Research Assistant R&D Cocoa Science

Location: Hershey, PA (Technology Center)

Summary:

The successful candidate for this position will work with technical staff under close supervision of members of the Cocoa Science team to develop enabling food technologies. The individual will follow standard work methods or specific instructions required to support material characterization, prototype development, inventory management, test product production,  and pilot plant scale-up. The individual must also be competent with data entry, analysis, basic calculations, computer applications, and organoleptic evaluations.

The successful candidate will report to the group’s Sr. Manager and support multiple scientists.

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

• Project support: Operate standard experimental testing or processing equipment in the laboratory to prepare and package products, and record and tabulate data . Assist with pilot plant scale up testing by preparing ingredients, packaging materials, and processing equipment, assisting with the equipment operation, collecting and tabulating data, and post test cleanup.
• Project leadership: With minimal supervision, leads small projects or segments of larger projects. Manages timelines and deliverables, plans and executes experiments with autonomy, oversees temporary labor deliverables and coordination, manages communication of status and results to the team and supervisors.
• Lab maintenance: Responsible for organization, cleanliness and sanitation of team laboratory workspaces. Maintain inventory of ingredients and supplies. Maintain regulatory compliance through entry of ingredient/packaging information in the lot tracking database.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

• Excellent Organizational & Communication skills
• Highly adaptable to chaging business priorities
• Good mathematical skills
• Basic understanding of Good Manufacturing Practices
• Working knowledge of Word and Excel
• Comfortable operating lab and pilot plant equipment
• Capable of working in a team environment and independently in a flexible work environment with dynamic priorities
• Demonstrated ability of a basic working technical knowledge
• BA/BS degree in a technical field preferred (ex:  Food science,agriculture, Life-science or Biology).
• Experience in Food processing, commercial kitchen, quality or Food Analysis is preferred.

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