Product Safety Chemist (Part-Time)

Manufacturing & Operationsposted 3mo ago

WHO WE ARE

Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to a fair and just marketplace for all. CR is known for our rigorous testing and trusted ratings on thousands of products and services. We report extensively on consumer trends and challenges, and survey millions of people in the U.S. each year. We leverage our evidence-based approach to advocate for consumer rights, working with policymakers and companies to find solutions for safer products and fair practices.

Our mission starts with you. We offer medical benefits that start on your first day as a CR employee that include behavioral health coverage, family planning and a generous 401K match. Learn more about how CR advocates on behalf of our employees.

OVERVIEW

CR’s product and service testing center, located in Yonkers, NY is the largest nonprofit educational and consumer product testing center in the world. Our food and product safety tests are conducted here using state-of-the-art equipment that, when combined with data, allow us to provide expert advice to consumers on topics such as lead found in a popular blender or problems we found when testing a baby stroller.

As a Chemist/Toxicologist Senior Project Leader on our Product Safety team, you will report to the Product Safety Manager and focus on the analysis and interpretation of chemical contaminant data across consumer product categories to identify hazards and assess human health risks. The ideal candidate will translate complex scientific findings into clear, defensible guidance to ensure consumer safety.

This is a part-time, temporary position (20 hours per week) ending May 31, 2027, with the possibility of extension. Candidates must be able to work on-site at our Yonkers facility one day per week. Please note that visa sponsorship and relocation assistance are not available for this role.

How You'll Make An Impact

The high quality results you provide to our reporters and policy and mobilization teams help us drive change in the marketplace. On a daily basis, you will focus on:

Risk Assessment: Conduct rigorous evaluations of consumer products, including personal care products and household products, to identify chemical hazards and assess human health risks beyond baseline regulatory requirements.
Laboratory Liaison: Collaborate with external lab partners to establish testing protocols and detection limits for key contaminants such as heavy metals, PFAS, phthalates, VOCs, and bisphenols.
Technical Consultation: Provide expert guidance to internal stakeholders regarding chemical and allergen risks associated with both emerging and established product categories.
Data Interpretation: Synthesize and interpret laboratory findings to evaluate product compliance with safety benchmarks and identify potential consumer health hazards.

ABOUT YOU

You’ll Be Highly Rated If:

You have the education B.S. or higher in Chemistry, Toxicology, Chemical Engineering , or related field..
You have the experience. 5+ years in analytical chemistry, toxicology, risk assessment, or consumer product safety.
You know Instrumentation: Familiarity with ICP-MS, GC-MS, and LC-MS/MS.
You have working knowledge of PFAS, heavy metals, phthalates, and VOC toxicology.
You have regulatory knowledge, including FDA, EPA, CPSC, EU REACH, and Health Canada.
You are a strong communicator with the ability to translate complex findings for non-technical editorial.

You'll Be One of Our Top Picks If:

You have an advanced degree: MS or Ph.D preferred.
You have a background in consumer product safety, nonprofit testing, or risk assessment frameworks (HQ, HI, MoS).

FAIR PAY AND A JUST WORKPLACE

At Consumer Reports, we are committed to fair, transparent pay and we strive to provide competitive, market-informed compensation.The target salary range for this part-time position is $65K-$70K. It is anticipated that most qualified candidates will fall near the middle of this range. Compensation for the successful candidate will be informed by the candidate’s particular combination of knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience.

Consumer Reports has three locations: Yonkers, NY, Washington, DC and Colchester, CT. We are registered to do business in and can only hire from the following states and federal district: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Vermont, Virginia and Washington, DC.

Consumer Reports is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, related medical conditions or lactation), gender identity and expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service or veteran status, protected medical condition as defined by applicable state or local law, disability, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. Consumer Reports will provide you with any reasonable assistance or accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process.