Lab Technician

HOURLY WAGE: $30.70 per hour plus $2.00 per hour shift differential

Schedule

• Night Shift: 5:00 PM to 5:00 AM
• 2-2-3 Rotation (every other weekend)
• Weekends and overtime as needed

About the Role

In this role, you’ll be a key member of our Land O’Lakes, Inc. manufacturing team, ensuring the quality of our safe, wholesome finished products. You’ll gain skills and experience working with operations to ensure product integrity—from a microbiological and analytical standpoint—is protected and that our products conform to all standards within the LOL Quality Management Systems. Join our team to become part of a member-owned co-op that is Rooted In Tomorrow.

The Quality Lab Technician - Dairy Foods is responsible for accurately performing analytical and bacteriological testing on raw material, in-process material, and finished product in accordance with company policies and procedures. This role is part of our Dairy Food business, which creates dairy products that stand for real, simple goodness. We believe there’s power in every drop of milk our farmers produce, and by improving production and finding innovative uses for that milk, we add a little good to people’s lives.

Responsibilities

• Comply with all safety processes and insist on safety practices of self and others
• Show up on time, complete tasks by deadlines, and adapt to changes quickly
• Conduct quality control checks—including inspections, sampling, and chemical testing—across all manufacturing stages to guarantee adherence to regulatory guidelines, customer specifications, and strict tolerance standards
• Evaluate non-conforming results and initiate re-sampling, re-testing, and/or hold procedures
• Multi-task and keep up with production demands in a fast-paced environment
• Adaptable team player who takes direction well and collaborates effectively within small teams to achieve collective goals in a fast-paced, large facility
• Perform inspections of operations equipment, requiring regular walks through the facility
• Follow SOPs, written instructions, and procedures precisely

Requirements

• 18 years old or older
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
• Self-reliant and able to work accurately under limited supervision
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team
• Flexibility in work performed and schedule
• Ability to learn to operate all laboratory testing equipment/instruments: FT-IR, NIR, pH meter, Titrator, Centrifuge, VIS Spectrometer, etc.
• Knowledge of Microsoft 365
• Ability to perform inspections of operations equipment, including regular walking through the facility
• Knowledge of analytical techniques and procedures

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate degree or higher or comparable experience in dairy laboratory testing
• Previous work in a dairy laboratory, analytical laboratory, or food/beverage manufacturing industry
• Experience with microbiological and wet chemistry testing—including Mojonnier extraction, Kohman analysis, simple distillation, and pH testing—alongside familiarity with NIR and FTIR spectroscopy
• 1+ year of manufacturing work experience

Physical Requirements

• Spend 75% of the shift on your feet performing tests and inspections
• Frequent movements include walking, standing, bending/stooping, turning, twisting, pushing, pulling, raising arms, lifting, climbing, and other active movements
• Performing duties while wearing personal protective equipment
• Working across temperature zones that may include cold and/or hot environments for extended periods and may include work in dusty environments
• Ability to lift/carry up to 50 lbs

About Land O'Lakes, Inc.

Join us and be part of a Fortune 250, farmer- and member-owned cooperative that is reimagining the business of food. We have been named a Top Workplace by Indeed and LinkedIn and made the TIME 100 Most Influential Companies list. We provide a broad portfolio of benefits to keep you and your family at your best.