Chemist

Job Title: Chemist
Job Description

The Chemist supports all areas of distillery operations from a quality perspective, including distilling, processing, and bottling activities. This role performs analytical testing on a wide range of samples, serves as the subject matter expert for analytical equipment, and oversees the sample retention facility. The Chemist ensures that products meet quality standards through rigorous laboratory analysis, data interpretation, and collaboration with the broader quality team.

Responsibilities

• Support all operational areas, including distillery, processing, and bottling, from a quality and analytical testing standpoint.
• Perform testing and analysis on beer still loss, yeast, grain, and dry-house samples to support process control and optimization.
• Conduct testing on processing liquids and warehouse samples to ensure product quality and consistency.
• Perform testing on NBW and immature liquid from the distillery to monitor production quality.
• Carry out sample testing on high solid distillates to verify compliance with quality specifications.
• Run the YSI still loss analyzer, interpret results, and troubleshoot equipment issues as needed.
• Perform chemistry testing and analysis on distilled samples, documenting and reporting findings accurately.
• Act as the subject matter expert for all analytical equipment, providing guidance on operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
• Oversee the sample retention facility, ensuring proper organization, labeling, storage, and documentation of retained samples.
• Travel between two production plants as needed to provide quality support across locations.
• Run the DMA for sample analysis, including setup, operation, and troubleshooting of the equipment.
• Operate GC and GC/MS instruments for sample analysis, including method execution, basic maintenance, and troubleshooting.
• Support the sample retention facility by organizing retains, ensuring accurate placement on shelves, and removing expired retains under the direction of quality management.
• Perform testing and analysis on warehouse samples to support processing of liquid products.
• Participate in daily sensory evaluations and product tastings as required to assess product quality.
• Perform testing and analysis on jug dona and yeast samples to support fermentation and production processes.
• Test, approve, and report on laboratory samples, including running tests on finished and bulk products and documenting results clearly and accurately.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biology, or a related scientific field.
• Minimum of four years of experience in an analytical laboratory or quality control environment.
• Proficiency in analytical chemistry techniques and laboratory practices.
• Hands-on experience operating and troubleshooting analytical instruments such as YSI analyzers, DMA, GC, and GC/MS.
• Working knowledge of basic laboratory techniques, safety practices, and sample handling procedures.
• Experience working in a unionized environment.
• Ability to repetitively lift and move cases weighing approximately 25 pounds.
• Strong oral and written communication skills for clear reporting and collaboration.
• Working knowledge of computer systems for data entry, analysis, and reporting.
• Good organizational and time management skills to handle multiple tasks and priorities effectively.
• Valid driver’s license to support travel between plant locations.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience supporting quality control in a production or manufacturing environment, ideally related to distilling or beverage processing.
• Demonstrated ability to serve as a subject matter expert on analytical equipment and support colleagues in proper use and troubleshooting.
• Attention to detail and accuracy in sample testing, data recording, and documentation.
• Comfort participating in sensory evaluations, including tasting products as part of quality assessments.

Work Environment

This position is fully on-site at a production facility and supports operations across distillery, processing, and bottling areas. The Chemist works primarily in a laboratory setting equipped with analytical instruments such as YSI analyzers, DMA, GC, and GC/MS, as well as standard lab equipment and computer systems for data analysis and reporting. The role also requires regular presence in production and warehouse areas to collect samples and support quality activities, which may involve exposure to typical manufacturing conditions such as noise and varying temperatures. The position includes travel between two plant locations, requiring reliable transportation and flexibility in daily routines. The work involves handling and moving cases weighing approximately 25 pounds on a repetitive basis. Attire typically aligns with a production and laboratory environment, including appropriate personal protective equipment as required by safety and quality protocols.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Clermont, KY.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $20.00 - $33.00/hr.

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 Clermont,KY.

Application Deadline

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

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

At Actalent, diversity and inclusion are a bridge towards the equity and success of our people. DE&I is embedded into our culture through:

• Hiring diverse talent
• Maintaining an inclusive environment through persistent self-reflection
• Building a culture of care, engagement, and recognition with clear outcomes
• Ensuring growth opportunities for our people

Actalent is an equal opportunity employer.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services. For more than 40 years, we’ve helped visionary companies advance their goals. Headquartered in the United States, our teams span 150 offices across North America, EMEA, and APAC—with four delivery centers in India led by 1,000+ extraordinary employees who connect their passion with purpose every day.

Our Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai delivery centers are hubs of engineering expertise, with core capabilities in mechanical and electrical engineering, systems and software, and manufacturing engineering. Our teams deliver work across multiple industries including transportation, consumer and industrial products, and life sciences. We serve more than 4,500 clients, including many Fortune 500 brands. Learn more about how we can work together at actalentservices.com.

analytical chemistry techniques, ysi analyzers, gc, gc/ms, quality control, laboratory practices, dma, sample analysis, data interpretation, sample retention facility management, sensory evaluation, computer systems for data analysis, sample handling procedures, safety practices, attention to detail, unionized environment experience, Laboratory Technician, Associate Scientist, Senior Scientist, Laboratory Analyst, Principal Scientist, Senior Staff Scientist, Quality Control Technician, Senior Process Engineer, Purification Supervisor, Biochemist Technician