Technician II, Pet Pilot Lab

Headquartered in Lakeville, Minn., Post Consumer Brands, a business unit of Post Holdings, Inc., is dedicated to providing people and their pets with delicious food choices for every taste and budget. The company's portfolio includes beloved brands such as Honey Bunches of Oats™, PEBBLES™, Grape-Nuts™ and Malt-O-Meal™ cereal and Peter Pan™ peanut butter, as well as Rachael Ray® Nutrish™, Kibbles 'n Bits™ and 9Lives™ dog and cat food. Post also provides private label solutions to customers in pet food, cereal, nut butters and granola. As a company committed to high standards of quality and to our values, we are driven by one idea: To make lives better by making delicious food accessible for all. For more information about our brands, visit www.postconsumerbrands.com and follow us on LinkedIn or Facebook for the latest news.

Post Consumer Brands corporate headquarters in Lakeville, Minnesota, is about 20 miles south of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Lakeville has all the benefits of smaller town living with access to everything a large metropolitan area has to offer. Join more than 400 team members collaborating on the two-building campus to help put breakfast on the tables of millions of consumers in North America. 

Overview

 The purpose of this job is to assist in the development of new and improved pet food products and packages.  The individual is responsible for providing technical support and project work at POLAR, the pilot plant and plant environments as needed. Support, implement, and maintain food safety practices.  Will be responsible for completing job duties in a manner that supports all plant safety, food safety, quality, and environmental practices.

Responsibilities and Accountabilities

• Responsible for the maintenance and development of assigned products; manages projects to meet timelines and cost parameters that satisfy company requirements.
•  Participates in the development, scale-up and production of new and improved pet food products or treats. Operates pilot plant/laboratory equipment in a consistent and accurate manner according to approved methods. Understands and complies with all food safety and food manufacturing policies and procedures.
•  Conducts experimental designs under direct supervision. Compile, analyze and summarize data into report form.  Test summaries require an evaluation of results, generation of reports, graphs and statistical analysis including making recommendations.  Obtains and handles samples from production plant/equipment locations to analysis in a safe and sanitary manner consistent with the information required and compliant with GMP's
•  Supports and/or conducts plant tests, packaging projects or production trials under direct supervision. This includes, but is not limited to, ordering ingredients, preparation of samples, preparation of test formulas, packages and participation in plant-based trials or experiments. 
•  Obtains samples and technical information about products that includes but is not limited to, direct measurements of product or package attributes, processing or packaging measurements, production data or quality measures.
• Conducts studies in laboratory and production plant/equipment locations in a safe and sanitary manner.
• Conducts routine and non-routine laboratory evaluations of products (chemical, physical and sensory testing).
• Be available as a technical resource to other technical functions and to corporate departments, including but not limited to Quality Assurance, Manufacturing, Engineering, and Sales and Marketing.
• Maintains complete records of procedures followed, as well as observations and results obtained from product or package measures.
• All other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Critical Leadership Expectations: Put Safety First, Do Right, Win As One, Be Bold, Bring Joy, Act Like An
• Ability to work safely in and around food processing laboratory, pilot plant and plant equipment.
• Ability to work with a personal computer: word processing, spreadsheets, graphing and have demonstrated math/statistical computation skills.
• Ability to compile, analyze and present collected data in summary form as well as being capable of performing a variety of tests.
• Ability to effectively communicate, verbally and in writing to various stakeholders.
• Ability to thrive in a changing and fast-paced environment, managing multiple projects simultaneously. 

• Ability to lift 50 lbs
• Job location is in Lakeville MN. Up to 25% Travel may be required.  

Education:

Some post-secondary chemistry, biology, mathematics, statistics or food science or equivalent experience. Four-year degree in a technical field (e.g. chemistry, food science, engineering, biology) preferred.

Experience

• Two years’ experience in consumer products
• Understanding and experience in manufacturing processes, GMP’s, general food processing, or formulation, laboratory techniques, quality assurance
• Strong knowledge of continuous improvement tools and techniques
• Able to build relationships and inspire others

Salary : $27 - $37