Ashland has an exciting opportunity for a Senior Lab Technician to join our Specialty Additives business at our Zwijndrecht, NL location. This is a very visible, significant role within the Company and the R&D function. This position will report to EU Innovation lead Specialty additives R&D

The responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to, the following:

Laboratory Support & Experimentation

• Prepare, set up, and execute routine laboratory procedures and small-scale experiments under the direction of Scientists.
• Assist with method development and troubleshooting, offering practical insights from hands-on experience.
• Collect, analyze, and record data with accuracy.
• Calibrate, operate, and maintain laboratory equipment (balances, viscometers, mixers, pH meters, analytical tools, etc.).
• Write and maintain equipment SOPs
• Perform standardized performance and quality tests on industrial chemical materials (e.g., polymers, surfactants, coatings, additives depending on the business).
• Document test conditions, material flows, deviations, and results in a clear, consistent format.
• Properly store, label, use, handle and dispose of chemicals. 
• Ensure compliance with internal procedures, regulatory standards, and good laboratory practices (GLP).
• Manage inventory of chemicals, consumables, and standards. 
• Lead equipment upkeep and coordinate service or repairs as needed.
• Identify productivity gaps and contribute to process improvements.
• Maintain accurate electronic lab notebooks, sample logs, and test reports.
• Summarize results for chemists, project teams, and cross-functional partners.
• Support preparation of technical documents, presentations, and reports.
• Actively contribute to the organizational goals by taking initiative, executing on goals and focusing on performance and safety
• Improve the organization capacity and capabilities through building collaborative relationships, optimizing diverse talent and utilizing positive communications and influence with others

To be qualified for this role, you must possess the following:

• Technical education in chemistry, chemical technology, materials science, or related field.
• MBO, HBO-BSc, WO-BSc with 5+ years of hands-on laboratory experience in industrial, applied, or product-development and preferably a coatings laboratory experience especially in industrial coatings.
• Strong understanding of lab instrumentation, measurement techniques, and safety practices.
• Solid data discipline—meticulous note-taking, consistent documentation, and reliability under pressure.
• Ability to juggle multiple projects and still know where every sample is hiding.
• Always demonstrated responsible and ethical behavior
• The ability to help the company drive greater value through understanding the business, making complex decisions and creating new and different

The following skill sets are preferred by the business unit:

• Practical lab experience with polymers, coatings, specialty chemicals, or process chemistry.
• Comfort supporting pilot-scale operations or manufacturing trials.
• Hands-on mechanical aptitude
• Works under limited or no supervision for routine and non-routine situations and determines methods and procedures on new assignments.