What does a chief chemist do?
Chief chemist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real chief chemist resumes:
- Achieve ASTM certification for analysis of copper in CCRC labs.
- Manage an analytical laboratory, which include SEM-EDS, GC-MS, GPC, FT-IR, ICP-MS, TGA and DSC equipment.
- Perform set-up stage for CCLAS LIMS system.
- Train QC chemists on test procedures for new products.
- Maintain QC books, prepare quality control specimens and calibrators.
- Input of data into the LIMS and some data interpretation require.
- Audit contracted manufacturing facilities for compliance to GMP and company guidelines and ensure adherence to quality standards.
- Perform QA/QC analysis of raw material and finish products in an aerosol manufacturing facility GMP requirements and protocols.
- Take initiative to be cross-train in chemistry methods used by the company to perform additional tests that ensure uninterrupt laboratory operation.
- Conduct laboratory analysis through the use of atomic absorption spectroscopy, titrations, and spectrophotometry.
Chief chemist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 24% of Chief Chemists are proficient in Laboratory Equipment, R, and Analytical Techniques. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Math skills.
We break down the percentage of Chief Chemists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Laboratory Equipment, 24%
Maintain laboratory equipment and instrumentation in good working order, following appropriate procedures for usage, clean-up and maintenance.
- R, 12%
Used R, SSL, and SQL programming to identify and fix multiple processing and GUI problems with StarLIMS v9.
- Analytical Techniques, 7%
Helped develop and conduct qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis and experiments using the appropriate equipment and analytical techniques under GMP/GLP regulations.
- Product Development, 6%
Developed/validated methods in support of product development.
- DOT, 5%
Lead the segregation and transportation processes of hazardous waste, while adhering to state, DOT and EPA rules and regulations.
- Lims, 4%
Performed data analysis and approval of all instrumentation results and quality control utilizing the ATL Samplemaster LIMS.
Common skills that a chief chemist uses to do their job include "laboratory equipment," "r," and "analytical techniques." You can find details on the most important chief chemist responsibilities below.
Analytical skills. One of the key soft skills for a chief chemist to have is analytical skills. You can see how this relates to what chief chemists do because "chemists and materials scientists need to evaluate the results of experiments to ensure accuracy in their research." Additionally, a chief chemist resume shows how chief chemists use analytical skills: "research current agricultural literature to aid analysis needed for agricultural product development. "
Communication skills. Another essential skill to perform chief chemist duties is communication skills. Chief chemists responsibilities require that "chemists and materials scientists must be able to convey information clearly in reports and presentations for both technical and nontechnical audiences." Chief chemists also use communication skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "utilized on a daily basis for data analysis, recording, and timely communication with other departments. "
Math skills. This is an important skill for chief chemists to perform their duties. For an example of how chief chemist responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "chemists and materials scientists regularly use calculus, algebra, statistics, and other math for calculations." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a chief chemist: "perform qualitative/quantitative analysis for raw materials, in-process samples and finished products of sealants, coatings and polymers. ".
Organizational skills. A big part of what chief chemists do relies on "organizational skills." You can see how essential it is to chief chemist responsibilities because "chemists and materials scientists must document processes carefully when conducting experiments, tracking outcomes, and analyzing results." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical chief chemist tasks: "well versed in implementing standard operating procedures, organizational policies, and analytical methodologies accurately and consistently. "
Problem-solving skills. Another common skill required for chief chemist responsibilities is "problem-solving skills." This skill comes up in the duties of chief chemists all the time, as "chemists’ and materials scientists’ work involves posing questions during research and finding answers through results." An excerpt from a real chief chemist resume shows how this skill is central to what a chief chemist does: "train chemists in how to perform method development/validation, dissolution profile, process validation, and stability support for customers. "
Time-management skills. Another skill commonly found on chief chemist job descriptions is "time-management skills." It can come up quite often in chief chemist duties, since "chemists and materials scientists usually need to meet deadlines and must be able to prioritize tasks while maintaining quality." Here's an example from a resume of how this skill fits into day-to-day chief chemist responsibilities: "acted as a leader to ensure the stability samples were being pulled out and tested on time. "
The three companies that hire the most chief chemists are:
- Freeport-McMoRan2 chief chemists jobs
- Da/Pro Rubber1 chief chemists jobs
- Oldcastle Infrastructure1 chief chemists jobs
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Compare different chief chemists
Chief chemist vs. Chemist, development
A development chemist is responsible for delivering products that are specially created for a customer. You will be responsible for conducting qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses for process or quality control. Other tasks that you will perform include researching chemical substances, conducting laboratory experiments, and evaluating the effects of chemical compounds in different situations. Additionally, you will be responsible for determining chemical properties by analyzing compounds and helping resolve quality issues. As a development chemist, you are also responsible for evaluating safety procedures in laboratories and maintaining laboratory equipment.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, chief chemist responsibilities require skills like "analytical techniques," "dot," "epa," and "test results." Meanwhile a typical chemist, development has skills in areas such as "technical support," "analytical procedures," "gc-ms," and "pet." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Chemists, development tend to make the most money working in the health care industry, where they earn an average salary of $85,660. In contrast, chief chemists make the biggest average salary, $76,080, in the manufacturing industry.On average, chemists, development reach lower levels of education than chief chemists. Chemists, development are 10.1% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 3.3% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Chief chemist vs. Research and development chemist
A research and development chemist primarily works at laboratories to conduct extensive tests and experiments aiming to develop new products and technologies. Although the extent of their duties may vary, it typically revolves around conducting research and studies, observing chemical reactions, maintaining records and databases, collaborating with fellow experts, and identifying the strengths and weaknesses of existing components or mixtures. They can find employment in different areas, such as manufacturing companies, private laboratories, government agencies, and even education.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real chief chemist resumes. While chief chemist responsibilities can utilize skills like "analytical techniques," "dot," "research projects," and "chemical laboratory," research and development chemists use skills like "analytical methods," "synthesis," "d chemist," and "technical support."
Research and development chemists earn a lower average salary than chief chemists. But research and development chemists earn the highest pay in the health care industry, with an average salary of $82,941. Additionally, chief chemists earn the highest salaries in the manufacturing with average pay of $76,080 annually.In general, research and development chemists achieve lower levels of education than chief chemists. They're 8.2% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 3.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for chief chemists in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Betsy Smith
Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Elmira College
Chief chemist vs. Product development chemist
An Analytical Research Chemist works on analyzing and interpreting data generated from experiments to aid other research. They organize and produce reports and findings, which scientists will use to create principles, ideas, and strategies in the scientific field. Included in a research chemist's primary responsibilities are the maintenance of the laboratory, organizing documents, and inventory of supplies and equipment.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a chief chemist is likely to be skilled in "laboratory equipment," "analytical techniques," "dot," and "research projects," while a typical product development chemist is skilled in "lab equipment," "analytical methods," "qc," and "test methods."
Product development chemists earn the best pay in the manufacturing industry, where they command an average salary of $84,696. Chief chemists earn the highest pay from the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $76,080.product development chemists typically earn lower educational levels compared to chief chemists. Specifically, they're 9.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 3.7% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Chief chemist vs. Analytical research chemist
Even though a few skill sets overlap between chief chemists and analytical research chemists, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a chief chemist might have more use for skills like "dot," "method development," "test results," and "research projects." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of analytical research chemists require skills like "liquid chromatography," "analytical laboratory," "lc-ms," and "technical reports. "
The average resume of analytical research chemists showed that they earn lower levels of education compared to chief chemists. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 6.4% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 2.6%.Types of chief chemist
Updated January 8, 2025
