Lab Technician II

Overview

Join Our Team as a Laboratory Technician at Darigold in Sunnyside. Darigold is seeking dedicated Laboratory Technicians to join our Sunnyside team. As a laboratory technician, you will report to the lab supervisor and play a crucial role in our lab's daily operations. Your responsibilities will ensure that all quality and food safety-related tasks are completed efficiently and accurately.

The Lab Technician is responsible for performance of department quality management system and programs to include analytical, chemical, and microbiological testing of ingredient, environment, in-process samples and finished product samples. The technician will support the facilities food safety plan and will perform CCP and preventive control verification tasks to ensure hazard control points have been satisfied.

• Quality Assurance:
  Perform routine laboratory duties, including testing for finished and in-process samples. Handle sampling, grading, product inspection, and troubleshooting
• Product Testing and Sampling:
  Aid in collection of samples and perform necessary testing, documentation, and manage out-of-specification notifications and retests. Transfer data into systems for product releases. Perform in-process sample collection and analysis for plant operations.
• Immediate Reporting:
  Notify the supervisor immediately if the product does not meet specifications. Communicate any out of spec results to QA Management & Plant Management and perform necessary duties to confirm or deny any of-specification product.
• Environmental Swabbing:
  Assist with maintaining environmental swabbing program, track and report results. Conduct environmental and investigative pathogen swabbing as required by program standards.
• Data Management:
  Accurately record and retain data from analyses. Identify trends in product testing data to identify opportunities and help perform root cause analysis for quality events.
• Equipment Calibration:
  Perform necessary PM and calibration duties. Run standards and calibrate equipment. Ensure testing methods meet established standards. Operate and maintain lab equipment (e.g. pH meters, scales, pipettors, incubators, and biosafety cabinets) and the laboratory overall. Stock culture media, buffers, and reagents as needed.
• Inventory: collect all raw and pasteurized samples for plant inventory via milk component testing and support standardization of products manufactured.
• Adherence to SOPs:
  Follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and Good Lab Practices (GLP).
• Data analysis:
  Accurately record data, maintain documentation, and prepare reports.
• Lab Support:
  Maintain and perform inventory for lab supplies and plant consumables. Maintain a clean and operational laboratory to support program and systems.
• Food Safety and Quality:
  Report food safety risks or quality issues immediately and hold at-risk products for review. Participate and support the plant’s quality improvement plan (QIP) to drive compliance and results.
• Follow safety protocols and ensure compliance with regulatory guidelines (e.g., FDA, ISO 17025).
• Training and Development:
  Assist in training new employees and developing LSOPs and OPLs. Aid in training and coaching operations on quality and food safety processes and procedures, laboratory equipment and troubleshooting issues with equipment. Assist in identifying and troubleshooting issues with samples and/or equipment. Support fellow lab techs and sanitation techs as needed. Aid in training and certification for lab technicians.
• FSQA Development:
  Lead projects as necessary to aid in strengthening the quality programs at the facility. Participate in developing and maintaining the food safety culture at the facility. Establish a culture of continuous improvement, striving for excellence in all aspects of laboratory operations.
• FSMS & QMS:
  Support and maintain the food safety and quality management system focused on proactive reporting and addressing issues before they become an incident or impact product. Perform verification tasks of facilities preventive controls, critical control points, and prerequisite programs to confirm compliance with regulation. Perform and maintain annual laboratory proficiency testing and verification of lab tasks.
• Additional Duties:
  Perform other duties as assigned by plant management.

• Good Lab Practices:
  Follow and demonstrate good lab practices.
• Advanced
  
  Certifications:
  
  Dairy science, food safety, food science, or laboratory techniques certifications.
• Attain and maintain WSDA approved licenses;
  Appendix N Certified Industry Analyst License & Plant Sampler License
• Regulatory Standards:
  Understanding of FDA, USDA, CODEX, and other relevant regulatory standards for dairy products. Have a basic understanding of the PMO and FSMA requirements.
• Attain and maintain HACCP, PCQI, and SQF certifications
• Computer
  
  Skills:
  
  Strong computer skills with proficiency in Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), database systems (LIMS, Oracle, Safety Chain,…