Serves as the Golden State foods technical contact for GSF’s customers to help facilitate current projects and cultivate new product development projects.  Makes meaningful contributions to PD and company objectives by providing a level of technical competence and experience to support multiple projects.  Emphasis will be around innovation, effective development of new or renovation of existing specifications that yield sustained results (including formulation, procedures, and analytical testing requirements), and supporting technical investigations to meet GSF and Customer based standards.

• Independently provides bench, lab, and Pilot Plant related work activities to support the development of new products, product line extensions, duplications, product/process improvements, and cost improvements. Leads development of effective, repeatable specifications used at production scale and transitions the products to manufacturing sites. (50%) 
• Provides on-site and off-site support of scale-ups tests, first productions and quality assurance practices of the developed product through the commercialization process and identify areas for improvement to facilitate department operations. Can include Customers on-site support of productions. (25%) 
• Provides technical support to operations teams. (15%)
• Supports the Ingredient Specialist in vetting new/alternative materials and suppliers for raw materials in compliance with established quality assurance standards. (5%) 
• Maintains laboratory, including upkeep of equipment, stocking of supplies and general cleaning of work areas. (5%) 
• Performs other related and assigned duties as necessary.
• Up to 25% travel.

Performance Categories

• Productivity/quality standards:  test methodology, accuracy, and reliability
• Productivity/quality standards:  accuracy, timeliness, thoroughness
• Productivity/quality standards:  effective development of process and analytical specifications
• Domestic and international regulatory compliance
• Cost containment
• Teamwork within the department and across departments
• Project/assignment standards
• Customer satisfaction
• Safety standards and procedures:  food
• Safety standards and procedures:  laboratory equipment and procedures

Education and experience equivalent to:

Education/Certification:

Bachelor’s degree in food science, engineering, or related field of science from an accredited college or university

Experience:

• 3 to 5 years of food experience, with an understanding of food chemistry, food safety, and related regulations.
• Must have good written and oral communication skills
• Experience in interacting with customers a significant plus but not a requirement.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of (B/basic; J/journey; E/expert):

• Food processing equipment (B)
• Food testing concepts and techniques (J)
• Product development (J)
• Food safety concepts and techniques (E)
• HACCP programs and related food safety regulations and processes (J)
• International export and food regulations (B)
• Food chemistry (B)
• Food microbiology (B)
• Raw material/product interaction (B)
• PC word processing/spreadsheet software (B)

Skill and ability to:

• Read and interpret documents such as safety rules.
• Apply working knowledge of mathematical concepts and scientific weights and measures.  Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions to practical situations.
• Define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions. 
• Communicate and coordinate effectively with internal and external customers verbally and in writing
• Read and process written information with a high degree of accuracy
• Perform or understanding the concepts for a variety of food safety tests including water activity, viscosity, sodium analysis, pH, moisture and total solids analysis
• Work in a laboratory environment
• Work effectively in a general business environment, with focus on quality and customer service
• Act in accordance with GSF’s Values and Creed

Leadership/Management Responsibility

• Ability to lead through actions and provide technical direction to others (directly or indirectly)