Laboratory Technician (Evening Shift)

Description
Owned by 250+ family farms, Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc. is a food and beverage company that has offered innovative, award-winning, high-quality dairy products since 1965. Our progressive cooperative’s success is based on a commitment to quality in everything we do that extends to every stage of operations, from our farms to the consumer. Our product offerings include milk, flavored milk, yogurt, dip, sour cream, cottage cheese, Italian cheese, and ice cream mix marketed under the Upstate Farms®, Bison®, Milk for Life®, and Intense Milk® brands.
The QC Laboratory Technician performs required testing in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's).
Duties And Responsibilities

• Sets up, adjusts and operates laboratory equipment and instruments including but not limited to Microscopes, IR Analyzes, pH meters.
• Perform sensory analysis on ingredients and finished products to ensure conformance to regulatory and customer quality requirements.
• Conducts tests to determine chemical/physical and microbiological characteristics for raw and finished products using established SOPs and regulatory guidelines.
• Performs calculations including: adjustments for standardizing Evaporated Milk tanks to meet the Regulatory Standard of Identity and product specifications, and final water additions for Batch Blend product tanks.
• Perform pre-operation audits of Production equipment with Production personnel after cleaning and prior to restarting production.
• Responsible for communicating any out of specification test results and/or other quality issues to appropriate Production and/or QA Management as necessary.
• Responsible for release of fluid product for loadout, batch blend, and/or packaging lines.
• Operates the truck scale to ensure accurate weights of incoming and outgoing fluid loads for payment.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Performs other related duties as required and assigned such as assist in training new technicians.
• Directs incoming tanker trucks to the appropriate receiving bay as required and notifies appropriate Production personnel.
• Provide administrative support during off hours such as answering incoming switchboard calls and security check in/check out of visitors/vendors.
• Generates Bill of Lading and Certificate of Analysis for outgoing bulk tanker loads.
• Record all test results on standardized forms, and complete data entry into appropriate systems.

Experience & Education Required

• Associates Degree in a Natural Science preferred.
• HS Diploma required.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience considered.

Knowledge & Skills Required

• Strong math skills.
• Demonstrated experience as a collaborative, contributing team member.
• Strong attention to quality and process detail.
• Strong computer aptitude.
• Must be proficient in multi-tasking and prioritizing.

Confidentiality
The QC Laboratory Technician is exposed on a daily basis to O-AT-KA and customer product specifications and information meant for internal use, such as ingredients, product loss, etc. that must remain confidential.
Management Responsibility
The QC Laboratory Technician is an individual contributor role that operates under the guidance and direction of the Laboratory Supervisor.
Work Environment

• Must be able to see, sit, stand, bend, and reach. Ability to operate general office equipment (computer, telephone, calculator, copier, etc.) and lift up to 35 lbs. is required.
• The QC Laboratory Technician performs duties both in an office and manufacturing environment with the majority of time spent in the QC Laboratory.
• Must adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP's) and wear appropriate PPE when in the Manufacturing Plant and exposed to loud noise, hot/cold temperatures, and wet floors.

The hours for this position is for an overnight shift (10pm-6:30am or 11pm-7:30am) with every other weekend off.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)