R&D SPECIALIST I - 2ND SHIFT (SPARKS, NV)

Now Foods•Sparks, NV

11d•$60,100 - $62,000•Onsite

About The Position

This role is responsible for formulating and reformulating existing products to meet profitability objectives, company deadlines, and operating budgets. The specialist will provide technical troubleshooting to manufacturing to improve efficiencies, rectify product deviations, resolve quality problems, and address production difficulties. This position also involves coordinating and evaluating existing formulas for compliance with NOW specifications, inputting data into Oracle, and working with Pilot Plant equipment for product trials and troubleshooting. The specialist will complete and evaluate product approval packages, perform tests on raw materials, and review manufacturing processes for potential improvements in product quality. Adherence to standard operating procedures, change control, safety, and GMP requirements is essential.

Requirements

Bachelor’s of Science degree in Food Science; or minimum of two years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
Intermediate skill level with Microsoft Office required.
Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry.
Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
Regularly required to handle testing equipment, raw materials and finished product, tools, or controls and communicate in person and on the telephone.
Frequently required to taste or smell and ascend and/or descend stairs.
Occasionally required to move from place to place within the facility, to reach, ascend and/or descend, balance, or stoop.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, ability to adjust focus and color vision.
Regularly lift, move (in some cases drag items), slide, raise and/or place: Lift 25 lbs. at 33 inches, place 10 inches away and then return to original position.
Lift 35 lbs. at 70 inches, place at 33 inches and return to 70 inches.
Lift 40 lbs. at 33 inches, turn 90 degrees and place at 33 inches.
Lift 50 lb. boxes from 5 inches to 33 inches and return to 5 inches.
Lift 60 lbs. at 17 inches and place at 40 inches.
Lift 12 lbs. at 22 inches, turn 90 degrees and place at 33 inches.
Push and pull with force of up to 65 lbs. at 36 inch height.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with tableting and encapsulation preferred.
Food or pharmaceutical industry experience and experience with gluten-free products a plus.

Responsibilities

Formulates and/or re-formulates existing products with the simplest and most cost-effective formulations that can be manufactured efficiently based on the priorities of meeting profitability objectives, company deadlines, operating budget responsibilities, and company goals.
Supports manufacturing by providing technical troubleshooting in situations where corrective action is required to increase efficiencies, rectifies product deviations, resolves quality problems, and works out production difficulties.
Coordinates, develops and evaluates existing formulas to ensure that they are compliant with NOW specifications.
Inputs information into Oracle in the form of bill of materials, specifications, and manufacturing instructions.
Works directly with Pilot Plant equipment as needed for product trials, production troubleshooting, and other related activities assigned.
Completes and evaluates product approval packages for final review by appropriate managers.
Performs tests on new and existing raw materials in order to provide information needed to determine whether to accept or reject based on parameters set forth by manufacturing capabilities.
Reviews manufacturing processes, determining where improvements could be implemented in terms of product quality to contribute towards the success of the company.
Follows all company requirements related to standard operating procedures and change control procedures.
Complies with safety and GMP requirements.
Supports a culture of safe production and operations; follows all safety rules and procedures.
Actively participates in the safety program by: engaging in training activities to learn what constitutes a safety hazard; reporting safety concerns to the supervisor, submitting safety suggestions, and correcting or reporting to the appropriate people when an employee sees a workplace health or safety hazard, until it is resolved.
Assists with communicating safety information to new employees.
Fulfills responsibilities as outlined in the company safety management plan.