Lab Assistant

SUMMARY:

Works with Food & Dietary Supplement Scientist to support the day-to-day functioning of the Food Laboratory.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Includes, but not limited to the responsibilities and tasks listed below. Other duties may be assigned as company business needs dictate.

• Receives, collects and tests samples of herbal and food raw materials used in production and/or new product development projects.
• Utilizes standard analytical and microbiological methods to assess tested materials quality. Submits samples for testing to third party laboratories if and when necessary.
• Performs occasional testing on finished food and dietary supplement products.
• Assists with maintaining laboratory documentation and archiving, managing reference materials and retained samples.
• Process vendor qualification documentation and submits the qualification packages to R&D Manager for approval.
• Follows Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) and current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP).
• Prepare food samples.
• Maintains equipment logs, cleans and manages glassware, and assists in keeping the lab clean and organized.
• Assists in other areas in the department as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

Bachelors or associate degree in a scientific discipline; or at least one year of experience in a laboratory and/or training; or equivalent combinations of education and experience. Must have basic computer and laboratory skills. Experience operating rotavapor, moisture balance, FTIR, and HPLC is a plus.


CHEMICAL SKILLS:

Must have the ability to use the scale and know how to prepare different concentrations of solutions and powders.


MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

Ability to work with algebraic and statistical formulas.

COMPUTER SKILLS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of basic computer skills.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Must have good communication skills. Ability to read, analyze and interpret common scientific literature and analytical SOPs. Ability to write laboratory reports and other documents. Ability to present information to company management and staff.


PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to sit. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Manual dexterity and good tactile perception are also necessary. The employee is occasionally required to evaluate materials by taste and smell. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and the ability to use analytical instruments requiring accurate focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions 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 exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles, toxic, caustic, or flammable chemicals, thermal heat sources and risk of electric shock. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Job may require travel by airplane, automobile or other public conveyance

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

Any and all are a plus.

Sunrider Manufacturing provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.