Research Development - Technician

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Conducts basic research and new product research and development of new product items both as bench samples and as production setting samples.
• Assists in developing new and improved methods and systems for food processing, production, quality control, packaging and distribution.
• Assists in improving quality of foods such as flavor, color, texture, nutritional value and convenience while sensitive to product costs.
• Assists both Production personnel and QA personnel with new product startups.
• Helps develop food standards and safety and sanitary regulations.
• Tests new & current products in test kitchen.
• Confers with Vice President of Technical Innovation and Culinary Development to resolve problems.
• Performs technical analysis of competitive products.
• Provides support to sales and marketing on product presentations and customer support.
• Performs other duties, as needed.

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Internet software;
Inventory software;
Manufacturing software;
Order processing systems;
Spreadsheet software and Microsoft Office Word Processing software.

Must have excellent communication skills and customer service skills.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear and taste or smell. Position requires use of the keyboard. The employee is occasionally required to sit. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to moving mechanical parts. The employee is exposed to extreme cold temperatures in the plant and freezer. The employee is frequently exposed to fumes or airborne particles. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.