Process Development and Laboratory Support Scientist

A: PURPOSE

 

The primary responsibility of this position is to act as the Corporate Thermal Process Authority, acting as the primary LACF regulatory and technical subject matter expert at the corporate level for BBF.  The position will require a solid understanding of the relationship between thermal processing activities and product development, quality assurance and operations (internal plants and co-packing); including but not limited to executing experimental testing that spans existing and future packaging formats such as cans, pouches, tubs, bowls, and other custom-made containers.  The position will also ensure facilities will operate in compliance with all applicable regulatory and company requirements, while supporting corporate marketing, procurement and/or co-packing, product, innovation and process improvement initiatives.  This position will also be responsible for providing managerial & technical support to company operated and key supplier analytical laboratories.

 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

 

This job description does not state or imply that the duties listed are the only duties and responsibilities assigned to this position.

 

Function as Corporate Thermal Process Authority:

 

On a regular basis, the duties of this position are those described below; namely, this position is responsible and will support all thermal processing activities at LACF production sites, including

 

• Manage and maintain all aspects of thermal processing for compliance with regulatory requirements; collaboratively and proactively keeps management and key team project members apprised of issues, risks, timing, and contingencies relevant to technical and business success
• Function as liaison between consultants, regulators, plants and corporate staff on thermal processing issues; working with consultants, plan and execute temperature distribution studies and heat penetration studies to confirm safe processes, or develop new processes
• Lead process optimization activities including experimental design and statistical evaluation; provide strategic engineering insights to process engineering and products development teams while conducting process deviation evaluation and mathematical modeling
• Conduct routine inspection of thermal processing activities and equipment to ensure compliance to safety, regulatory requirements and BBF Sterilization Standards; perform plant audit at internal plants and co-packers to ensure production standards comply with company and government standards
• Actively participate in and support sites during routine FDA inspections; review and develop thermal procedures and review HACCP plans annually; develop process metrics to anticipate potential problems and recognize existing problems that could affect product safety and quality
• Review and evaluate thermal process establishment documentation from co-packers for the purpose of assuring commercial sterility within industry, and regulatory standards, as well as corporate policy; review production records of co-packers to ensure that they comply with minimum safety requirements when necessary
• Facilitate implementation of corrective action responses to address thermal processing trends; support plant trial and commercialization process for R&D and plant initiatives; develop recommendations and lead plant improvement efforts and projects as appropriate
• Develop and participate in a retort operator training program; lead in-house training on basic thermal processing requirements, and retort operator’s certification program; develops technicians through coaching, technical competency improvement, and managerial effectiveness planning; advise product development, QS and manufacturing on thermal processing needs; train and supervise product development and pilot plant thermal processing personnel for safe operation of pilot retort.
• Provide posted thermal processes, based on thermal testing results, process authority’s reports, regulatory requirements, and corporate thermal process policy
• Keeps current with the literature in the field and leads the adoption of new techniques and technologies; research emerging and alternate thermal processing technologies and evaluate applicability to BBF business needs
• Provide expert thermal process knowledge and experience in conducting Corporate auditing for Bumble Bee owned-plants, co-packers, and loin suppliers, while actively participating as a fully qualified corporate Quality auditor.

 

Function as Technical/Managerial Support to Analytical Laboratories (BBF-owned and Loin Suppliers):

 

• Provide direction to BBF Analytical Laboratories and serve as Subject Matter Expert on cross functional projects related with analytical and double seam analysis
• Functions as a multi-department laboratory overseer to ensure consistency of laboratory procedures by developing, reviewing, and approving analytical laboratory procedures
• Direct the development, optimization, validation and transfer of analytical procedures for testing
• Review analytical procedures and laboratory instrumentation and sustain global uniformity of analytical methods across labs
• Manage reference standard programs; oversee production, certification, inventory and distribution of reference materials
• Contribute to remediation of deviations and investigations, implementation of corrective / preventive actions and change controls
• Enhance quality practices and optimize internal processes by contributing to the preparation, review and approval of standard procedures.
• Identify, review and organize analytical documents to support robust analytical method life-cycle management
• Authorship and/or review of documents for analytical method development, validation and transfer
• Demonstrate knowledge and experience in the interpretation and application of analytical best practices, well versed in analytical and characterization procedures

 

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/SKILLS REQUIRED

 

The Candidate should have strong business, technical, and mechanical knowledge and experience, preferred management skill, effective communication, leadership, decision making skills; strong analytical and planning & organizing skills; impact and convincing others, proactive cooperation; proven competence building capabilities, strong facilitation skills; self-motivated; excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

 

Education Qualification

Bachelor’s degree in Food Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Agricultural Engineering or Food Science.

 

Experience

• Minimum of 3-5 years of direct food industrial experience in thermal processing required (heat penetration, heat and temperature distribution testing and evaluation, process optimization and validation). The candidate must have a good knowledge in a variety of disciplines such as microbiology, engineering, mathematics, food technology, chemistry, metallurgy, physics, FDA & EU low acid and acidified food
• First-hand experience with government regulatory requirements in the processing of food including process filing with FDA. International experience is a plus, solid understanding of food manufacturing processes and food safety
• Hands-on experience in interpretation of engineering drawing and experimental design/statistical analysis skills; mathematical modeling in thermal processing, and programming skills
• Experienced in Calsoft and/or the other thermal processing development software as well as expertise in designing, implementing, analyzing and summarizing thermal processing related tests
• Ability to manage several projects simultaneously and may travel 25% of time or higher

 

Skills and Knowledge Required

• Strong engineering and hands-on skills
• Strong understanding of heat and mass transfer
• Understanding of thermal processing principles, process calculation, and microbial inactivation kinetics
• Experimental design, statistical data analysis and computer programming skills
• Demonstrated abilities to be creative and/or improvise
• Strong mathematical/process modeling capabilities
• Understanding of retorts, particularly water spray, steam, steam-air and hydrostatic retorts
• Ability to use Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Experimental design software, and understanding/interpreting engineering drawings
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, problem-solving, customer service and communication skills
• Self-motivated, flexible, and able to prioritize work and handle multiple assignments in a fast-paced environment, while maintaining a high level of scientific quality and compliance

 

Compensation and Benefits

 The health, satisfaction and security of our team members and their families are important to us and an important part of reaching our organization’s goals. We offer a total rewards package that includes valuable competitive compensation and benefit plans. These programs reflect our commitment to attracting and retaining top talent. The compensation for this role includes a base salary and eligibility for an annual bonus based on company performance. All incentive plans are subject to change.

 

The expected pay range for this role is $95,000 – $105,000 annually.

*The compensation will be commensurate with the level of knowledge, education, skills, and experience applicable to the position.

 

Our current benefits package, which is available to all full-time team members and their eligible dependents, includes:

• medical insurance
• dental insurance
• vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match
• HSA & FSA
• life insurance and disability insurance
• and other voluntary benefits

 

We also offer time-off benefits including:

• paid time-off
• sick-flex time
• 12 company paid holidays

Bumble Bee Seafoods is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex including sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request an accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career center as a result of your disability. To request an accommodation, contact a Bumble Bee Foods, LLC Human Resources Representative.