Research And Development Technician

Research & Development Technician - Sous Vide Products

If you're passionate about food but are seeking something more stable than restaurant life, this is for you. At Colorado Premium, you’ll work under a former CIA Chef Instructor on developing and testing new products through prep, sensory analysis, data collection, and documentation. You'll work M–F, 9–5 in a professional environment with holidays off offering work-life balance. If you’ want a stable schedule and a career path in manufacturing R&D, you’ll feel at home here.

Colorado Premium is a meat processing company in Greeley, Colorado, producing value-added protein products for major retailers, restaurant chains, meal-delivery and food service customers. Our products include cut, portioned, marinated, ground and cooked proteins - for custom and private-label customers. We recently opened a new facility dedicated to sous vide, searing and par-frying capabilities, delivering consistent, high-quality products at scale working in collaboration with customers to meet evolving needs.

This position will work under the Research & Development group to execute strategic projects developing further processed meat items. Good kitchen skills and the ability to meet project timelines, follow and create documentation. Ensure key goals and objectives are achieved related to food quality, safety, and USDA compliance.

• Prepare customer samples & create formulas for cooked and raw products.
• Assess flavor, texture and tenderness profiles for new & existing products. Adapt new ingredients & technology. Modify existing products and develop new ones. Optimize specifications for current products. Collaborate with ingredient suppliers.
• Participate in shelf-life exercises & sensory evaluations. Arrange and review audits of raw and cooked products.
• Communicate with sales and customers regarding project timelines. Undertake long-term projects with other departments, e.g. improving efficiencies, product process and overall product control.
• Improve quality control procedures at CP, from the raw material stage through to the finished product, Communicate key learnings along the development path. Select raw materials from suppliers to meet customers’ expectations. Conduct yield testing based on raw materials, cutting and cooking yields and manufacturing costs to ensure profitable products.
• Cooperate with FSQA, operations, procurement, sales, marketing and distribution, and regulatory compliance. Develop repeatable processes for consistency and safety. Work with production to develop solutions for highest food quality and safety.

• Associates Degree or better in Culinary Arts, Food Science or equivalent relevant experience.
• Knowledge of meat and poultry processing, food manufacturing or product R&D, preferably in a value-added protein-related industry.
• Food Safety training. Proficient in MS Office Suite.
• Ability to solve a wide range of complex, multi-disciplinary problems.

• Experience conducting and/or participating in trained sensory panels along with maintaining shelf life documentation.
• Ability to be a self-starter, knowing how to utilize your internal and external resources to your benefit to get things done quickly, efficiently and multi task without compromising time on projects.
• Red meat quality grades and specification, and poultry attributes and specifications.

Job Type: Full-time, In person

Pay: $18.00 - $21.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

• 401(k) with matching
• Health savings account

This job description is a generalized summary of job duties and can be modified as determined as necessary by Colorado Premium. It is not a contract of employment. All employment is “at-will” an Employee or the Company may terminate employment at any time, with or without cause, and without advance notice, procedure, or formality.

Subject to plan rules, this position is eligible to participate in our health, prescription, dental vision, disability, accidental death & dismemberment, life insurance program, and 401(k) & Roth retirement savings plan with a company match. This position also participates in vacation and sick leave pay programs. The pay range for this position is $18.00 to $21.00 per hour, based on experience and qualifications.