Food Safety and Quality Lab Technician - 12 Hour Shift - Buffalo, NY

OVERVIEW

The General Mills Buffalo Plant manufactures Flour and Cereal products for our North America Retail and North America Foodservice business segments. The flour products are targeted to a wide variety of customers within our North America Foodservice division. Our cereal products include a variety of sizes and packing configurations of Cheerios, Honey Nut, Apple Cinnamon and Very Berry Cheerios, Lucky Charms, Corn Chex and Honey Nut Chex. The plant has a long history in Buffalo and began as a flour mill in 1903. Today, the plant focuses on leading with safety, delivering strong performance and building a One Buffalo culture.

This position will provide day-to-day, on-line Food Safety and Quality support for the Buffalo plant, which will include analytical testing, sensory evaluation and communication and interpretation of Good Manufacturing Practices, HACCP and other Food Safety and Quality procedures.

To learn more about our Buffalo Plant and the surrounding community, click here!

SCHEDULE

Our Buffalo plant will have a 12-hour shift with a 2 on, 2 off, 3 on, 2 off, 2 on, 3 off schedule that will be from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM to start, then will move to the night shift within the next 6-12 months on a permanent basis. The schedule may vary during training and look for willingness to work overtime, alternative shifts, or during weekends or holidays, as needed to support the plant operations. This plant is running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Work Rotation Schedule Example:

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Complete analytical (chemical and physical) testing of ingredients, packaging and finished products
• Enter data into a computer-based information system
• Approve product against product specifications
• Troubleshoot out of specification product, handle hold orders and making sound risk decisions
• Partner with team leaders and operators to evaluate food safety and quality risks, influence appropriate decisions and support plant productivity
• Complete internal reference material (IRM) program activities and statistical process control (SPC) control charting and analysis
• Have intermediate knowledge of instrumentation and troubleshooting
• Complete start-up, changeover and bulk pack inspections and other sanitation accountabilities
• Lead shift sensory panel to ensure product is meeting all sensory requirements
• Make up chemical solutions and complete equipment calibrations
• Lead designated quality programs such as retain management, glass and brittle plastic, COA management, bulk pack formula auditing and packaging label verification

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum 1-2 years Quality Assurance/Control laboratory/analytical testing experience or related experience
• Strong problem-solving skills with a proactive approach to identifying and solving problems
• Good communication and influence skills
• Experience and desire to work in a team environment
• Strong statistical skills
• Basic computer skills
• Good organizational skills
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Willingness to learn new tasks and take on additional accountability to support the Food Safety & Quality (FSQ) function
• Schedule flexibility is required. Rotating weekend work, overtime, and off shift coverage is required

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Post-secondary education with emphasis in Food Science, Chemistry, Biology, Engineering, Quality Assurance or related technical discipline
• Relevant food or pharmaceutical manufacturing experience
• Understanding of risk assessment and regulatory requirements
• Familiarity of HPLC and auto titration instrumentation and techniques
• Results oriented
• Demonstrated leadership skills
• Knowledge of OSHA chemical safety requirements/hazardous materials training
• Basic understanding of continuous improvement processes
• Relevant work experience in an ISO environment

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

• Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. General Mills will not sponsor applicants for a U.S. work visa.
• Relocation support will not be offered to applicants within the United States.

We exist to make food the world loves. But we do more than that. Our company is a place that prioritizes being a force for good, a place to expand learning, explore new perspectives and reimagine new possibilities, every day. We look for people who want to bring their best - bold thinkers with big hearts who challenge one other and grow together. Because becoming the undisputed leader in food means surrounding ourselves with people who are hungry for what's next.

Salary Range

The salary range for this position is $41900.00 - $57800.00 / Annually. At General Mills we strive for each employee's pay at any point in their career to reflect their experiences performance and skills for their current role. The salary range for this role represents the numerous factors considered in the hiring decisions including, but not limited to, educations, skills, work experience, certifications, etc. As such, pay for the successful candidate(s) could fall anywhere within the stated range. Beyond base salary, General Mills offers a competitive Total Rewards package focusing on your overall well-being. We are proud to offer a foundation of health benefits, retirement and financial wellbeing, time off programs, wellbeing support and perks. Benefits may vary by role, country, region, union status, and other employment status factors. You may also be eligible to participate in an annual incentive program. An incentive award, if any, depends on various factors, including, individual and organizational performance.