Senior Lab Analyst - Afternoons/2nd shift

Job Description

What we offer

Starting pay at $30.24 per hour

Benefits begin 30 days after hire

Fully customizable medical plans (HRA, HSA, FSA), 5 different carrier choices + Prescription (Rx) card

Full suite of additional plans: vision, dental, life, disability, adoption/family planning reimbursement, childcare, parental leave

LiveWell lifestyle/well-being discount and rewards program (for example, $50 subsidy for fitness tracker)

401(k) matching + extra 3% freebie company contribution

Employee Perks include FREE Product & Swag

Business Resource Groups (BRGs)

Award-winning Ownerversity learning & development resource library

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for mental health support

Location

New Ulm, Minnesota – Home of VELVEETA and DELI DELUXE!

Work Schedule

Monday – Friday work week, 2nd shift, afternoons

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

The Senior Rotating Analyst is responsible for all finished product testing. Occasionally may also be responsible for blender testing, blender standardization, problem solving and in process testing. Works from brief verbal and complex written instructions and is expected to exercise individual judgment and resolve questions independently in a timely manner. When 1 to 2 lines are running, Analysts work alone – therefore they must exercise good judgment with all aspects of in process and finished product testing when issues arise. Rotating Analysts are expected to work between areas and help out when needed. Must have good written and oral communications skills. Work requires mathematical skills including fractions, decimals and knowledge of personal computers. Work is expected to meet the high standards of Kraft Heinz, AOAC and legal parameters. Must be able to perform sensitive adjustments of complex controls requiring skill in fine tuning of the process variables.

Job Responsibilities:

Regular Moisture/Finished Product Testing:

Performs five-hour vacuum moisture tests or NIR moisture test on every hourly sample for every product run daily. Responsible for all accurate recording of data and documenting out of standard results. Performs recheck testing on all samples out of standard and special samples. Calculates all results by use of personal computers and makes decisions accordingly. Performs moisture and fat tests on raw material cheese as requested by supervisor. Responsible for cleaning, labeling and preparation utensils and equipment. Responsible for cleaning and maintaining work area at all times. Responsible for performing pH tests on hourly samples, as specifications require. Accountable for all retests and monitoring of equipment. Responsible for performing extraneous tests as required on finished product and raw materials. Projects as requested by supervisors.

Fat Testing:

Performed tests, requires safety awareness at all times due to the chemicals being worked with. Safety eye wear, apron and gloves are mandatory in this area. Performs fat tests on samples as required by specifications. Performs fat tests on blender samples on an as needed basis. Responsible for all special fat testing required on natural cheese samples. Performs fat testing on ingredients and liquid loads as specifications require. Accountable for all data entry, calculating and recording of fat results. Accountable for any data that is out of standard and must be retested and/or special samples received. Responsible for knowledge of all fat testing procedures, techniques and methods as prescribed by Kraft Heinz, AOAC and legal standards.

Salt and Lactose Testing:

Preforms tests on samples as required by specifications. Accountable for all data entry, calculating and recording of all Salt and Lactose results. Accountable for any data that is out of standard and must be retested and /or special samples received. Responsible for knowledge of the procedures, techniques and methods as prescribed by Kraft Heinz, AOAC and legal standards. Responsible for all critical control point checks performed in areas. Responsible for cleaning and maintaining work area and equipment at all times.

Rapids Area:

When required, responsible for accurate testing of blend samples for moisture and fat on a timely basis. Methods used include NIR, vacuum oven and Roccal Method. Concise and quick decisions must be made based on these results. Responsible for solving blender errors/problems using G40 personal computer. Responsible for activating, adding and deleting liquid load data in the G40 for proper blender standardization. Responsible for maintaining and operating the G40 back up and special standardization programs on the personal computer. Prepares in process testing tools for each blender standardization. Maintains an ample supply of folded, numbered and weighed foils daily. Responsible for knowledge of all methods, techniques and procedures according to Kraft Heinz, AOAC and legal standards. Responsible for maintaining and cleaning work area at all times.

Hot Tests/In-Process Testing:

When required, performs in-process testing on certain blenders on a timely basis. Accountable for all decisions made for corrections at the cooker to adhere to 100% compliance for every product. Timely decision making skills are utilized. Utilizes various methods for testing including a vacuum oven and NIR units. Performs in process testing on wet mix and liquid loads. Responsible for additions and data reporting. Personal computers and mathematical skills are used to compute data. Utilizes a personal computer for computing calculations on all vacuum tests. Responsible for an in-process test on certain blenders of standardized product. Communicates correction/additions to the cook room cooks. Responsible for checking all corrections. Responsible for knowledge of proper methods, techniques and procedures according to Kraft Heinz, AOAC and legal standards. Accountable for maintaining and cleaning of work area at all times. Responsible for all critical control point checks performed in areas.

Responsibilities:

Work on programs and other requests. Record cooker steam out results and grade the steam out pads. Test standardized cream, cream whey and WPC as required by the specifications and record results. When needed, performs blender checks as required. Involves retesting blender samples for moisture and fat. Responsible for the salvage of blender, moisture, fat, NIR, naturals and raw material samples. Miscellaneous testing required on ingredients as to adhere to the specifications. Preparation of solutions for miscellaneous testing (pepsin, acid pH). Responsible for cleaning five-hour ovens centrifuge, grading room buckets, fat bottles, beakers, moisture pans and all other lab dishes and glassware. Prepares fat (Roccal) solution and fills acid bottles. Monitoring and cleaning of water bath and acid dispensers. Monitor the hazardous waste that is produced by some of the testing and dispose of it properly. Responsible for air exposures and swabs for start-up, qualifications and regular production. Responsible for entering COA results into SAP for incoming ingredients. Responsible for net content scale and weight verifications.

Maintenance:

Responsible for all thermometer checks in the Laboratory. (Primary, secondary and calibration thermometers) for start-up. Responsible for all balance and scale calibrations in Laboratory for start-up.

General Requirements:

Computer skills, operating knowledge of SAP, Quality Suites, Excel, demonstrated math skills (including decimals, fractions, divisions) and decision-making skills. Person must be willing to train in other areas of the Lab (Special Testing, Bacti, etc.) or take upgrading when offered.

Safety:

Follow all OSHA and safety procedures. Working with acids, heat and glassware are a safety hazard. Knowledge of proper treatment, response, and care and preventative measures required.

Equipment Operated:

Primarily responsible for the safe and efficient operation of NIR units, G40,