LAB TECHNICIAN- NIGHTS (D CREW)

$55,515 - $55,515/Yr

HP Hood - Winchester, VA

Full-time - Entry Level

Winchester, VA

Food Manufacturing

About the position

As a Lab Technician on the D Crew at HP Hood LLC, you will play a crucial role in ensuring the quality and safety of our food and beverage products. This position is designed for self-driven individuals who are eager to contribute to a high-impact team. You will be responsible for conducting laboratory testing in accordance with established standards, including PMO, Standard Methods for the Dairy Industry, and FDA 2400 methods requirements. Your work will involve pulling, logging, and running tests on finished products and processing samples, as well as auditing CIP chemical concentrations to ensure compliance with company specifications. In addition to testing, you will prepare media and other lab controls, operate autoclaves for sterilization, and assist in the preventive maintenance of lab equipment. You will also be involved in inoculating batch tanks with enzymes and vitamins, maintaining cleanliness in the lab, and participating in environmental testing around the plant. Your responsibilities will extend to verifying that plant equipment meets sanitation requirements before startup, ensuring that all tasks align with the food safety and quality standards of the company. At HP Hood, we value diversity and foster an inclusive work environment where every team member is respected and valued. Our culture emphasizes innovation, quality, results, integrity, community, and collaboration, which contributes to strong employee engagement and teamwork. We offer a competitive benefits package, including health, dental, and vision insurance, wellness programs, employee discounts, 401k matches, tuition reimbursement, and opportunities for ongoing development and advancement. This position also qualifies for our bonus program, making it an exciting opportunity for career growth.

Responsibilities

• Conduct laboratory testing to meet standards set up in PMO, Standard Methods for the Dairy Industry, and FDA 2400 methods requirements.
• Pull, log, and run tests on finished products and processing samples for all required tests.
• Audit CIP chemical concentrations and ensure compliance with company specifications.
• Prepare media and other lab controls, including pour plates and buffer water.
• Operate autoclave to sterilize plates and equipment, ensuring accurate sterility tests.
• Assist in lab equipment preventive maintenance, including cleaning and changing fluid standards.
• Inoculate batch tanks with enzymes and vitamins, recording usages on various logs.
• Perform daily cleanup and review of racking systems in incubators and coolers for shelf life testing.
• Participate in environmental testing, including swabbing, air plating, and water sampling.
• Verify that plant equipment meets sanitation requirements prior to startup.

Requirements

• BS/BA in a related science or equivalent job experience in a quality role within a food manufacturing plant.
• Experience in food manufacturing.
• Knowledge of food microbiology, chemistry, dairy standards, and CIP sanitation.

Nice-to-haves

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to adapt to changes in the work environment.
• Exhibits ability to learn and apply new skills.
• Ability to work effectively with team members to accomplish department and plant goals.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Wellness programs
• Employee discounts
• 401k matching
• Tuition reimbursement
• Ongoing development opportunities
• Advancement opportunities
• Bonus program