Chemical plant operators are responsible for using equipment and standard chemical treating instruments to treat water, create pharmaceuticals or complete other chemical-related tasks. In addition to the day-to-day operations, chemical plant workers tackle administrative and organizational duties and must follow all mandated policies when using equipment or setting up a new work station.
The most important quality to include on your chemical plant operator job description is a scientific and mathematical mind. Candidates must be analytical, have strong critical thinking and evaluation, and be able to perceive small details. They may also be required to monitor equipment for multiple hours without rest, so endurance and physical strength may also be beneficial.
Finally, communication is a vital skill for chemical plant operators to be able to collaborate together. The following chemical plant operator job description template shows how you can explain these candidate requirements effectively.
Chemical Plant Operator Job Summary
Are you experienced in scientific and mathematical processes and have the mechanical knowledge to operate standard chemical treatment machinery? We think our professional team of chemical engineers is the perfect place for a dedicated chemical plant operator like yourself. You have strong analytical and critical thinking skills and prioritize paying attention to small details to manage operations effectively. Because you will join a team of chemical engineers, excellent communication should be a priority for you, and you should be skilled at collaborating with others on special projects. Finally, competitive chemical plant operators will have excellent endurance and physical strength. Come put your scientific mind to good use by joining our chemical plant operation team.
- Monitor chemical treatment machines and instruments, including flow meters and machine dials, to ensure machinery is operating correctly at all times
- Respond to warning signals and alarms that indicate issues have arisen, taking all necessary precautions to prevent accidents or injuries
- Manipulate the chemical process using controls, panel boards and other input devices to operate the manual and semi-automatic machinery
- Take chemical samples and perform tests to ensure the process is progressing properly
- Regulate or turn off machines in emergency situations and follow all instructions from supervisory staff quickly and precisely
- Follow all safety policies at all times to prevent injury and ensure the finished product meets regulations for distribution
- Examine chemical processing machinery daily to identify damages or erosion, making note of any instances and reporting them to management staff when it is safe to do so
- Perform the washing function at the end of every shift, ensuring the machines are clean and ready to begin operations first thing the next day
Job Skills & Qualifications
- Bachelor degree in chemistry or related scientific field
- Mechanically certified to operate chemical equipment
- Master degree completion or candidate in scientific field
- Two years minimum working experience in mechanical engineering or chemical engineering
Chemical Plant Operator Job Responsibilities
When writing your chemical plant operator job description, remember that the job responsibilities section should be the meatiest. This is because it holds the information that is most important to jobseekers. However, it is also possible for the section to be too long, which may result in it being intimidating. We recommend that you have more than five bullet points but fewer than nine. This allows for a good balance that appeals to readers and portrays the position positively.
Your chemical plant operator job responsibilities should take the form of a bulleted list. Begin each bullet point with a strong action verb. If done correctly, this makes it easier for candidates to envision themselves in the position, fulfilling the daily tasks.
The following example entries include strong verb choices and will help you write your chemical plant operator job description:
- Control chemical plant machinery and equipment, ensuring all settings meet company standards and regulations
- Read charts, meters and other output devices to manage machinery with a high level of precision
- Check equipment on a daily basis, ensuring it is undamaged and workers can continue to safely operate the line
- Perform daily maintenance on machinery, preventing unnecessary wear and replacing parts as needed
Chemical Plant Operator Job Specifications
Your goal with the responsibilities section should be to make it as meaty as possible, but the job qualifications and skills section is the opposite. This part of your chemical plant operator job description is more effective when it is brief. However, you should not make the mistake of assuming this means it is an unimportant section. The information found in the chemical plant operator job specifications influences how many and what kinds of candidates apply. This is the section that prevents too many unqualified jobseekers from submitting their resume for you to sort through.
When formatting this section, we recommend separating the qualifications based on whether they are mandatory requirements or preferences. Your hiring manager should be able to provide more information on which qualities are more lenient. Most likely, the requirements will revolve around previous working experiences and necessary certifications, while the preferences include softer skills. Examples of both kinds of entries are below to help you get started with your chemical plant operator job description.
- Bachelor’s degree in chemistry or other related science field required, master’s degree preferred
- Must have working experience in a chemical plant, preferably 4 years or more
- Strong attention to small details and precision in all operations
- Good analytical, critical thinking and evaluation abilities