Lab Tech

Job DetailsDescriptionAs employees of a farmer-owned cooperative, we come to work every day trying to honor the tireless effort and care these farming families put in every day, all day, 365 days a year. Our farmer-owners tend to think in generations, with some of our farms being run by the same families for over a century.

We carry this approach into our business, knowing that each and every one of us makes a difference in allowing these generational traditions to continue, taking pride in knowing that we nourish our friends, neighbors, nation, and even the world with healthy and delicious dairy products. Our products include milk, flavored milk, yogurt, dip, sour cream, cottage cheese, and ice cream mix marketed under the Upstate Farms®, Bison®, Milk for Life®, and Intense Milk® brands.

The Laboratory technician position is a member of the plants Quality team and will be responsible for Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Good Sanitation Practices (GSP), quality of conformity, and quality of services. They will participate as a member of the plants Quality and HACCP team and will represent the Quality department at the plant level. They will support quality programs that include FSMA, SQF, HACCP, ISO, Hold and Recall policies, Pathogen and Allergen testing programs. They will daily and weekly monitor plant quality.

QualificationsHigh School diploma or equivalentMust be a minimum of 18 years of ageAbility to think analyticallyAbility to communicate clearly, verbally and in writingAbility to work unsupervised and manage time effectivelyMust possess good math skillsGood human relations skills and ability to work well with others, and be a team memberGood computer skillsMust show enthusiasm, initiative, integrity and pride in workAbility to read, analyze and interpret technical procedures, SOPs and Government RegulationsPreferred QualificationsPrior experience in Dairy/Food manufacturingPrior laboratory experienceCollege degree in a science related fieldKnowledge of regulatory complianceEssential Duties And ResponsibilitiesDaily work list task including:

plating, lab analyses, record keeping and calibrationsDaily plant walk throughCompletion and review of laboratory paperworkGeneration of daily batch tickets for productionMaintain laboratory lab filesWork with production to ensure all quality samples are being saved for analysisDaily CIP titrationsMonitor vitamin program for accuracyEnforce GMP, SQF and Safety policiesCommunicate with Quality management about daily product evaluations and ensure results are documentedInform management of any out of specification products that may cause customer complaintsMaintain various monitoring programsReceive and conduct analysis on incoming ingredients and raw materialEnsure that Standard Operating Procedures are accurate and currentComply with employee relations policies and programsComply with all safety policiesUphold all rules pertaining to confidentialitySupport of Upstate Niagara commitment to Product Excellence The statements included in this position description reflect, in general, the duties and responsibilities of this position and are not to be interpreted as being all-inclusive.

Physical DemandsWhile performing the duties of this position, the employee is occasionally required to stand and reach with hands and arms, and also, climb or balance. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pound and occasionally lift and/or move up to 55 pounds. Specific vision abilities include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision and ability to adjust focusWork EnvironmentWhile performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and is occasionally exposed to moving parts and toxic chemicals. Noise level exposure is moderate to loud.

The employee is exposed to milk and egg allergens. Pay: $20-22/hr. The hourly rate as indicated in the CBA. The posted pay rate reflects just one component of our total rewards package. Other components of the total rewards package may include participation in group health and/or dental insurance, retirement plan, paid time away from work, and paid holidays. Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc. is committed to equal employment opportunity for all, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic.