Lab Technician

Description

Lactalis US Yogurt is currently seeking candidates to join our Quality Team.

Lactalis Group, the world leader in dairy, is a family-owned business with more than 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals worldwide, committed to providing healthy and delicious dairy products that bring people together every day. At Lactalis, our core values of AMBITION, ENGAGEMENT, and SIMPLICITY are at the heart of everything we do.

If you're looking for a unique experience with a company that offers strong brands, professional expertise, and a dynamic work environment that cham
pions entrepreneurial spirit, hands-on responsibility, and real opportunity for career development, we want to hear from you!

At Lactalis US Yogurt, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace and we know that our candidates come from many different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. If you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job posting, we still encourage you to apply and share with us your STORY, your PASSION, and your EXPERTISE! You may be just the perfect candidate for this or other roles within our company.

From your PASSION to ours

Lactalis is seeking a proactive, detail-oriented Laboratory Technician for daily Quality Control (QC) lab operations. Reporting to the Lab Supervisor, this role ensures product safety and quality across raw materials, packaging, and finished goods while optimizing lab efficiency, maintaining compliance, and providing data-driven insights for continuous improvement.

From your EXPERTISE to ours

Key responsibilities for this position include:

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: all matters listed herein are considered to be essential job functions. There may be other job functions which are essential but are not listed below. Also, Commonwealth Dairy may revise this description at any time deemed necessary.

* Working in the QA laboratory and manufacturing plant of a fast-paced dairy manufacturing facility.

* Performs and documents testing of materials and finished products.

* Performs microbiological analysis of raw materials and finished products.

* Responsible for hold/release/rejection of in-process and finished goods.

* Performs physical and chemical analysis of raw materials and manufactured products.

* Verifies compliance and alerts QA Supervisor and/or Manager of any deviations from approved product specifications.

* Performs in plant weight checks, temperature checks, ingredient usage and distribution, finished product appearance, code date verification, pH testing and x-ray verification.

* Responsible for daily finished product evaluations.

* Performs sensory evaluation of raw material and finished products

* Performs environmental testing.

* Wears Company appropriate laboratory and safety gear as required.

* Performs related duties as assigned by QA Manager or Supervisor on duty.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

* Minimum of High School diploma, GED

* 3-6 months of related training and/or experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.

* Ability to perform mathematical calculations and analysis.

* Experience working in a "clean" environment, utilizing aseptic methodologies, and performing bacteriological culture and laboratory analyses a plus.

* Ability to understand and follow company policies, standards, and specifications.

* Ability to understand, operate, and interpret results derived through typical laboratory testing procedures.

* Communicate effectively and accurately, both verbally and in writing.

* Take direction and follow instructions accurately.

* Work well with peers and supervisors in team process.

* Proficient in Word and Excel and job-related software applications. Experience with SAP a plus.

* Must be able to routinely lift up to 25 lbs.

* Must work comfortably in variable temperature environments.

* Must be able to stand and walk for long periods of time.

* Must be able to stoop and reach on a regular basis.

* Must be comfortable working in multi-task, deadline, and customer driven work environment.

SQF REQUIREMENTS:

* Maintaining food safety and food quality through completing job tasks and maintaining the work area in a sanitary manner.

* Report food safety problems to personal with authority to initiate action.

* Ensure all programs are being upheld and documentation is current.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: High school diploma or GED. Previous laboratory experience a plus.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read and comprehend procedures, instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Must have the ability to write simple correspondence and complete manufacturing documentation completely. Ability to effectively present information to other employees.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

REASONING ABILITY: To apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several variables in standardized situations.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

* The employee must pass a company pre-employment background screening, physical and drug screen prior to commencing work.

* While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, use hands, and stretch and reach with hands and arms. The employee frequently is required to walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk, see, and hear. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, frequently push and/or move up to 100 pounds (on wheeled carts). Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision. Must have full range of body motion.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: Work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

* The employee will be required to use all personal protective equipment provided by the company in compliance with OSHA regulations.

MISCELLANEOUS:

* Must be able to work with others and independently.

* Must be able to handle multiple tasks effectively.

* Must be able to organize work.

* Must be able to maintain good relations with co-workers.

* Must maintain professional attitude.

* Must show courtesy to co-workers, customers, relatives of employees, and others with whom contact occurs.

* Any other duties assigned by management.

SAFETY: Obey all safety rules.

REMARKS: The above job description is intended to describe the duties of an employee in general terms and does not necessarily describe all his or her duties.

Lactalis is an equal employment opportunity employer. We will not discriminate against applicants with regard to any legally-recognized basis including, but not limited to: veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disabilities.