Winland Foods is seeking a full-time R&D Technician to join our team in Oak Brook, IL. This position primarily supports the SENSE (Sensory) program by coordinating sensory evaluations and maintaining all aspects of the lab (both physical and technological). Additionally, the R&D Technician will support product development activities, including creating samples on the benchtop & in the pilot plant, maintaining the lab, ingredients, and equipment. Candidates must have an interest in food & lab work; be detail-oriented, proactive, collaborative, willing to learn, and very comfortable with constant change of objectives and timelines. Candidates must not have any food allergies that would prevent them from tasting all types of foods & beverages.

Employee Type:

Part time

Location:

IL Oak Brook

Job Type:

Research and Development

Job Posting Title:

Research & Development Technician

Job Description:

Schedule: Mon- Fri

Work Location: 2015 Spring Road Suite 400, Oak Brook, IL 60523 

Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(K) with match, STL/LTD/AD&D/Life, HSA, FSA, EAP, Hospital indemnity, Accident insurance, Identity and Fraud Protection plan, Legal and Critical Illness.

Salary, based on experience and other qualifications: $35,000 to $60,000 annual with additional bonus potential.

General Responsibilities:

Meets with Sr. Principal Scientist (manager) to prioritize workProactively reports all errors/issues/concerns to Sr. Principal Scientist; assist in troubleshooting effortsMaintains a high degree of cleanliness and organization within the labsExercises customer-service and professionalism, balancing priorities to meet deadlinesFollows existing lab policies/protocols/procedures; and participates in writing new/updating current onesWears appropriate PPE (lab coat, gloves, hairnet) and follows all GMP guidelines while in the labsMaintains accurate, detailed and complete records of any data collectedCoordinates, collects, packs, and ships samples, products, and ingredients, as requestedAssists in maintaining and organizing storage areasParticipates in virtual meetings, as assignedSupports & interacts with customers, as needed, for onsite demonstrations/visitsPerforms other duties, as assigned, that impact and support Research & Development objectivesSENSE-Specific Responsibilities:Coordinates and executes internal sensory evaluations:  recruits respondents, prepares & serves samples (cook, prepare, portion), sets up data collection system (using iPads/computers and data collection software), monitors the test (including instructing respondents and answering questions), distributes incentivesWill be trained on (and expected to master) the internal data collection system and respondent database as well as troubleshoot issues with IT/supportSupports the Sr. Principal Scientist in growing the consumer database and takes ownership to ensure the database is always up-to-dateSupports the development Test Request and Benchmarking database systems using Microsoft Access, or other identified programsEnsure the lab is stocked:  cups/lids, utensils, test products, carriers, rinse agents, food/chemical referencesDevelops and executes a lab inspection & cleaning scheduleBuilds rapport with other functional areas to ensure Sensory functions efficiently, effectively, and safely. Take notes and attend tastings, as assignedProduct Development-Specific Responsibilities:Under supervision, conduct varied and routine tests on the benchtop and in the pilot plant, including assembling, disassembling, and cleaning equipment while following all proceduresMaintain appropriate inventories of commonly used ingredients and laboratory suppliesWork under supervision to develop customer R&D samples, as requestedOrganizes and labels ingredients with lot numbers and expiration dates

Qualifications and Requirements:

Bachelor's degree in Food Science/Engineering or related field required.No food allergies or sensitivitiesMust be willing to work with and taste all kinds of foods (e.g., pasta, mayonnaise, salad dressing)Must have excellent written and verbal communications skillsMust have the ability to manage multiple tasks on a deadline basisMust be proficient in using Microsoft Office products (e.g., Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access)Must have fundamental math skills, including percentages and conversionsMust have strong planning and organization skillsMust be able to maintain a clean, organized workspaceMust operate with a collaborative, customer service, and detail-oriented approachExperience working in cross-functional teamsAbility to effectively listen, communicate, and interface across several organizational levelsOn occasions where working from home, must have a space to concentrate on work and hold video conferencesAbility to travel once or twice per yearPreferred background working in a Sensory, Quality Control, or Food lab

EEO Statement:

Winland Foods seeks to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool, and as a global company we believe our success is enhanced by fostering equity and inclusion in the workplace. Therefore, Winland Foods is committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military or veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law.