Closing Date: 9 November 2026
Purpose
The primary responsibility of this role is to perform accurate and reliable pesticide residue analysis on food, agricultural products, environmental samples, and other relevant matrices using advanced analytical instrumentation, including GC-MS and GC-MS/MS. The Pesticides Analyst is responsible for supporting method development, validation, routine testing, quality assurance activities, and maintaining compliance with ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation requirements while ensuring the delivery of technically sound and timely analytical results.
Responsibilities
Laboratory Analysis
- Perform pesticide residue testing on food, agricultural, environmental, and related sample matrices.
- Conduct sample preparation, extraction, and clean-up procedures using approved analytical methods, including QuEChERS techniques.
- Prepare calibration standards, reference materials, reagents, and internal standards in accordance with laboratory procedures.
- Ensure traceability and accurate documentation of all analytical preparations and activities.
- Perform routine and non-routine analytical testing according to validated methods and work instructions.
- Review analytical results to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance with quality requirements.
- Ensure all assigned testing is completed within agreed turnaround times.
Instrument Operation and Maintenance
- Operate and maintain GC-MS and GC-MS/MS instrumentation for pesticide residue analysis.
- Perform instrument setup, calibration, tuning, performance verification, and routine maintenance activities.
- Monitor instrument performance and identify deviations from established operating parameters.
- Troubleshoot instrumentation and analytical issues and escalate technical concerns where necessary.
- Maintain instrument logbooks and maintenance records.
- Assist with the qualification and verification of new laboratory equipment where required.
Data Analysis and Reporting
- Process chromatographic data using approved software systems.
- Review chromatograms, retention times, ion ratios, peak identification, and quantification results.
- Verify analytical calculations and ensure compliance with reporting requirements.
- Maintain accurate and complete technical records in laboratory information management systems (LIMS).
- Generate test reports and analytical summaries in accordance with laboratory procedures.
- Ensure all reported data meets technical and quality requirements before release.
Quality Assurance and Compliance
- Ensure compliance with ISO/IEC 17025 requirements and the laboratory quality management system.
- Evaluate quality control results, including blanks, recoveries, duplicates, reference materials, and calibration verification standards.
- Monitor testing performance against established acceptance criteria.
- Identify and report non-conforming work in accordance with quality procedures.
- Participate in internal audits, proficiency testing schemes, and accreditation assessments.
- Support corrective action investigations and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Ensure laboratory activities comply with regulatory, legal, and client requirements.
Method Development and Validation
- Assist with the development, optimisation, verification, and validation of analytical methods.
- Conduct validation studies including selectivity, linearity, precision, accuracy, recovery, limits of quantification, and measurement uncertainty.
- Support implementation of new analytical methods and technologies.
- Maintain validation records and technical documentation.
- Assist in expanding laboratory testing capabilities and scope of accreditation.
Laboratory Safety and Housekeeping
- Maintain compliance with laboratory health, safety, and environmental requirements.
- Adhere to approved procedures for chemical handling, storage, and disposal.
- Ensure contamination control measures are implemented and maintained.
- Maintain cleanliness and organisation of laboratory work areas.
- Report safety hazards, incidents, and near misses in accordance with company procedures.
- Participate in laboratory safety initiatives and training activities.
Reporting and Communication
- Communicate analytical progress, delays, technical concerns, and testing challenges to laboratory management.
- Participate in laboratory meetings and technical discussions.
- Provide technical input to investigations, client queries, and improvement projects.
- Maintain effective communication with laboratory personnel and cross-functional stakeholders.
- Support management reporting through the provision of testing and performance data
Qualifications
- Grade 12 (Matric).
- Diploma or Degree in Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Food Science, or a related scientific discipline.
- Training in chromatography and mass spectrometry techniques will be advantageous.
- ISO/IEC 17025 laboratory system training will be advantageous.
- Additional analytical chemistry or laboratory quality management qualifications will be advantageous.
Experience
- Minimum of 2 years' experience in an analytical laboratory environment.
- Hands-on experience operating GC-MS and/or GC-MS/MS instrumentation.
- Experience in pesticide residue analysis or trace-level chemical analysis.
- Experience working within an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory.
- Experience with chromatographic data processing and result interpretation.
- Experience with sample extraction and clean-up techniques.
- Experience maintaining laboratory records and documentation.
- Experience with proficiency testing and quality control programmes will be advantageous.
- Advantageous Experience
- Multi-residue pesticide analysis in food and agricultural products.
- Method development and validation using GC-MS/MS systems.
- QuEChERS extraction techniques across multiple sample matrices.
- Experience using Shimadzu analytical instruments.
- Experience with LabSolutions software.
- Experience operating LC-MS/MS instrumentation.
Skills
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
- Strong technical troubleshooting capabilities.
- Good organisational and time management skills.
- Ability to interpret complex analytical data and scientific information.
- Effective verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong record-keeping and documentation abilities.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
- Ability to work effectively both independently and within a team environment.
Knowledge
- Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS).
- Gas Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS/MS).
- Pesticide residue testing methodologies.
- Chromatographic theory and analytical chemistry principles.
- Sample preparation and extraction techniques.
- ISO/IEC 17025 quality management systems.
- Quality control and quality assurance practices.
- Method validation and verification principles.
- Measurement uncertainty concepts.
- Laboratory safety and chemical handling requirements.
- Data integrity and traceability requirements.
- Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS).
Other
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-throughput laboratory environment.
- Commitment to maintaining scientific integrity and ethical laboratory practices.
- Strong focus on quality, accuracy, and customer service.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality of laboratory and client information.
- Willingness to participate in training, proficiency testing, and continuous professional development.
- Ability to work additional hours when operational requirements dictate.
- Strong commitment to health, safety, and environmental compliance.
- High degree of professionalism and adherence to company values:
- Integrity
- Courage
- Care
- Passion
- Innovation
- Accountability
- Preference will be given to Employment Equity candidates.
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