Advanced Lab Technician

Darigold is seeking a dedicated Advanced Laboratory Technician to join our Sunnyside team. As a laboratory technician, you will report to the lab supervisor and play a crucial role in our lab's daily operations. Your responsibilities will ensure that all quality and food safety-related tasks are completed efficiently and accurately.

What You Will Do

The Advanced Lab Technician is responsible for performance of department quality management system & programs to include analytical, chemical, and microbiological testing of ingredient, environment, in-process samples and finished product samples. The technician will support the facilities food safety plan and will perform CCP and preventive control verification tasks to ensure hazard control points have been satisfied.

• Quality Assurance: Perform routine laboratory duties, including testing for finished and inprocess samples. Handle sampling, grading, product inspection, and troubleshooting

• Product Testing and Sampling: Aid in collection of samples and perform necessary testing, documentation, and manage out-of-specification notifications and retests. Transfer data into systems for product releases. Perform in-process sample collection and analysis for plant operations.
• Immediate Reporting: Notify the supervisor immediately if the product does not meet specifications. Communicate any out of spec results to QA Management & Plant Management and perform necessary duties to confirm or deny any of-specification product.

• Environmental Swabbing: Assist with maintaining environmental swabbing program, track and report results. Conduct environmental and investigative pathogen swabbing as required by program standards.

• Data Management: Accurately record and retain data from analyses. Identify trends in product testing data to identify opportunities and help perform root cause analysis for quality events.
• Equipment Calibration: Perform necessary PM & calibration duties. Run standards and calibrate equipment. Ensure testing methods meet established standards. Operate and maintain lab equipment (e.g. pH meters, scales, pipettors, incubators, and biosafety cabinets) and the laboratory overall. Focus on reliability and consistency of the entire testing process. Stock culture media, buffers, and reagents as needed.  

• Inventory: collect all raw and pasteurized samples for plant inventory via milk component testing and support standardization of products manufactured.

• Adherence to SOPs : Follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and Good Lab Practices (GLP).
• Data analysis: Accurately record data, maintain documentation, and prepare reports.

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• Lab Support: Maintain and perform inventory for lab supplies and plant consumables. Maintain a clean and operational laboratory to support program and systems.

• Food Safety and Quality: Report food safety risks or quality issues immediately and hold at-risk products for review.
• Participate and support the plant’s quality improvement plan (QIP) to drive compliance and results.

• Follow safety protocols and ensure compliance with regulatory guidelines (e.g., FDA, ISO 17025).

• Training and Development: Assist in training new employees and developing LSOPs and OPLs. Aid in training and coaching operations on quality and food safety processes and procedures, laboratory equipment and troubleshooting issues with equipment.
• Assist in identifying and troubleshooting issues with samples and/or equipment.
• Support fellow lab techs and sanitation techs as needed. Aid in training and certification for lab technicians.

• FSQA Development: Lead projects as necessary to aid in strengthen the quality programs at the facility. Participate in developing and maintaining the food safety culture at the facility. Establish a culture of continuous improvement, striving for excellence in all aspects of laboratory operations.

• FSMS & QMS: Support and maintain the food safety & quality management system focused on proactive reporting and addressing issues before they become an incident or impact product.
• Perform verification tasks of facilities preventive controls, critical control points, and prerequisite programs to confirm compliance with regulation.
• Perform and maintain annual laboratory proficiency testing and verification of lab tasks.

Additional Duties: Perform other duties as assigned by plant management

What You Bring:

• Good Lab Practices: Follow and demonstrate good lab practices.
• Advanced Certifications: Dairy science, food safety, food science, or laboratory techniques certifications.
• Attain and maintain WSDA approved licenses; Appendix N Certified Industry Analyst License & Plant Sampler License
• Regulatory Standards: Understanding of FDA, USDA, CODEX, and other relevant regulatory standards for dairy products. Have a basic understanding of the PMO and FSMA requirements.
• Attain and maintain HACCP, PCQI, and SQF certifications
• Computer Skills: Strong computer skills with proficiency in Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), database systems (LIMS, Oracle, SafetyChain, Smartsheets, etc.) and other relevant programs.
  • Ability to type at least 40 wpm.
• Independent and Team Work: Ability to work independently and in a team environment.
• Fast-Paced Environment: Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Attention to detail and high level of organizational skills.
• Analytical and Micro Testing: Ability to perform analytical and microbiological tests that produce results consistent with standards or duplicate testing by a recognized laboratory.
• Microbiology Knowledge: Intermediate understanding of food microbiology, serial dilutions, and familiarity with plating methods and different media preparation.
• Communication Skills: Strong communication skills to drive teamwork across multiple different departments (maintenance, utilities, production).
• Critical Thinking and Troubleshooting: Ability to use critical thinking and troubleshooting skills for issues in the work area to address non-conformances identified.
• High Aptitude for Critical Work: High aptitude for critical work and measurement, demonstrated by education, training, and 2+ years of laboratory experience.
• Self-Starter: Ability to work independently and be a self-starter.
• Task Prioritization: Capability to prioritize tasks to meet goals and ensure product quality. 

Nice to Haves 

• Experience with Specialized Equipment: Familiarity with advanced laboratory equipment such as FT-IR machines, chromatographs, and PCR machines
• Advanced Data Analysis: Proficiency in statistical software and data analysis tools to interpret complex data sets.
• Training and Mentorship: Experience in training, mentoring, and coaching staff in different departments across different departments.
• Continuous Improvement Mindset: Experience with Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies.

 Pay: $28.15 per hour

Benefits of Working at Darigold:

We understand that as an employee, benefits that support you and your family in and out of work are important. We’re proud to offer eligible positions a competitive total rewards package that includes:

Specific contract per location: 

• Health and Wellness benefits
• Paid vacation, sick and holidays
• Pension contribution
• Employee Assistance Program 
• Premium pay for off shifts (night, swing) and vacation relief (where applicable)

Our Commitment to Diversity:

Achieving our vision to Lead Dairy Forward requires cultivating and supporting a team with varying backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We are committed to providing a workplace based on mutual respect where all employees feel included and can bring their best and authentic selves to work every day. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and Affirmative Action Employer. We welcome all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, veteran status, disability, marital status, creed, religion, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. As a condition of employment applicants offered a role will be required to successfully pass our pre-employment background screen, receive a negative drug screen result & confirm eligibility to work in the U.S. We participate in E-Verify - please follow the links for details, English / Spanish & view our Right to Work Statement, English / Spanish.