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 work + Proactively reports all errors/issues/concerns to Sr. Principal Scientist; assist in troubleshooting efforts + Maintains a high degree of cleanliness and organization within the labs + Exercises customer-service and professionalism, balancing priorities to meet deadlines + Follows existing lab policies/protocols/procedures; and participates in writing new/updating current ones + Wears appropriate PPE (lab coat, gloves, hairnet) and follows all GMP guidelines while in the labs + Maintains accurate, detailed and complete records of any data collected + Coordinates, collects, packs, and ships samples, products, and ingredients, as requested + Assists in maintaining and organizing storage areas + Participates in virtual meetings, as assigned + Supports & interacts with customers, as needed, for onsite demonstrations/visits + Performs other duties, as assigned, that impact and support Research & Development objectives + SENSE-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 incentives + Will be trained on (and expected to master) the internal data collection system and respondent database as well as troubleshoot issues with IT/support + Supports the Sr. Principal Scientist in growing the consumer database and takes ownership to ensure the database is always up-to-date + Supports the development Test Request and Benchmarking database systems using Microsoft Access, or other identified programs + Ensure the lab is stocked: cups/lids, utensils, test products, carriers, rinse agents, food/chemical references + Develops and executes a lab inspection & cleaning schedule + Builds rapport with other functional areas to ensure Sensory functions efficiently, effectively, and safely. + Take notes and attend tastings, as assigned + Product 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 procedures + Maintain appropriate inventories of commonly used ingredients and laboratory supplies + Work under supervision to develop customer R&D samples, as requested + Organizes 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 sensitivities + Must be willing to work with and taste all kinds of foods (e.g., pasta, mayonnaise, salad dressing) + Must have excellent written and verbal communications skills + Must have the ability to manage multiple tasks on a deadline basis + Must be proficient in using Microsoft Office products (e.g., Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access) + Must have fundamental math skills, including percentages and conversions + Must have strong planning and organization skills + Must be able to maintain a clean, organized workspace + Must operate with a collaborative, customer service, and detail-oriented approach + Experience working in cross-functional teams + Ability to effectively listen, communicate, and interface across several organizational levels + On occasions where working from home, must have a space to concentrate on work and hold video conferences + Ability to travel once or twice per year + Preferred 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. Winland Foods is a leading private label food manufacturer of pasta, dry dinners, condiments, syrups, and more with nearly 3,000 employees operating out of 14 production facilities in US, Canada, and Italy. As a ‘newly’ established company, we are creating the building blocks for an innovative and agile organization that is purpose driven - delivering high quality food to our customers and communities. We foster an environment that encourages all employees to be heard, and values their contributions and ideas. By joining Winland Foods, you become a part of a new team that values passion, collaboration, and strives to prosper with our customers. To all recruitment agencies: Winland Foods does not accept unsolicited agency resumes/CVs. Please do not forward resumes/CVs to Winland Foods employees, or any company location(s). Winland Foods is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes/CVs.