Lab Technician 2nd shift

Nichols Farms is one of the top processors and marketers of pistachios in the United States. For more than two decades, Nichols Farms has maintained superior quality and provided exceptional service to major retail and wholesale clients domestically and internationally.

Nichols Farms maintains a state-of-the-art processing facility at their corporate headquarters in Hanford, California, employing over 350 employees.

Join the Nichols Farms Team in their objective of continued growth. Nichols Farms is an employee-oriented company dedicated to training and growth of team members.

The Nichols Farms Mission and Vision supports a culture of striving for mutual success of our employees, suppliers and customers through operational excellence and educational development

POSITION SUMMARY :

The Lab Technician has responsibility over the Lab and production floor by providing quality support on systems and processes.

Testing will include aflatoxin testing and microbiological assays. Responsible for USDA accreditation maintenance, and PT participation programs.

Ensure compliance, product quality and food safety.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES :

• Conduct Salmonella and microbiological testing and communicate with other departments.
• Support Aflatoxin Program.
• Ensures HACCP and SQF requirements are being followed and take preventative and corrective action as needed.
• Follow laboratory SOP's
• Responsible for bacterial testing on product and contact surfaces.
• Communicate to shifts daily all testing related issues that impact products produced.
• Implement new and maintain current quality metrics and changes.
• Maintain quality training and communications to support quality processes and improvement efforts.
• Participate in Audits by both internal and third party. Ensure audit readiness.
• Manage Product Holds program by following up on issues and implement corrective actions.
• Oversee from lab / quality perspective new product runs process and implementation.
• Release product based on aflatoxin testing and finished goods testing.

JOB ATTRIBUTES :

• Leadership : Ability to lead and encourage team by inspiring and guiding toward goal achievement.
• Communication : Excellent verbal and written skills as well as ability to make presentations.
• Interpersonal : Ability to effectively build relationships with co-workers and outside colleagues.
• Detail-oriented : A ttention to detail, and ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks.
• Organized : Possessing the trait of being organized or following a systematic method of performing a task.
• People Development : Ability to work with a team.
• Continuous Improvement : Active participant in continuous improvement initiatives and goals. Seeks opportunities to improve self and processes.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE :

• BS Degree preferably in Biological Sciences, Food Science or related field preferred.
• Computer Proficiency in MS Office.
• Laboratory experience preferred.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS and WORK ENVIRONMENT

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.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, walk, stand for periods of time at work station, climb stairs, and reach with hands and arms.

The employee must frequently lift and / or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and / or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision and depth perception.

Ability to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as designated by the company. Primary work environment will be in an office setting.

Some work may include being inside the plant manufacturing environment which may include high levels of noise.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable Accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This job description is intended to provide guidelines for job expectations and the employee's ability to perform the position described.

It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate.

This document does not represent a contract of employment, and the Company reserves the right to change this job description and / or assign tasks for the employee to perform, as the Company may deem appropriate.

EOE / M / F / D / V