Job Summary:

The Lab Technician will handle all aspects of the lab including chemical testing, bacteria testing and quality assurance to ensure the manufacture and packaging of high quality products.

Shift: Alternating 3 or 4 day work weeks. 12 hour shift beginning at 5:00pm EST.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

 Laboratory testing to meet standards set up in PMO, Standard Methods for the Dairy Industry and FDA 2400 methods requirements.

• Pulling, logging, and running finish product and processing samples for all test required on each product.
• Pull sample of incoming raw material and packaging to determine acceptability of loads from our suppliers.
• Audit CIP chemical concentrations and ensures compliance to company specifications.
• Must be able to prepare media and other lab controls. These would include but are not limited to pour plates, buffer water, etc.
• Operate autoclave to sterilize plates and equipment as needed while ensuring sterility test are accurate.
• Assist in lab equipment PMs such as cleaning the Micro Luminescence Systems weekly with caustic; drain and clean the autoclave bi-weekly; changing fluid standards and filters on the cryoscopy.
• Inoculating batch tanks with enzyme and vitamins and recording usages on the various logs.
• Responsible for the daily cleanup and review of racking systems in the incubators and cooler to set up for shelf life testing.
• Participate in environmental testing in and around plant that includes swabbing, air plating, water sampling, etc.
• Verifies that plant equipment meets sanitation requirements prior to start up.
• Various tasks involving the responsibility of the food safety and quality of company products.

Education and Experience:  

• Prior experience in food manufacturing.
• Knowledge of food microbiology, chemistry, dairy standards and CIP sanitation.
• Intermediate Computer Skill (i.e. Word, Excel, etc.)
• Ability to work well with people.
• Communication skills are a must.
• Multi-tasked Individual.
• Ability to work independently. 

 Physical Requirements:

•  Ability to move throughout all areas of the facility including but not limited to office, production, and warehouse environments. Including the outside perimeter of the building.
• Able to work at heights greater than 40 feet while operating a powered industrial truck.
• Able to wear all necessary personal protective equipment to perform job functions.
• Stand and/or sit continuously and perform job functions for a full shift with meal break.
• Physically able to stand, bend, stoop, kneel, reach, twist, lift, push, pull, climb, balance, crouch, handle and move items weighing up to 50 pounds without assistance and move objects exceeding 50 pounds with reasonable accommodations.
• Visual acuity corrected to perform job functions.