Laboratory Technician – Upstream Oil & Gas Waste Management

About the role

The Laboratory Technician will perform physical and chemical characterization of oil and gas drilling waste streams, ensuring accurate analysis and compliance with regulatory standards.

Key responsibilities

• Conduct laboratory analysis of drill cuttings, drilling muds, oily sludge, contaminated soil, wastewater, leachate, sediment and treated products.
• Collect, preserve, label, transport and document samples while maintaining full chain‑of‑custody records.
• Operate, calibrate and maintain a range of analytical instruments and sample‑preparation equipment.
• Record, validate and analyse data, prepare laboratory reports and certificates of analysis.
• Implement quality‑control procedures, monitor reagent stocks and support audits and regulatory reporting.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Laboratory Technology or related field.
• Minimum 3 years’ laboratory experience in environmental, oil & gas or accredited testing labs.
• Experience with drilling‑waste characterization, hazardous‑waste handling and ISO/IEC 17025 quality systems.
• Strong knowledge of Kenyan environmental legislation (NEMA, WRA) and ISO 9001 principles.

Required skills

• Operation of balances, drying ovens, muffle furnaces, centrifuges, pH meters, conductivity/TDS meters, turbidity meters, filtration and digestion systems.
• Use of advanced analytical equipment: UV‑Visible spectrophotometer, AAS, ICP‑MS, GC‑MS, GC‑FID, ion chromatograph.
• Proficiency with LIMS, chain‑of‑custody management and laboratory data validation.
• Ability to perform quality‑control checks, instrument maintenance and troubleshooting.