Lab Technician - Florence, KY (USA)

Job Location: ​Florence​

Florence, KY USA

Company description

Ferrero is a family-owned company with a truly progressive and global outlook and iconic brands such as Nutella®, Tic Tac®, Ferrero Rocher®, Raffaello®, Kinder Bueno® and Kinder Surprise®. As the love for our brands continues to grow, so too does our global reach. Represented in more than 50 countries, with products sold in more than 170, the Ferrero Group is loved by generations around the world. The secret to our global success? 38,767  dedicated employees who celebrate care and quality to craft a business, careers and brands we are proud of. Join us, and you could be one of them.

Diversity Statement

Ferrero is committed to building a diverse and inclusive culture in which all employees feel welcomed and appreciated and have the same opportunities. We believe all of our people are equally talented in their own way. In nurturing the curiosity and natural abilities of our employees, we provide them, generation after generation, the means to succeed personally and professionally, enabling them to craft their journey at Ferrero. The diversity of our talents is what makes our work environment multicultural, innovative and highly rewarding.

About the Role:

This is an hourly, on-site day shift position.  The Laboratory Technician ensures that all requirements for the laboratory are aligned with Ferrero regional goals.  In addition, the Laboratory Technician will enforce and promote all company guidelines, policies and good manufacturing practices. 

Main Responsibilities:

• Ensures the inspection of the incoming materials, ingredients and packaging and guarantees all meet Quality specifications
• Responsible for Chemical, Physical, Sensorial and Packaging laboratory operation regarding Good Laboratory Practices including equipment monitoring and calibration
• Sample incoming raw materials and prep for internal and external testing
• Sample incoming packaging materials as needed 
• Maintain testing procedures and programs
• Conduct sensory sessions for semifinished and finished product 
• Maintain internal control protocols by record keeping, troubleshooting and escalating issues
• Perform chemical physical testing in the laboratory  
• Interpret chemical physical data generated both internally and by third party testing facilities.  Report data and trends and initiate appropriate followup actions.
• Troubleshoot all testing sampling abnormalities to ensure accurate results are reported.   Initiate investigations for corrective action as needed. 
• Investigate product holds for chemical, physical, or sensorial reasons and make recommendations for appropriate actions 
• Provide support to the facility to facilitate the implementation, maintenance and audit of good manufacturing practices (GMP)   
• Manage the raw material, packaging and finished product testing program.  Analyze results, report, and remedy any abnormalities.
• Actively support and participate in plant's Total Quality effort including Quality Policy and factory objectives
• Provide support to the plant's continuous improvement program.  Continuously strive to improve customers and supplier relationships.
• Participate as a key member of plant HACCP and Food Safety team  
• Responsible to have safe work instructions available for all positions/processes in accordance with SOPs, SOPPs and other documentation.   
• Assure any activities performed with an environmental impact are communicated and accomplished according to the environmental management system

Who we are looking for:

Requirements:

• Associates Degree or higher in Chemistry, Biology, Food Science, or other science based field of study with at least 1 year of progressive experience in a chemical laboratory environment
• Advanced knowledge of chemical/physical lab procedures
• Advanced knowledge/experience of sensorial procedures 
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail
• Change Mindset skills 
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint

Preferred:

• Knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices GMP and HARPC strongly preferred
• Food manufacturing experience highly preferred
• Microbiology experience 
• Experience with SAP ERP system 

How to be successful in the role and at Ferrero:

Consumers, quality and care are at the heart of everything we do. So, to be successful at Ferrero, you’ll need to be just as consumer and product centric as we are - dedicated to crafting brilliant results for consumers around the world.