Laboratory Technician

Laboratory Technician Full Time Worker Salt Lake City, UT, US 1 Attachments Salary Range: $33.00 To $33.00 Annually COMPANY DESCRIPTION: With our pioneering organic dairy brands like Horizon Organic and Wallaby in North America, Horizon Organics Dairy has made healthy organic dairy choices for our wide range of consumers. At heart, we are creators, engaged in the making of a new kind of Food Company. We are unique in possessing both creativity and the scale not only to meet the world’s emerging needs, but to shape them, and help define the future of food. As we experience growth, and as our portfolio of products grows, we maintain a constant focus on our environmental and social responsibilities. We pursue reductions against waste, water usage and greenhouse gas emissions throughout our operations, focusing on our plants and our company owned farms. We are also champions for food security, lending our support to national hunger relief organizations and those that operate in our local communities. POSITION DESCRIPTION: Tests and inspects products at various stages of production process, maintain quality and food safety of products by performing the following duties. This position is directly reported to the Quality Supervisor . RESPONSIBILITIES: Helps maintain compliance to Food Safety, FSSC, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), FSMA, Regulations, Safety, and site procedures and policies. Conducts start-up inspections, regular inspections, and inspections after interventions. Complete turn packets for each turn on the fillers. Equipment inspections and swabbing. Verification of calibrations, lot code, peroxide spray, weight check, etc. Verify run rules are being followed. Verify GMP adherence in the plant Ensure chemicals are fully stocked and operable e.g. foot sanitizer solution Food safety violations are reported and corrected Maintains Good Laboratory Practices (GLP’s) and Good Documentation Practices (GDP’s) Selects products for testing at specified stages in the production process such as incoming ingredients, bulk, or finished product; and tests for a variety of qualities assuring compliance to specifications. Chemical testing Physical testing Microbiological testing Organoleptic testing Tests raw milk, cream, or rework. Reviews certificates of inspection/quality for compliance Sampling for release testing Additional sampling for investigations Records and evaluates test data, alerting Quality Assurance Manager/ Supervisor to any deviations from specifications. Enter analysis results into databases and analyze recorded information to determine if there are any trends. Place finished product on “HOLD” status when results fall outside of acceptable range, investigate potential causes, and propose solutions. Assist in disposition of hold products through resampling or providing sorting instructions to production. Prepares necessary reagents needed for laboratory functions. Maintain the laboratory in a clean, safe, and orderly manner daily. Maintains lab equipment and supplies including calibrations and checks as assigned. Assist with troubleshooting. pH, Epic, scale, thermometer, etc. Maintain, test, and organize retains for production. Perform required environmental tests to ensure hygiene standards are met. Behave in a professional and courteous manner treating everyone in the workplace with dignity and respect. Actively seek out and engage other plant employees to gain additional knowledge about the plant operations. Actively seek out and engage plant operators assigned to your shift and team to help improve their skills. Establish a reputation for being open and responsive to quality related questions and plant needs. Work as a team and make suggestions regarding continuous improvement ideas for the site. Ability to work as team and autonomously. Maintains records and documentation integrity. Other duties as assigned. Horizon Organic Benefits: Base Hourly Wage $33.00 401K with Company Match after 90 days Employee Assistance Program Short / Long Term Disability Employee Discount Program Preferred Candidate Qualifications: Education and Experience: Associates degree from a four-year college or university in Food Science or related area; two or more years related Quality experience. One year of relevant professional-level work experience may be substituted for one year of required education. Bachelor’s degree in Food Science or related area Highly preferred. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Basic computer skills and knowledge of word processing and spread sheet programs. Knowledgeable or ability to learn laboratory equipment commonly used in the food industry (examples, but not limited to pH meters, FT1, food scan, allergen testing, packaging, pipetting/ liquid handling, viscometers, etc.) Understanding of calibration programs of food testing equipment. Good oral and written communication skills. Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and work with abstract and concrete variables. Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical analysis. Ability to apply concepts such as fraction, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, and regulations. Ability to write routine reports and business correspondence. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from other work groups in a professional manner. Working Conditions Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential function of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; stoop; kneel; crouch or crawl; and taste or smell. The employee must regularly lift and / or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and / or move up to 25 pounds. and occasionally lift up to 50 pounds.Requires normal range of hearing and vision (including colors) to record, prepare and communicate appropriate reports and laboratory results. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works near moving mechanical parts and is regularly exposed to wet and / or humid conditions. The employee may be exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, and may be exposed to loud noises in the plant making wearing of PPE essential. The employee occasionally works in high, precarious places and is occasionally exposed to extreme cold, risk of electrical shock, and vibration. Disclaimer The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. Horizon Organic Dairy is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is our policy to give equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons without regard to race, color, creed, religion, gender, genetic testing information, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, military service, status as a disabled veteran or Vietnam-era veteran, disability or any other consideration made unlawful by state, federal or local law. All employment practices and personnel actions, including hiring, termination, job assignment, compensation, discipline, and access to benefits and training are made without regard to any status protected under applicable law. It is our policy to select the most qualified person for each position in the organization, whether that is a new hire, a transfer to another position, or a promotion. This policy applies to all persons involved in the operation of Horizon Organic Dairy, including, but not limited to, employees, vendors, customers and their employees, contract and temporary workers and anyone else on the Company’s property. Schedule: 2-2-3 Schedule Shift: Nights Shift 6:00 PM-6:30 AM (12-hour shift) #J-18808-Ljbffr