Food Technologist

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Job description

POSITION SUMMARY:

Reporting to R&D Manager, R&D Food Technologist is responsible for managing R&D projects with limited supervision, ensuring they meet the quality and financial objectives. In this role the Food Technologist will explore new ingredients and technologies adaptable to fresh produce and avocado products to deliver improved sensory, quality, cost or product performance in manufacturing. It will involve the identification, study, evaluation, testing, and implementation of new and improved ingredients, processes and methodologies to deliver improved functionality and product quality.

This position regularly interacts with Marketing, Quality, Operations/Production, Purchasing and Technical Services departments, and should confidently represent R&D in cross-functional meetings.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

* Assist R&D Manager(s) to develop new and renovate existing products
* Support product and ingredient specification creation, and updates
* Update internal and customer portals with accurate information
* Support factory trials to validate and qualify new ingredients, processes, and packaging design for salads and avocado products
* Prepare new sales samples for review by our customers and represent R&D in meetings when needed
* Participate in new innovation brainstorming and creative sessions to help build the innovation pipeline
* Organize and maintain the Product Development lab and work area, including control of current ingredient inventories, identification and control of new product development ingredients and responsibility for any outgoing and incoming samples
* Support development, testing, implementation and shelf life validation of new and improved salad/avocado products to improve product quality and sensory characteristics of products sold in USA & Canada

PRINCIPAL CONTACTS INTERNALLY/EXTERNALLY:

* Internal: R&D, Purchasing Manager, Marketing, Sales, Purchasing, QA, Regional Sales Managers, Operations, and Production Staff.
* External: Ingredient, packaging vendors/suppliers.

KNOWLEDGE and SKILL REQUIREMENTS:

* Basic knowledge of food science, chemistry, plant biology, food processing, packaging materials, packaging equipment
* Ability to work independently, handle a fast paced work environment with willingness to learn
* Ability to work within designed experiments and trial protocols
* Ability to problem-solve and deal with a variety of variables in situations where only limited standardization exists
* Proficient with all applications of Microsoft Office,
* Comfortable with data entry for internal/external databases
* Strong verbal and written communication skills
* Strong presentation skills and a team player with a "problem solving" attitude
* Ability to prioritize and meet deadlines within specified time constraints
* Self-motivated with passion for food science, product development and innovation

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: BS in Food Science / Agricultural Sciences / Plant Biology / Post Harvest Technology or equivalent. Any prior food science experience is a plus.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: English: proficient written and oral communicator; Spanish: not necessary but beneficial

PHYSICIAL DEMANDS: Ability to stand for long periods of time, ability to lift up to 30 lbs

WORKING CONDITIONS: Office, Lab, processing plant, and cooler (refrigerated temperatures) for moderate durations

TRAVEL: Up to 15% travel, sometimes independently

GENERAL:

"All other duties and responsibilities that are reasonably assigned from time to time by the employer or its designated representative.