The Technology Division of FutureFuel Chemical Company in Batesville, Arkansas, has an opportunity in our Process Hazard Evaluation, Scale-up, and Optimization (PHES) Laboratory for a PhD Organic Chemist with five years or more of applicable experience. The PHES Laboratory chemist also serves as a member of the FutureFuel Chemical Company Process Safety Review Committee.

The preferred candidate should possess a strong background in process hazard evaluation, chemical reactivity assessment, process scale-up, and process optimization. The ability to take process chemistry hazards, such as hazardous undesired reactions, and help develop safe operating conditions from a risk-based approach is the primary responsibility of this position. Experience with batch and continuous production of complex organic specialty chemicals is a plus.

The tools utilized in the PHES Laboratory include a Mettler RC1 Calorimeter, a Differential Scanning Calorimeter, a Reactive System Screening Tool, Carius Tube evaluations, CHETAH, and ASPEN.

This person will be involved in all stages of the research and development of new fine chemicals, performance chemicals, agricultural actives, specialty polymers, emulsions, monomers, intermediates, and custom synthesis productions from the bench scale through scale-up, commercialization, and optimization. This person will work directly with development chemists, technicians, technologists, process design engineers, and production managers.

Responsibilities include hazard evaluation of specific compounds and entire process systems for reactive chemistry issues including, but not limited, to OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM) requirements, facility siting requirements, vapor cloud and dust explosion analysis, reviewing process upset conditions, determination of reaction calorimetry, and evaluation of necessary layers of protection.

Process optimization/improvement responsibilities include evaluations of raw material conversion and yield, mass and energy balance, cycle time and throughput, reaction kinetics, and cost reduction project management. Process scale-up responsibilities include mixing studies, reaction kinetics and reactor design. The findings and conclusions of all hazard, scale-up, and optimization evaluations are routinely documented in technical reports.

The candidate should be flexible and willing to accept a variety of work assignments and must be comfortable working independently or as a participant in or leader of a multidisciplinary project team. The candidate must be willing and capable of supervising, developing, and coaching technologists and technicians. This position requires a PhD Organic Chemist with five years or more of applicable experience in Organic Chemistry and Process Hazard Analysis.

• Compensation: We offer competitive compensation packages, including a relocation program and Advancement Ladder.
• Comprehensive Benefits: We offer excellent medical, dental, and vision insurances, 401k matching, an employee work-out center, life insurance, parental leave, pet insurance, tuition reimbursement for continuing education, paid military leave, wellness incentives, and disability insurance.
• Culture: Expect a company culture that is friendly, inviting, helpful, inclusive, supportive, dedicated, and full of brilliant team members.

FutureFuel Chemical Company (FFCC) is a specialty and fine chemical manufacturing producer with an over forty-year successful plant history. FFCC has three business segments: custom/toll manufacturing, performance chemicals, and biodiesel. FFCC serves a wide variety of markets including pharmaceutical intermediates and products, nylon and polyester fibers, cleaning products, agricultural products, paints and coating, and fuels and energy.

FFCC is a small publicly traded company with approximately 500 employees that has a rich history of complex organic chemistry innovation, excellent environmental stewardship, and excellent health and safety compliance. We are a growing U.S. manufacturer of specialty organic chemicals and premium biofuels. Our company is headquartered in Clayton, St Louis and publicly listed on the NYSE under "FF". We have a world class integrated biofuels and specialty chemicals manufacturing facility in Batesville, Arkansas.

Batesville, Arkansas is a small rural town of about 10,000 on the foothills of the Ozark Mountains with excellent area schools, a University of Arkansas 2-year college and Lyon College, a highly rated Liberal Arts College. We are a strong outdoor community with the White River, nearby lakes, parks, bike trails, dog park, walking trails, excellent soccer and baseball/softball facilities, a thriving community and aquatics center and Historic Main Street, and close access to Blanchard Springs Caverns, The Ozark Folk Center, and the Buffalo River, one of the longest undammed rivers west of the Mississippi and the nation’s first National River designated by Congress in 1972 to preserve its clean water and other outstanding values. Batesville has a regional health care center, Community Theatre and Arts Council, a strong Chamber of Commerce, Mark Martin NASCAR Museum, and a regional historic. Visit Batesville at cityofbatesville.com.