Job Title: Senior Analytical Chemist
Area: Field laboratory
Location: Kampala, with rotation to Buliisa District
Travel: Overseas training travel required
Job summary:
The Senior Analytical Chemist leads the analytical bench of a new laboratory supporting a multi-year reservoir tracer program. The role delivers high-quality analysis, reporting and collaboration with technical teams, ensuring the highest standards of accuracy, efficiency and safety. It is a hands-on instrument role carrying lead responsibility, not a supervisory or production-chemistry role.
The laboratory analyzes chemical tracers in produced water and crude oil at trace level, on benchtop GC-MS instrumentation, with a throughput of several thousand samples a year and a one-week turnaround from receipt.
Key responsibilities
- Sample analysis. Conduct detailed analysis of oil and water reservoir samples using the appropriate laboratory methods and GC-MS instrumentation.
- Quality assurance. Follow and uphold laboratory procedures and quality control protocols to ensure accurate and reliable results.
- Data reporting. Document and report analytical findings accurately, presenting data in clear and actionable formats for internal and client review.
- Collaboration. Work closely with project teams, providing technical insight and supporting research and development initiatives.
- Method development. Assist in developing and refining analytical techniques to improve the service offering and operational efficiency.
- Equipment maintenance. Ensure laboratory equipment is properly maintained and calibrated in line with manufacturer and company guidelines.
- Training. Mentor and guide junior staff, fostering a collaborative learning environment.
Health and safety responsibilities
- Comply with the company’s health, safety and environmental policies and procedures, and with local and international regulations.
- Identify and mitigate hazards in the laboratory; conduct risk assessments and implement control measures.
- Actively promote a culture of safety through training sessions, drills and regular HSE meetings.
- Report incidents, near misses and unsafe conditions promptly.
- Use and maintain assigned PPE correctly and adhere to safe working practices at all times.
Essential requirements
- Minimum BSc in Chemistry or an equivalent scientific subject.
- Experience in laboratory analysis, preferably within the oil and gas sector. Experience in any commercial, regulatory or industrial testing laboratory is relevant — water quality, environmental, petroleum, brewery and beverage QC, pharmaceutical QC, food safety, soil and agricultural, mining assay, clinical or public analyst.
- Proficiency in analytical techniques — gas chromatography and spectroscopy.
- Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office.
- Strong problem-solving and technical skills.
- Excellent attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple tasks efficiently.
- Familiarity with health and safety regulations relevant to laboratory operations.
- Strong written and verbal communication.
- Analytical thinking, initiative, and the confidence to ask questions.
- Able to work independently with minimal supervision.
- Willing to work an on-site rotation in Buliisa District and to travel overseas for training.
Advantageous
- GC-MS operation and chromatography data handling.
- Sample preparation by solid phase extraction or liquid-liquid extraction.
- Experience with produced water, crude oil or formation water.
- Trace and ultra-trace analysis.
- Work under ISO/IEC 17025, ISO 9001 or GLP.
- Supervisory or laboratory management experience.
