemistry, particularly relevant to inorganic and analytical testing.
• Experience with aseptic technique and good laboratory practices to ensure sample quality and prevent contamination.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment, ideally with prior experience in the food service or bartending industry or similar high-throughput settings.
• High attention to detail with strong documentation skills and the ability to stay organized while handling repetitive tasks.
• Demonstrated ability to learn quickly, as verified through references or prior experience.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently while also contributing effectively within a team.
• Strong team orientation, with the ability to collaborate and maintain positive working relationships, as confirmed through references.
• Reliable and punctual, with a strong work ethic and openness to coaching and feedback.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Background in biology, microbiology, chemistry, or biochemistry that supports understanding of food testing and elemental analysis.
• Interest in or exposure to food testing, dietary supplement analysis, or related laboratory environments.
• Comfort with monotonous, production-style laboratory work and the ability to maintain quality and focus over time.
• Willingness to cross-train and move between teams if needed to find the best fit and support laboratory operations.
• Desire for professional growth in a laboratory setting with strong internal promotion opportunities, including progression to supervisory or technical lead roles.
• Eligibility for education reimbursement for relevant coursework with a regionally accredited university, subject to performance, budget, and program relevance.
• Commitment to maintaining ISO-accredited laboratory standards and supporting testing portfolios that include vitamins, minerals, contaminants, pesticides, and shelf-life studies.
• Interest in working with advanced analytical instrumentation such as ICP-MS, ICP-OES, UPLC, HPLC, GC, and LC-MS as skills and responsibilities expand.

Work Environment

This position is based in a modern laboratory setting at a large food and dietary supplement testing site with hundreds of employees. The facility is a brand-new ISO-accredited laboratory designed for food chemistry testing, specializing in products such as infant formula, sole-source nutrition items, hemp and CBD, dietary supplements, and botanicals. The environment is fast-paced and can feel similar to production work, as testing must be completed according to client timeframes and daily batch goals. Work can be repetitive depending on the group or team, and employees should be comfortable performing routine tasks for extended periods. The lab uses a wide range of analytical technologies and instrumentation, including ICP-MS, ICP-OES, UPLC, HPLC, GC, and LC-MS, providing exposure to advanced testing methods and tools. Work hours and workload are influenced by the number of batches set per day and individual efficiency, with some flexibility to take on additional work as desired. The culture emphasizes internal promotion, team fit, and professional development, including education reimbursement for relevant academic programs, making it an attractive environment for those seeking long-term growth in analytical chemistry and food testing.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Madison, WI.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $21.00 - $21.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Madison,WI.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 15, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.

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