Business Unit Overview 8th Avenue Food & Provisions is a growing organization made up of businesses that produce and sell quality products including pasta, peanut butter, granola, and fruit and nut trail mixes to retail, foodservice and ingredient customers. The company was formed in October 2018 through a combination of Post Holdings’ private brands businesses and is owned by Post Holdings and funds affiliated with Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P. (“THL”), a private equity firm. Responsibilities Dakota Grower’s started out as a grower-owned cooperative built by farmers in the early 1990s and today we are the third largest pasta manufacturer in North America. Our entrepreneurial spirit drives our innovative culture and passion to bring premium quality pasta to your table. At Dakota Growers, you will have the opportunity to work in a dynamic, challenging and inspiring environment in one of our state-of-the-art food manufacturing facilities. Our employees’ well-being comes first. That’s why we offer excellent wages and a comprehensive benefits package that includes paid vacation and holidays, healthcare, dental and vision insurance, short-/long-term disability, company-paid life insurance, 401(k) with up to 6% company match, and annual incentives. Position Summary: Our Lab Technician is a valuable role for our facility. This role is critical to ensuring we keep our food safe, and of the highest quality. To do this, the QA Technician performs food safety and product quality review on production and packaging processes, and evaluates all finished goods coming out of the production area. This role is a valuable partner to Operations that is responsible for effectively identifying and communicating food safety and quality problems to the involved departments. Duties and Responsibilities: · Gathers samples and analyzes finished product with respect to customer specifications and HACCP requirements. Identifies any non-conforming product and food safety issues, investigates problems, and recommends solutions · Conduct routine floor audits of production and packaging areas to confirm correct product shapes, specifications, storage, packaging, labeling, and coding · Completes multiple quality analysis tests. Communicates with operations staff regarding product quality and warehouse staff regarding approval details and lot coding · Ensures all codes are accurate and identical to that on the packaged product and meets customer’s specifications and profiles · Maintains accurate documentation of analyzed product, compiling all proper steps in logging, product storage and expiration monitoring to ensure top quality. Prepares marketing samples for shipment, making sure all information is properly labelled and carefully packed to avoid product damage · Responsible for the identification of food safety hazards and issues. Perform necessary inspections of incoming ingredients, outgoing finished goods, or returned finished goods. Work with department managers to proactively identify and implement solutions and/or modifications to current procedures and programs to ensure the continuing safety of the finished product · Measure product samples and report dies that are out of specification · Hold any product manufactured out of specification and communicate with all involved departments regarding disposition · Maintain and review retention samples for quality purposes · Partner with company leadership to proactively identify and execute on continuous improvement opportunities in the areas of: safety, food safety, quality, productivity, and sanitation · Other duties, as assigned Education and Experience Required: · Must have a high school diploma or GED equivalent from an accredited institution · Must be able to work weekends, holidays and overtime as needed · Must have experience with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint) Preferred Education, Experience, and Skills: · Bachelor’s Degree in food related field. (Food Science, Chemistry, Microbiology, Biochemistry, etc.) · Experience in quality assurance testing · Work experience with DGPC · Knowledge of DGPC products and procedures Physical Requirements: Qualified candidates must be able to perform the following physical job requirements, with or without reasonable accommodation: · Must be able to crouch, kneel, and stoop 3+ hours per shift · Must be able to reach above shoulders 3+ hours per shift · Must be able to bend, sit, stand, and walk 6+ hours per shift · Must be able to balance 8+ hours per shift · Must be able climb and work off ladder 3+ hours per shift · Must be able to work in dusty environment 8+ hours per shift · Must be able to work in high heat/humidity 6+ hours per shift · Must be able to push/pull for 6+ hours per shift · Must be able to perform simple grasping, fine manipulation and feel 8+ hours per shift · Must be able to lift/carry up to 50 pounds 3+ hours per shift · Must be able to lift/carry 11 pounds to 34 pounds 6+ hours per shift · Must be able to express or exchange ideas by means of spoken or written word and distinguish object or equipment visually · Must be able to work 12-hour shifts