Micro Lab Technician ( Sunday-Thursday, 8Am-5Pm)

SIGN-ON BONUS!

This position is eligible for a $1,000 sign-on bonus.

Want to learn how to make juice? Lassonde Pappas & Co. is a US Leader in beverage manufacturing dedicated to our team members, customers and consumers satisfaction. We remain committed to our small-town roots and rural values. Hardworking and caring are qualities that make our teams special. Since 1942, we’ve been producing delicious products for our customers across the country!

To provide the best for our customers, we focus on building the best team by creating and advancing an inclusive environment amongst our diverse workforce. If you’re passionate about customer satisfaction, reliable, and committed to being and doing better, join us!

We value each of our employee’s total wellbeing. To support employees in all stages of their wellness journey, we have a robust benefits program including: medical, dental, and vision coverage options, growth and development potential, along with 401-K, Life & Disability Insurance, PTO, Tuition Reimbursement, Health Fairs, Gym Membership Discounts, and so much more!

Responsible for microbiological product testing, and environmental monitoring. Must be detail oriented with good PC and communication skills. Ability to work with data systems. Will follow all SQF, FDA and GMP, and GLP practices.

RESPONSIBILITIES (essential functions of the job)
Perform micro testing, visual inspections, and release activities to ensure finished goods, bulk, and raw materials manufactured meet product quality specifications. Supports laboratory operations, by providing backup testing to meet the business need. Able to operate and troubleshoot equipment in lab in the Lassonde North Carolina Facility.

Assist with plant wide environmental monitoring program.

Responsibilities include:

• Executes routine Laboratory work and microbial testing of finished goods, bulk, and raw materials for compliance to identified organisms of interest under FDA, SQF and other relevant regulatory authorities.
• Accurately maintains laboratory records and documents testing information and results in real time in compliance with procedures and regulations.
• Supports bulk and raw material sampling, testing, and release as needed. Additional testing includes: sensory, pH, viscosity, Brix, Acid.
• Reviews test data and performs release transaction in ERP system.
• Supports laboratory operations, by providing backup testing to meet the business need
• Back up assistance to perform inspections of production lines via quality inspections on finished goods
• Able to operate and troubleshoot equipment in lab
• Demonstrates ability to support production lines by answering quality related questions and ensuring that the department is meeting the required quality standards
• Prepares standards and specifications for processes, facilities, products, and tests.
• Performs the Micro Daily Management duties, routine calibrations and performs confirmation testing on all positive counts

• Monitor media and preparation to assure it is correctly prepared with no cross contamination or outdated products.
• Assist in all laboratory cleaning processes and communicates testing supplies inventory needs ensuring all necessary supplies are available to continue normal operation.
• Conduct standardized analytical tests on juice, drinks, waters, teas and concentrates, including pH, Titratable Acid (TA), vitamin C, °Brix, color, clarity, and turbidity, to ensure compliance with specifications; record results as applicable on QA/production paperwork.

• Use sensory analysis (flavor, odor, visual) to ensure that products meet specific characteristics
• Support product and package analysis on the Aseptic Line Identifies, and communicates issues regarding Laboratory matters.
• Ability to define and solve problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw conclusions.
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• Prepare daily, weekly and monthly controls – develop logs for tracking, trending & easy retrieval of information.
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• Actively participate in the Environmental Monitoring program for lab, processing areas

• Document and provide support for investigations pertaining to quality issues requiring resolution. Documentation includes: OOS, NCR, and Deviations

• Assist in sampling, placing items on QA hold physically &, electronically in QAD, evaluating and IDing holds for proper disposition.
• In coordination with the Quality Assurance and/or Production manager, discard or reject materials not meeting specifications or other requirements
• Assist in performing calibration and logging results all lab and floor instrumentation when requested.

• Provide additional QA presence in problem-solving and special project management (e.g., rework operations, downtime activities, etc)
• As part of QA presence in the aseptic processing area, make observations and corrections related to SQF, GMP, regulatory, quality, sanitation and employee safety concerns.
• Participate in employee training program.
• Follow safe work practices and is proactive in implementing safety and housekeeping improvements.
• All other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Minimum Required Qualification

• 1 to 3 years relevant microbiology experience
• Associate’s degree or Equivalent in microbiology, food science or related field (additional relevant years of experience may be considered in place of degree)
• Ability to learn analytical & lab related responsibilities
• Ability to work independently
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to direct, coach, and train others
• Computer literate
• Detail oriented and able to multi task
• Willingness to work outside normal business hours when requested.
• Three months manufacturing experience

Additional Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in the CPG industry or GMP environment

• Strong interpersonal and motivational skills

• Strong troubleshooting & problem solving skills
• Credibility and Integrity

• Ability to handle confidential information and communicate with all levels of management.

• Build and maintain professional relationships

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORKING CONDITIONS

This position requires sufficient physical ability to work in a typical office setting; driving a motor vehicle and occasionally working in the field.

FREQUENT: sitting, upward and downward flexion of neck; fine finger dexterity and light to moderate finger pressure to include extended periods of keyboard and mouse use, side-to-side turning of neck, walking, standing, bending and stooping, pushing/pulling, twisting at waist, moderate wrist torque to twist equipment knobs and dials.

OCCASIONAL: squatting, kneeling, reach above and at shoulder height, moderate grasp to manipulate reference books and manuals; lifting objects weighing up to 50lbs. from below waist to above shoulders and transporting distances up to 50 feet.

VISION: Ability to see in the normal visual range with or without correction.

HEARING: Ability to hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.

This job description is not intended to contain a comprehensive list of the responsibilities that are required to successfully perform in this position. Other duties as assigned are part of every job description. The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential job functions.

Lassonde Pappas & Co., Inc provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.