For nearly a century, The Jel Sert Company has focused on creating high-quality, high-value foods and beverages that help bring people together. In 2022 and 2024, Jel Sert was certified as a Great Place to Work! We are currently looking for a passionate and dedicated individual to join our team as a R & D Lab Technician. If you are looking for a Great Place to Work, with a work environment that encourages personal growth, responsibility, and a shared vision for creating incredible products that help create lasting memories, then Jel Sert wants you!

The R&D LAB TECHNICIAN is responsible for assisting in the day-to-day duties of lab maintenance, formulation preparation, and adjustments, process improvement, stability studies, sensory panels.

This position will require the employee to work overtime as needed. Overtime is scheduled based upon individual job responsibilities and the needs of the department.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES *other duties may be assigned.

• Benchtop formulation preparation/adjustments, lab maintenance, and equipment calibration as needed
• Conduct stability studies and sensory panels
• Internal sample requests to prepare for internal customers in order to conduct sensory panels
• Process improvement, plant trials, data entry of lab testing and sensory results for verifying
• Compile and analyze data from test and panels
• Communicates test results to formulation staff

QUALIFICATIONS

An individual must be able to perform each essential responsibility successfully. Listed below are duties representative of the knowledge, skills, and ability required.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of 2 years of experience within a lab environment, related to quality control and/or product development required
• Manufacturing experience within the food and beverage and/or pharmaceuticals industry is preferred.
• Knowledge of scientific methods, terminology, and good lab practice.
• Average Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook skills are required.
• Associates in Science preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Ability to gather and analyze data in order to compile information and prepare reports.
• Organized, detail-oriented, neat, and able to meet deadlines.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Self-starter who can work independently as well as in a team environment.
• Ability to function independently in a multi-task environment, as well as part of a team.
• Strong analytical thinker

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU - BENEFITS

• Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance
• 401(K ) & ROTH Plan with Company Match
• Life Insurance
• Supplemental Insurance
• Paid Time Off plus Paid Holidays
• Employee Assistance Program with a comprehensive emotional, financial, physical, and social well-being programs.
• Continuous learning opportunities through various platforms and resources.

PERKS OF WORKING AT JEL SERT!

• Training and Career Development Opportunities
• Referral Program
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Discounts on our Delicious Products
• Health Club Member Reimbursement
• Interactive Company Culture with Engagement Activities
• Employee Service Awards
• Company Philanthropy
• Close to the Police Station, Metra Station and West Chicago Park District

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Standing: Remaining upright on the feet, particularly for sustained periods of time.
• Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction
• Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.
• Lifting: Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position to position.
• Fingering: Picking, pinching, typing, or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with whole hand or arm as in handling.
• Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
• Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word.
• Hearing: perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction, and having the ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and making fine discriminations in sound.
• Repetitive Motions: Making substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.
• Kneeling: Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.
• Crouching: Bending the body downward and forward by bending the leg and spine.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs on an as-needed basis
• Ability to climb stairs in order to get to areas of the facility to perform job responsibilities.
• Pushing and pulling of carts on an as-needed basis.
• Ability to use senses; taste, touch, smell, and sight.
• Close visual acuity to perform activities: preparing and analyzing data and figures, viewing a computer terminal, reading, visual inspection of materials, operating laboratory devices, etc.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Mainly lab environment with some office and plant work. In the lab environment, one will work, from time to time, with hazardous chemicals with supplied safety equipment and is subject to atmospheric conditions such as dust.

FOOD SAFETY and QUALITY RESPONSIBILITIES

Follow applicable procedures and work instructions.

Back up Redundant.

IMPACT ON JEL SERT SUCCESS

This job assists with formulation preparation, plant operation process improvements, cost savings initiatives, and shelf life verification in order to ensure a quality finished product.