Technical Service Specialist - Oils and Shortenings Food

Stratas Foods LLC is the leading supplier of fats and oils to the Food service, Food Ingredients, and Retail Private Label markets in North America and a producer of quality bulk and packaged dressings, mayonnaise, and sauces. Founded in October 2008 as a 50/50 joint venture between ACH Food Companies (ACH) and Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), we operate manufacturing facilities in Dallas and Houston, TX;
Decatur and Quincy, IL;
Englewood, NJ;
Hillside, NJ;
Fresno, CA;
Nashville, TN; and Valdosta, GA. Corporate offices are located in Memphis, TN. We are committed to maintaining a progressive workplace by utilizing the ideas, skills, and talents of all employees and are building a team capable of meeting our business goals.

The Technical Service Specialist role exists to provide support to the Research, Development, and Innovation strategy of unlocking operations process expertise and customer confidence in both the production and application use of our shortening, margarine, and oils products.

• Leads or actively participates in advanced product development initiatives.
• Leads or actively participates in internal technical training sessions on critical attributes of shortening, margarines, and oils from a product quality and efficiency perspective as produced in one of our facilities.
• Assists customers in utilizing our products in the manufacture of their own products, providing onsite support to their product development and operations teams.
• Ensures all equipment is serviced and maintained via active leadership of the maintenance program.

• Provides proactive and reactive product development scale‑up support at the Stratas operational facilities.
• Participates in the development and execution of internal and external technical training sessions.
• Provides technical support as needed or assigned.
• Assists in troubleshooting and complaint resolution.

Supports cost‑saving and/or performance improvement projects as assigned.

Participates in periodic audits of competitive products to identify developmental gaps and product improvement opportunities.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Collaborates closely with onsite teams and participates in onsite meetings to drive departmental objectives.

BS in Food Engineering / Science or related field, or Associates and equivalent industry experience.

Minimum of 5 years in Product Development and/or Operations.

Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook.

• Technical Skills – strong mechanical aptitude, solid food science expertise, command of ingredients/functionality, basic knowledge of fats & oils chemistry and processing, experimental design.
• Judgment – decisive, exhibits sound and accurate judgment.
• Communication – displays good communication skills; verbal, active listening, and written.
• Problem Solving – proactive and creative approach to issues/roadblocks; develops realistic action plans with clearly identified risks and contingencies.

Occasionally required to stand and walk; occasionally lift or move up to 50 pounds; requires approximately 15–20% travel.

Regularly required to talk or hear; use hands and fingers, handle, feel, taste or smell; specific vision abilities required include close vision.

Ability to read, analyze and interpret complex documents; effectively respond to sensitive inquiries or complaints; deliver persuasive speeches and presentations on controversial or complex topics to top management, public groups, and/or board of directors; define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.

Medical, Dental, Vision.

The Employer will not disclose or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. Employees who have access to compensation information as part of…