Job Title: Sample Lab Technician
Position Location: Salem, OR
Business Unit: Kerr Concentrates
 
Primary Function
The Sample Lab Technician is responsible for managing sample requests from Salesforce (SFDC). Samples requests must be processed, shipped, and archived in a timely fashion (5-7 business days). At times, the Sample Lab Technician may need to prioritize samples based on importance, in these instances the Sample Lab Technician should coordinate with the Technical Service Manager. In addition to administrating samples, the Sample Lab Technician is responsible for maintaining an inventory of samples and sample lab supplies.
 
Key Deliverables

• Prepare samples for shipping to customers and external laboratories including frequent, high priority co-ship and pre-ship samples.  Sample requests are submitted through Salesforce, email, and phone calls.
• Ensure proper labeling, packaging and shipping procedures are followed to meet customer and carrier requirements. Provide guidance to other departments as needed.
• Maintain files of shipped samples. These files include packing slips, tracking forms, CoAs, and similar product documents.
• Enter and maintain customer requirements for samples in Salesforce.
• Perform all job responsibilities in accordance with the company’s Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
• Sample drums and pails that are stored in the production facility. Follow all safety and quality procedures when working in the plant and lab environments.
• Maintain a clean and organized work area in the sample lab, walk-in freezer, warehouse, and sample rack in Kerr cooler.
• Supply product documentation (e.g. CoA, specification sheet, nutritional data sheet, etc.) with sample shipments.
• Maintain samples in inventory storage by replenishing low samples, removing excess samples, keeping samples organized, and providing feedback when excess samples are collected.
• Provide positive customer experience for all internal and external customers related to sample requests inquiries.
• Communicate with the Sales, Customer Service, Production, R&D, and Shipping departments to ensure all sample requests are completed on time.
• Delegate and supervise trainee support personnel as appropriate.
• Assist Technical Service and R&D with ad hoc requests as needed.
• Under the supervision of the Technical Service Manager create and maintain Sample Lab SOPs.

 
Knowledge, Skills, and Requirements:

• High school diploma or General Education Degree (GED). 1-year related experience and/or training is a plus.
• Effective in a high pace environment.
• Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos.
• Effectively present in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization. 
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
• Possess or have the ability to obtain a forklift certification.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions.
• Experience working in a fast-paced environment that requires multi-tasking and shifting priorities.
• Ability to coordinate and communicate effectively with all levels of the organizations and external customers.
• Mid-level computer skills with proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook. Salesforce experience a plus.

Desired behavior, personal attributes, (Success Drivers and Competencies):

• Push to continually drive personal and organizational results, take educated risks on business opportunities and benchmark external best practices to outperform the competition.
• Create a talent culture founded on a strong conviction that superior talent delivers superior results; scout to find the best people, drive performance, coach openly, and build strong teams globally.
• Regularly identify areas that can be improved and constructively propose new solutions that increase value and improve business performance; as well as explore multiple possibilities for taking on challenges, think “out of the box” to figure out best solution.
• Actively seek to improve knowledge of our customers, their markets and business to ensure plan delivery.
• Challenge the status quo and promote bold thinking in order to bring value.

 
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
 
 
Working Schedule: Monday – Friday (7 am – 3:30 pm)
Full Benefits
Work Environment: Laboratory and Industry Food Processing Facility
 
 
Interested parties can apply at the following link:
 
https://ingredion.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/IngredionCareers/job/Salem-OR/Sample-Lab-Technician_Req-14630
 

Department: MFG Management
Post End Date: 01/30/2021
Position Type: Employee
Position Reports To: Site Leader
Position Supervises: Plant Operations Resource Leader
Pay Level: 9-11
FLSA Status: Exempt
 
 
Position Summary:Supervise and control all planning, coordination and direction of production activities, ensuring maximum operating efficiency and product quality. Develop operations resource leaders to maintain and improve plant performance. Perform all jobs safely, efficiently and accurately to maintain and improve the performance of the entire plant in the areas of Safety, Quality, Reliability (SQR) and our Customer 1st strategy. Provide leadership that embodies our 7 Kroger Manufacturing High Performance Work System principles. Demonstrate the company’s core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion and safety.

Essential Job Functions:

• Maintain and communicate awareness of industry trends, including new developments in equipment, ingredients and customer needs
• Support and participate in the plant safety process
• Apply analysis and knowledge of plant processing and operations to develop and maintain department structure to satisfy production needs and objectives
• Advance recommendations on policies, procedures, techniques, facilities, production planning and all other matters related to effective plant and department operations
• Prepare production portion of operating budgets; implement and control approved budgets
• Communicate effectively with plant leadership to ensure efficient and timely policy implementation
• Communicate and coordinate responsibilities with all plant supervisory staff, including maintenance, sanitation, quality control and the plant office
• Maintain close contact with sales and marketing activity, keeping abreast of all sales and marketing activities that may affect production distribution
• Develop and implement methods for enabling all employees to achieve plant production goals
• Develop department managers and associates to the fullest extent of their ability, while maintaining positive engagement
• Follow established programs, policies and practices to produce safe, quality foods that meet regulatory and company requirements
• Support the development, implementation, maintenance, and ongoing improvement of the SQF 2000 Systems
• Accountable to the Kroger Manufacturing Food Safety and Quality Principles
• Supervise and coach direct reports in the performance of their duties; complete performance reviews and provide feedback to direct reports
• Must be able to perform the essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation

