R&D Laboratory Technician

Join Riverside Natural Foods Ltd., a Canadian-based, family-owned, and globally operating business, committed to leaving the world better than we found it. As a B-Corp certified, Triple-Bottom Line company, we proudly manufacture nutritious, 'better-for-you' snacks such as MadeGood and GOOD TO GO. We value teamwork, humility, respect, ownership, adaptability, grit, and fun.

We’re on an ambitious mission to double our business by 2030, and we need talented individuals like you to help us reach new heights. At Riverside, you’ll have the opportunity to chart your own path to success while contributing to ours. We believe anything worth doing is worth doing right, and our values will guide us through the rugged terrain – and yes, it will get rough. But that’s what makes the journey worthwhile.

So, lace up your boots and let’s tackle the climb together.

You can learn more about us at www.riversidenaturalfoods.com .

Position Summary/Objective:

The Lab Technician plays a key role in supporting Riverside’s R&D and Innovation teams through the management of laboratory operations, stability programs, sample preparation, and project support activities. This role helps ensure that technical teams can operate efficiently by maintaining organized workspaces, managing materials and equipment, executing shelf-life students and supporting product development activities.

The ideal candidate is highly organized, detail oriented, proactive, and hands-on. They are comfortable working independently, identifying opportunities for continuous improvement, and collaborating across teams to support technical activities.

Primary Responsibilities:

Demonstrate and uphold Riverside’s Core Values

Lab Operations and Organization:

Maintain an adequate stock of required ingredients and consumables using FIFO and traceability principles

Ensure cleanliness and tidiness of lab in conjunction with technical teams

Improve lab organization to improve efficiency of task spaces

Develop and lead initiative to encourage good lab practices amongst the technical teams e.g. auditing of lab, disposing of old materials, labelling, cleaning of storage areas

Organize and inventory products and ingredients in cupboards, freezers and other technical storage spaces

Maintain R&D lab equipment and tools, including scheduled calibrations, replacements, etc.

Collaborate with Health & Safety and Quality teams to maintain and implement laboratory person and food safety policies

Stability Testing:

Implementing shelf-life protocols per R&D procedures

Organize shelf-life sample storage and prepare samples for sensory evaluations

Conduct shelf-life tastings with R&D team

Support scientists in shelf-life report production

Act as SME for Compusense program

Benchtop Sample Production

Independently produce benchtop samples, package, and label according to R&D requirements

Follow required procedures to ship samples to customers

Administrative Support

Create and manage purchase orders, track invoices, and support procurement processes for R&D and Innovation teams.

Other duties as assigned

Reporting Relationships

The position reports to the Director, Technical Innovation

Education & Qualifications

1+ years of experience, preferably in food R&D, product development, sensory evaluation, laboratories, kitchens, or manufacturing environments.

Post-secondary certificate, diploma, or degree preferred, preferably in a science or science-adjacent discipline.

Experience in kitchens, laboratories, manufacturing environments an asset

Proficient with MS Office, MS Outlook, MS Excel, SharePoint.

Experience working in food R&D fields an asset, including sensory evaluation, product development, etc.

Skills & Abilities

Strong organizational skills and attention to detail

Strong interpersonal and communication skills

Proactive and self-motivated; able to see gaps and take OWNERSHIP to fill them without being asked

Demonstrated ADAPTABILITY and GRIT when faced with setbacks, rapid change and ambiguity

Desire for knowledge and personal skill development

Excellent time management and organizational skills; can function independently

Known as a TEAM player, who is skilled in collaboration and operates with RESPECT

Ability to sample Riverside brands’ products and ingredients or products of interest

Ability to lift and move ingredients, samples and equipment as required

Ability to travel regularly between Riverside manufacturing sites (Toronto/Vaughan area)

Job Scorecard:

Key Accountabilities

Responsibility

KPI/ Metric to Measure Success

Current Year Target

Maintain functional laboratory spaces

Lab audits – acceptable grade

80%

Run stability program testing

% shelf life studies on track

80%

Benchtop Sample Production

Administrative Support

% PO’s processed within SOP timelines

90%

Competencies for Success of the Role:

Key Riverside Leadership Competencies needed to be successful in this role:

Leadership Capabilities

Definition

FYI Competencies

Comments

Building Collaborative Relationships

Working with internal and external partners respectfully to build win-win relationships and foster opportunities for shared insights and success

Collaborates

Builds Networks

Resourcefulness

Self-motivated to reach out to others and start new relationships

Readily connects and engages with network at Riverside and externally to solve problems, fill gaps, get support, and return help

Delivers Results

Delivering results by creatively and effectively seeking the necessary resources, and using grit to tackle challenges faces along the way

Resilience

Manages Ambiguity

Views obstacles and failure as opportunities

Creative and resourceful to find solutions to situations where others may stumble

Reacts to change with positivity

Willing to take initiative

Key Riverside Functional Competencies needed to be successful in this role:

Functional Capabilities

Definition

Competencies

Comments

Project Management

Project management is the ability to effectively lead and coordinate cross-functional teams through the design, development, and implementation of projects. This includes defining project objectives, establishing timelines, managing resources, communicating essential information and ensuring adherence to Riverside's standards.

Communication

Documentation

Organization

Sensory Science

Sensory science is the scientific discipline of understanding and evaluating how consumers experience food through their senses. It involves the ability to design and conduct sensory tests, analyze sensory data and interpret consumer preferences/behaviour in order to inform product development and guide business decisions. A good understanding of sensory experimental design and statistical analysis is required to ensure robust recommendations are drawn from the data. The end goal is to drive consumer focused product development through critical interpretation of consumer and sensory data.

Sensory Evaluation

Data Collection

Statistical Analysis

Continuous Improvement

Continuous improvement is the proactive approach of consistently seeking to enhance products, processes and performance over time. It involves regularly assessing and refining R&D/Innovation activities, Riverside products and ways of working to reduce waste, increase efficiency, ensure quality and maximize the consumer experience.

Problem-solving

Learning

Reciprocating Feedback

Please note this role is an existing vacancy.

Salary Range

$45,000 — $60,000 CAD

At Riverside, we are committed to transparency and fairness in our compensation and job posting practices. The range above reflects the target compensation for the position at the time of posting. Exact compensation will be determined based on experience, skill set, education, and training, as well as other organizational needs