Quality and R&D Technician

At Prinova, our passion for food knows no bounds! With a rich history spanning over four decades in the food industry, we have established ourselves as a trusted global supplier and manufacturer of functional food ingredients, flavors, and aromas. With CUSTOMER FOCUS as our central core value, we put pride in our work to ensure the end user has a quality product.

Prinova has proudly received national acclaim as one of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® in 2023, a testament to our status as an exceptional employer. This prestigious award highlights our commitment to outstanding HR practices and appreciation for our employees. Guided by the renowned FISH® philosophy, we prioritize creating meaningful work interactions, fostering community engagement, and empowering professional growth, ensuring a remarkable and fulfilling experience for our team members.

Don’t miss the opportunity to join our esteemed organization, where exceptional HR practices and employee appreciation thrive. Apply today and unlock the potential for a rewarding and fulfilling career at Prinova!

Quality and R&D Technician
Department: Quality/Regulatory, Aromas
Location: South Plainfield, NJ
Type: Full-Time

Summary:
The Quality and R&D Technician is responsible for performing daily and assigned tasks for the Quality and R&D departments. This includes quality documentation activities, laboratory functions, compounding, and technical evaluation of raw material and finished products for the Aroma Chemical division.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned

• Abide by all food safety programs and be able to monitor area for food safety adherence.
• Abide by all required shipping regulations including HAZMAT: DOT, IATA, IMDG, and any other relevant shipping regulations for products. Will need to be HAZMAT certified or complete the training to become HAZMAT certified.
• Complete documentation requests and other general requests that involve the collection and assembly of information and related follow up.
• Coordinate with Purchasing and Sales with customer and supplier projects and promotions.
• Ensures compliance standards with food safety, food defense and food quality. (FDA, ILDPH, FSMA and BRC).
• Log samples into the FBSS system with all pertinent information and documentation.
• Maintain an organized lab area for sample preparation.
• Maintain US sample inventory. Ensure samples are inventoried and retained according to procedures.
• Measure, label, and prepare samples for shipment including all proper paperwork and requested documents per each request.
• Perform routine analyses based on USP, FCC and customer’s specification. This includes physical, analytical and sensory testing.
• Analytical instrumentation: GC, GC-MS, Colorimetry, polarimetry
• Prepare Certificates of Analysis on finished products and raw materials.
• Prepare shipping labels and issues method of shipment per customer request if different from FedEx.
• Responsible for direct communication with oversight from Purchasing and Sales with customers and suppliers to ensure requests are on track.
• Responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of the Analytical Lab and performing all required instrument calibration checks.
• Responsible for pulling samples for Quality and R&D testing, including shelf life extensions, retains samples, and general laboratory needs.
• Create and compound experimental lab samples based upon work orders and instructions, based upon direction provided by R&D, catalogs samples.
• Perform applicable testing on compounded blends and record results in the systems.
• Support the approval process and required testing on incoming lots of raw materials.
• Demonstrate awareness and initiative for supporting best practices and continuous improvement.
• Perform internal and maintain internal auditing programs and quality inspection paperwork and applicable sanitation swabbing procedures.

Qualifications:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Must be a strong professional who can effectively communicate, both written and verbal
• Have the ability to work successfully with coworkers and independently.
• Be able to multi task as needed.
• Be an active and creative problem solver. 
• Have the ability to adapt to a change in direction and priority in a sometimes fast paced environment. 
• Must be able to lift and move boxes up to 55 lbs.

Required Education and/or Experience:
Associates degree (A. A.) or equivalent from two year college or university in a scientific discipline with one or more years related experience and/or training. Bachelors degree (B.S.) or equivalent from a four year college or university in scientific discipline with zero years related experience and/or training.
Required Skills/Abilities:
 
Language Skills
Ability to read, understand and interpret regulatory information, industry standards, and International and Federal Food Regulations. The ability to format and create regulatory/quality documents where necessary.

Mathematical Skills
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. 

Reasoning Ability
Ability to make educated judgments on correctness, accuracy, and appropriateness of information. Must be able to organize, prioritize and make decisions.

Computer Skills
To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Database software; Inventory software; Spreadsheet software and Word Processing software. Must be comfortable collecting and interpreting data.

Safety Responsibilities
It is the responsibility of each employee to comply with occupational safety and health standards issued under OSHA and to follow all rules, regulations, and procedures established by the Company to ensure that their actions do not impact the health and safety of themselves or others.

Work Conditions & Physical Requirements:
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.

• Ability to lift up to 55 lbs.
• Work environment is normally in a laboratory setting. Must be able to make frequent rounds in a warehouse and production environments
• Ability to view a computer screen and type for extended hours
• Ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time
• Other physical requirements include moderate standing and occasional squatting, bending, and twisting
• Ability to stand for an extended periods of time
• Must be able to wear any required PPE such as scrubs, hair net, lab coat, and facemask
• Ability to work in a packaging area with a moderate powder substance in the air with or without a respirator
• Ability to work above shoulders
• Other physical requirements include frequent squatting, bending, twisting, and bi-lateral wrist movement
• Ability to work around a variety of different smells and aromas
• Ability to adjust work schedule as business needs require.
• The employee is at times exposed to dusty conditions.
• The employee is at times exposed to oils and liquids.
• The employee is at times exposed to high noise environments.

Quality/Safety Responsibilities: 
All Prinova employees are required to ensure compliance standards with food safety, food defense and food quality. (FDA, ILDPH, FSMA and BRC).

It is the responsibility of each employee to comply with occupational safety and health standards issued under OSHA and to follow all rules, regulations, and procedures established by the Company to ensure that their actions do not impact the health and safety of themselves or others.

The above description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of the duties and responsibilities for this position.Prinova reserves the right to change or assign other duties and responsibilities without notice.