Minimum Position Qualifications/Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field supporting food manufacturing operations
• 7+ years of experience in manufacturing operations
• Proven leadership ability
• Thorough knowledge of plant operations and procedures
• Strong attention to detail, with a high degree of accuracy and precision
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Ability to comprehend complex oral and written instructions
• Must be highly organized and systematic in approach
• Essential math skills
• Functional knowledge of Microsoft Office

Desired Previous Job Experience/Education:

• Previous experience as superintendent or other mid-level management position in food manufacturing plant
• Working knowledge of Total Process Control (TPC) or lean manufacturing practices

 
 
Leadership Behaviors: Achieves Results through Teamwork, Coaches and Develops Others, Communicates Effectively and Candidly, Executes with Excellence, Leads Change and Innovation, Leads through Positive Influence, Provides Clear and Strategic Direction, Puts the Customer First. For more information on the Kroger Leadership Behavior model, click here.
 
 
Education Level: Bachelor's Desired
Required Travel: None
Required Certifications/Licenses: None
Regions: West
States: Idaho; Montana; Oregon; Washington
Keywords: Baking, Operations, Leadership, Manager, Production,
 
 
Send resumes to [email protected]

Quality Assurance & Food Safety Manager
 
Accountability Objective and Areas of Responsibility:
 
The Quality Assurance & Food Safety Manager (QA/FS Manager) is responsible for developing, implementing and maintaining all aspects of food safety, regulatory and quality assurance programs. This includes monitoring and ensuring compliance with USDA, FSMA, BRC, HACCP standards by all departments, and oversight of all Safe Food Quality Institute (SFQI) renewals and customer driven vendor audits.
 
The QA/FS Manager is responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining all aspects of the Crisis Management Program for company and other related facilities (as appropriate). This includes leading the Product Traceability Initiative (PTI) effort at the company facility, reviewing current procedures with regular spot checks, and continued exploration of the best PTI solutions (i.e., bar coding, software, hardware, cleaning frequencies). The QA/FS Manager is responsible to oversee and maintain the Trace Recall Program, leading the Mock Recall Team to ensure effective and timely recalls could be performed if required.
 
The QA/FS Manager is responsible for oversight of the Quality Control (QC) department, supervising the QC team, QA/FS Assistant, and all aspects of the company in-house laboratory. The QA/FS Director is responsible for ensuring that all tests are being performed in an accurate, safe and cost effective manner, and are comprehensively documented and recorded with a high level of accuracy
 
The QA&FS Manager is responsible for overseeing the Sanitation team to ensure that all production areas and equipment have adequate and appropriate SSOPs which are tested and confirmed to meet food safety requirements while mitigating product recall exposure.
 
Duties include but are not limited to the following:
• Maintain soft and hard copies of BRC, HACCP and Food Safety Program as required.
• Respond to all required Corrective Actions associated with audits in a timely manner. Review all corrective actions and responses with Chief Operations Officer (COO) and appropriate supervisor(s). Confirm that all corrective actions and training have been performed and documented.
• Track and trend customer complaints and specification deviations for necessary quality control issues or improvements. Participate in compliant investigations and complete CAR reports and follow-ups as requested by Sales Department.
• Conduct internal audits on an annual basis or as required.
• Maintain HACCP manager and internal auditor certifications.
• Update and maintain document control on SharePoint website.
• Oversight of all plant sanitation schedules to confirm adequate and appropriate cleaning frequencies/methods are planned for each area, equipment and/or building. Approve of frequency changes as required.
• Oversight of annual review of hard and soft copies of MSDS files including binders located inrequired areas.
• Review Receiving Department’s SOP’s annually to ensure compliance with FSMA regulations and, prior to harvest each year, train new personnel and vendors on cross-contamination and foreign material risks and preventative procedures.
• Perform supervisorial responsibilities for QC and Sanitation personnel as required.
• All other duties as assigned
 
Execution of Responsibilities Include:
 
• All job functions and responsibilities are to be performed with food and employee safety as the highest priority.
• Attaining excellent results on BRC, HACCP, Regulatory, Food Safety and Customer Audits.
• Command an knowledge of all lab methods and testing procedures. Overall improvement of department functions as seen necessary.
• Respond to mock or actual Trace Recalls with accurate/comprehensive information and within established timeframes.
• Mitigate any potential food or employee safety hazard. Communicate risk and liability of
potential recall exposure to management on a timely and routine basis.
• Effective time management of annual projects and responsibilities. Maintaining costs within established project and field/phase budgets.
• Represent an image consistent with Company  corporate philosophy.
The Quality Assurance & Food Safety Manager reports directly to the Chief Operations Officer (COO). All job functions shall be performed per Company Standard Operating Procedures and Employee Handbook. Any deviations shall be reported and approved by the supervisor.

 
Send resumes to [email protected] Attn: Bruno Lozano.