Hazardous Waste Chemist

Job Description
Position:
Hazardous Waste Chemist

Location:
McQuillan Environmental, Antrim

Responsible to:
Senior Hazardous Waste Chemists

Contract type:
Full-time, permanent

Salary:
Competitive/Negotiable DOE

Working hours:
Monday Thursday from 08:00 to 17:00 (45 min break) and Friday from 08:00 to 16:00 (30 min break)

Why work for McQuillan Companies?
McQuillan Companies, a family-run business in Northern Ireland, offers a diverse range of services including roadworks, civil engineering, demolition, quarrying, waste management, outdoor cleaning, and analytical chemistry. If you're seeking a career in a growing company with a dynamic environment and great benefits, McQuillan Companies is for you. We value all perspectives and create a supportive space where people thrive

McQuillan Environmental is one of Northern Irelands leading waste management companies, providing recycling and hazardous waste management to the regions leading companies throughout GB & ROI. We are a multi-site waste and resource management organisation serving all industrial and public sectors including hospitality, retail, manufacturing, construction and pharmaceutical to meet their sustainability and legislative commitments. We ensure that Sustainability is at the core of our waste management practices and as we move into the Circular Economy, we offer tailored solutions to support all our customers Corporate Social Responsibility requirements.

Our Hazardous Waste Management facilities in Antrim include an on-site chemist managed hazardous waste transfer station, a bespoke chemical treatment facility and a soil treatment plant with collection vehicles and tanker services ensuring full service is delivered for all waste streams.

We Offer a Range Of Benefits Including

• Competitive salaries
• An employee health scheme
• Employee private healthcare
• An excellent employee pension scheme
• 31 days of annual leave, increased in line with years of service milestones
• Working as a part of a dynamic group of professionals who excel at maintaining regulatory standards while fostering a supportive and welcoming environment
• Excellent development, learning and training opportunities
• Participation in a range of team building activities

Overall objectives
We seek to appoint a Hazardous Waste Chemist to join our busy and expanding team within McQuillan Environmental.

If you are looking for a career opportunity within a growing business that includes a range of benefits, in a dynamic and engaging working environment then McQuillan Companies is the place for you.

This role will require someone with a 'can do' attitude, a commercial approach and demonstrable attention to detail. The successful candidate will report to the Senior Hazardous Waste Chemists and must be hardworking, reliable, and possess excellent communication & inter personal skills. In return you will be awarded a competitive salary, variety within your role, the ability to build upon your existing experience within the profession and the opportunity to work within a friendly and supportive team.

Key Responsibilities

• Take guidance from the Senior Hazardous Waste Chemist and Site Manager regarding day to day operations
• Assess hazardous chemical waste for site acceptability
• Apply chemical knowledge to advise customers how to safely store and dispose of chemical materials
• Follow the correct procedure for the labelling and sampling of chemical waste including packaging of materials legally and safely for storage and/or transportation
• Follow the correct procedure for submitting samples to the analytical laboratory
• Prepare chemicals for final waste management offsite disposal
• Comply with all legal requirements
• Drive and operate a forklift where necessary
• Complete ADR Training for Chemical Transportation
• Ensure all incompatible chemicals are segregated from non-compatible materials and stored in the correct allocated area
• Control the operations of sub-contractors where necessary
• Prevent, as far as possible, chemical spills and leaks
• Professorially assess and react to HAZMAT incidents
• Other duties as may be deemed appropriate by their supervisor and that fall within the general remit of the post

Essential Criteria

• Degree level qualification (or equivalent) in Chemistry
• Experience in chemical handling, identification and bulking operations
• Knowledge of COSHH Regulations
• Working knowledge of ISO management systems
• Full driving licence
• Ability to work effectively on own initiative and the ability to work within a team environment
• Competent in the use of computer software including Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, Word, etc.)

Desirable Criteria

• Previous experience in an industrial chemical role
• Working knowledge of NIEA permitting procedures
• Forklift Licence

Closing date for all applications is:
Thursday 27th November 2025.
This job description should not be regarded as conclusive or definite. It is a guideline within which the individual jobholder works. It is not intended to be rigid or inflexible and may alter as the Companys strategic direction changes.
Skills
Excellent communication skills Attention to detail Excellent time management Organisational skills Ability to work on own initiative Pro-Active approach Good Report writing skills

Benefits
Competitive salaries An employee health scheme An excellent employee pension scheme 31 days of annual leave Sevice milestones L&D opportunities