Process Technologist

Dairy Farmers of America•Town of Scott, WI

8h•Onsite

About The Position

Execute process related initiatives in support of manufacturing operations under the direction of onsite and offsite management. Drive the optimization, innovation, and commercialization of new and existing products and processes to support business and customer needs. Act as the central coordinator responsible for leading finalized product formulations from R&D through successful transition into production. Support regional manufacturing plants based on project priority and organizational demand. Provide technical expertise to cross functional teams supporting strategic capital initiatives and new or existing customer projects.

Requirements

Undergraduate degree in food science or related curriculum (or equivalent combination of experience and education)
3 to 6 years of dairy products manufacturing or related experience that includes training or experience with continuous improvement fundamentals
Certification and/or License may be required during course of employment (Better Process Cheese School)
Good understanding of food chemistry, microbiology and dairy processing
Good understanding of plant operations and manufacturing processes as related to job focus
Knowledge of and skill with Microsoft Office Suite and company computer systems
Knowledge of project management tools and techniques
Knowledge of laboratory methods and understanding of process and formulation on food safety
Able to effectively use laboratory and pilot plant scale equipment
Able to use systems or applications with which to improve various manufacturing processes
Able to effectively solve common problems and make decisions
Able to work in a team environment and independently with general supervision
Able to communicate and translate technical topics into easy to understand concepts
Able to prioritize, plan, and organize own work
Must be able to read, write and speak English

Responsibilities

Execute process improvement initiatives across new and existing products to drive cost savings, substitutions, in process changes, successful item startup, improved product quality, optimized formulations, yield improvement, and loss reduction
Collaborate with R&D scientists to support development and commercialization by evaluating production feasibility, understanding plant processes, and identifying potential risks during early development stages
Lead scale up activities for new products, line extensions, and process changes, including alternate lines, process modifications, and enhanced functional properties
Translate R&D handoffs into manufacturing execution by leading production scale ups, developing written scale up and startup instructions, and supporting operations during trials and startups
Assist with benchtop, pilot, and plant trials, including sample preparation, coordination, and shipment to support development, validation, and customer requirements
Complete, manage, and maintain technical product documentation, including specifications, production formulation records, mass balance verification, and implementation of formulations and production requirements within SAP related to strategic projects
Support asset evaluation, alternate asset utilization, and validation of new or modified equipment and processes during installation, commissioning, and ongoing operation
Maintain and continuously improve existing products and processes by validating secondary ingredient suppliers, identifying rework opportunities and acceptable usage levels, and validating alternate ingredients
Identify and implement continuous improvement opportunities related to cost reduction, yield enhancement, materials, data driven decision making, and effective use of systems and analytical tools
Communicate technical findings, project status, and recommendations through routine written and verbal updates, while supporting sample creation, product shipment activities, schedule flexibility, travel requirements, and adherence to safety rules and behaviors
Collaborate with the Quality Assurance department on best practices for testing and releasing product