Beverage Technologist III

PRIMARY POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

• In conjunction with Marketing, Sales, Quality Assurance and Operations, help identify, design and scale up new adult and children’s beverages from bench to manufacturing plant.
• Evaluate new ingredients and identify/qualify ingredient vendors for applications in new products.
• Using lab bench and pilot equipment (e.g. Microthermics), manufacture product samples for internal and external consumer tests.
• Monitor, redesign and improve existing juice drinks and alcohol products to optimize organoleptic properties.
• Work with Purchasing, Operations and current/new vendors to design and execute efforts to qualify alternate ingredient sources and reduce ingredient/finished product costs.
• Work with Marketing to identify line extensions for current items and assemble bench top prototypes for organizational and customer evaluation.
• Design and conduct sensory tests to support development efforts and shelf-life studies for new and existing products.
• Analyze competitive products’ ingredients, content claims, forms, sensory attributes, etc.
• Assemble ingredient statements and Nutrition Facts Panels to support label development for all products as required.
• Design and execute long term physical, vitamin and organoleptic stability studies, to support shelf-life assignment.
• In concert with Quality Assurance, assist with the company’s Kosher certification program and HACCP/food safety programs.
• Support Harvest Hill Quality Assurance and manufacturing plant efforts in our annual SQF and Organic certification programs.
• Collaborate with Operations to assure formulation Batch/Weigh Sheets are accurate, up to date and available to Production Staff.
• Assist Quality Assurance and Marketing to identify and resolve technically based consumer product complaints.
• Assemble or write product and ingredient specification documents.
• Aid Operations and Quality Assurance with deviations that occur during production.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

• The ideal candidate will have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in food science, Chemistry or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in food/beverage product development, alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages a plus.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally, through reports and presentations.
• Ability to work in a plant environment when operations or quality requests support.
• Ability to follow instructions, work independently and as part of a team to meet project goals.
• Must be able to analyze and prioritize multiple tasks to effectively manage workflow in a fast paced, dynamic work environment.
• Possess a strong work ethic using critical thinking and with great attention to detail.
• Possess a very active level of engagement and high integrity in the work environment.
• Must be comfortable working in a lab environment on a daily basis and maintaining lab equipment and stock supplies.
• Must be able to interact with production personnel, monitor, and assist in a plant environment during pilots and startups.
• Must be able to travel as needed to support pilots, startups, or attend training opportunities.