2nd Shift Lab Technician at Great Lakes Cheese in La Crosse, Wisconsin

Job Description:

Job Overview

The Lab Technician monitors, daily, raw material and finished products.

In addition, the Technician will perform microbiological testing and maintain shelf-life program.

Job Responsibilities

• Record keeping and testing:
o Prepare 2 finger plates for testing employees hands for coliforms.
o Take freezer temperature and record in calibration book.
o Record incubator temps from incubator #1 and #2 in lab.
o Record room temperatures from 16 various locations throughout the plant.
o Enter data into deficiency data bank and send daily report out to suppliers and GLC personnel.
• Receive incoming cheese samples for administrative personnel and store them.
• Calibrate headspace analyzer and record results.
• Take pictures of defective cheese, line issues, damaged incoming freight, and plant issues for quality review.
• Co-ordinate defective cheese returns with GLC cheese procurement and dispersal.
• Assist with store and order samples, stock ice bricks and foam inserts; as well as handle shipping of product for sales.
• Do quality checks on packages from various lines.
• Conduct environmental swabbing of approximately 50 locations within the plant.
o Prepare documents from Silliker Labs for testing of environmental swabs, pack shipper and send UPS or FEDX.
o Plate coliform and yeast and mold for environmental and pre-op swabbing plug cheese.
• Complete waste inspection reports on garbage dumpster area.
• Calibrate 2 probe thermometers against a registered thermometer.
• Test air samples in 18 locations within the plant.
• Obtain samples in the McDonald's products for evaluation, measure, taste, collect data and report.
• Test for Salmonella in 10 locations within the plant, once a month, prepare document to silliker and send.
• Conduct comparative cheese testing.
• Calibrate electronic pipettor and record results.
• Maintain natamycin bottles and vials for customers' cheese.
• Test fines in shreds and product for draw.
• Handle the dispersion of test spheres to machine operators and order new ones through maintenance.
• Receive certificates of analysis for new business sample requests.
• Organize cheese cutting in the lab.
• Review all production paperwork and maintain all positive release documents.
• All GLC employees are expected to perform any assignment or job task according to the stated safety policies and procedures.
• All GLC employees are expected to produce and promote our products and services in a manner that exceeds the quality and value expectation of our customers and consumers by adhering to Good Manufacturing Practices, Policies and Procedures outlined in our Safe Quality Food Program.
• Other responsibilities as assigned by the manager.

Required Education and Experience

• Associate's degree in business or a technical field and/or 4 years of lab experience or more.
• In depth understanding of chemical and physical processes relating to cheese and packaging quality.
• Ability to make decisions based on standard practices.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks, troubleshoot and problem solve.
• SAP experience.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office.

Preferred Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in quality or food science or related field.

Working Conditions

• Ability to constantly stand/walk; bend/flex/extend neck; frequently grip/reach/lift/pull with L/R hands.

• Ability to frequently handle material from floor-to-waist, waist-to-shoulder and pushing/pulling/carrying.

• Hair nets, ear plugs/muffs, hardhats, and/or safety glasses may be required.

• Repetitive work in a fast-paced production environment with average temperature of 50-60 degrees F.

• Work is performed in a lab setting.

• Occasional exposure to industrial operations including: temperature extremes from approximately 35°F to 100°F; noise levels in excess of 85 dB; moisture and moving machinery.

EEOC & Disclaimer

Great Lakes Cheese is an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer

Nearest Major Market: La Crosse
Nearest Secondary Market: Winona