Junior Product Developer Research and Development Technician

As a member of the R&D team this position supports company innovation projects, research initiatives, and the maintenance of existing products and by providing the technical support necessary to meet company objectives. Responsibilities include benchtop formula development support, assisting with new product commercialization and plant trial initiatives, developing and maintaining related specifications and regulatory information, the assessment of raw materials, and product sensory evaluations. Additionally, this position collaborates cross functionally with internal and external stakeholders including suppliers, marketing, sales, operations, and procurement. The following duties are typical for this position however; this person may not perform all the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND RESULTS

• Provide technical support for the development of new products and improvements to existing juices and beverages. 
• Assist with research and development projects through all stages of the process including test protocol development, execution, and data generation & interpretation. 
• Investigates methods to improve quality of existing products such as flavor, color, texture, nutritional value, convenience, or physical, chemical, and microbiological composition. 
• Develop and maintain finished product and ingredient specifications. 
• Support sensory evaluations on new and existing products. 
• Assist with customer complaints investigations due to product quality formulation or ingredient issues.
• Assists with new product and packaging commissioning and related life cycle studies.
• Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness and completes projects in timely manner.
• Follows policies and procedures and uses equipment and materials properly. 
• Observes safety and security procedures and reports potentially unsafe conditions.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, write and speak clearly and informatively, able to read and interpret technical information.
• Displays good interpersonal skills and is self-motivated and able to work with minimal direction. Strong attention to detail.
• Consistently at work and on time. Commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals.
• Possess the Skills and Knowledge, is able to meet the Physical Demands and perform in the work environment described in the Work Environment section below.

QUALIFICATIONS 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.

Education and/or experience

• Two years of experience in food production facilities.

Skills and Knowledge:

Language Skills

• Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos.
• Ability to write simple correspondence.
• Assist with maintenance of regulatory document database.
• Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization.

Time Management Skills

• Ability to manage one’s own time to ensure for timely project completion.

Mathematical Skills

• Proficiency with basic to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measurement, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

Flexibility

• Being open to change and willingness to try all available alternatives when developing new concepts or products.
• Ability to adapt to a fast-paced environment when priorities change.

Reasoning Ability

• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions.
• Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.

Computer Skills

• Intermediate Computer Skills
• Experience with MS Office Suite software (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Access).
• Ability to manage customer web-based application sites.

Innovation

• Creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas and solutions to work-related problems.

Teamwork

• Strong teamwork skills.
• Able to work well within the R&D team structure
• Ability to take and give constructive feedback in a positive manner.

BEHAVIORAL REQUIREMENTS

As part of a team-based work environment, must be able to demonstrate the following Job Competencies:

Job Competencies

• Team Orientation – Shows skill and ease at working in groups; works with others to achieve better results and forges close working relationships and alliances to get things done; is quick to cooperate versus expect others to bend to his/her wishes; supports joint ownership and shared recognition for results; recognizes advantages of group participation in planning and problem solving.
• Develops Technical Competence – Seeks to stay abreast of new developments in core competencies and learn enough about related fields to apply knowledge effectively in business; enjoys learning and is intellectually curious; has strong desire to continuously improve knowledge, skills, and abilities; sees learning and knowledge as keys to building skills and abilities essential to job and career success.
• Attention to Detail – Committed to exactness and precision in task completion; identifies, pays attention to, and works to understand details; thorough and consistent in following up at detail level; seeks to become expert in disciplines related to adopted career path to ensure quality and precision in work; takes pride in knowledge base and level of expertise.
• Takes Personal Responsibility in Individual Contributor Role – Demonstrates attitude and commitment to take personal responsibility for results, even when in team environment with no authority over others; will step up to fill gaps so results can be assured; avoids excuses as explanations or defending/justifying negative but preventable outcomes.
• Practical Intelligence – Absorbs new information quickly and is comfortable dealing with abstract concepts and relationships; relates new information to previously acquired knowledge to expand and refine frame of reference; enjoys learning and expanding breadth and depth of understanding on variety of subjects.
• Reliability/Dependability – Responds to internal customer needs, questions, and concerns in accurate and timely manner. Follows through on commitments, assignments, and tasks; is at work when scheduled; takes timely breaks/lunches; uses work time wisely.
• Safety Awareness – Demonstrates use of safe and proper work methods and follows established safety procedures. Reports and corrects working conditions that may increase risk factors for injury.
• Good Manufacturing Practices/Food Safety – Demonstrates Good Manufacturing Practices and proper Food Safety procedures when performing daily job functions. Correctly wears required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in designated areas. Recognizes areas for GMP and Food Safety procedure improvements and shares ideas with leadership.
• Respects Diversity – Respects the Company’s diverse workforce, and behaves in a manner that does not cause harm to others based on age, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or religious believes.
• Adaptability – Has ability to focus on the benefits of change and see it as positive; approaches change or newness in constructive, objective manner, views change as learning opportunity; able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.
• Positive Working Relationships – Listens to others without interrupting; keeps emotions under control; remains open to others’ ideas and tries new things; shares information and knowledge; demonstrates a high level of integrity and honesty.
• Focus – Maintains focus on tasks and does not stray from job assignments.

ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Regularly exposed to:

• Moving mechanical parts.

Frequently exposed to:

• Wet and/or humid conditions.
• Outside weather conditions.
• Extreme cold and frequent changes in temperature from going in and out of freezers.

Occasionally exposed to:

• High, precarious places.
• Fumes or airborne particles
• Toxic or Caustic Chemicals
• Vibration

The noise level in the work environment is usually loud, and hearing protection is required in all production areas of the facility.