R&D Technician

Description

This opportunity may be your “golden ticket”!

While Willy Wonka’s World of Chocolate is not located in Wisconsin, Denali Ingredients is, and we make all those scrumptious goodies found in your favorite ice cream flavor. Each day, we make fudge and caramel swirls, cookie dough, brownies and more. We ship to business customers across the US and Canada, spreading deliciousness nationwide.

Denali is a growing ingredient supplier. We believe in fast-paced fun, continually developing new products for today’s dynamic consumer preferences. We stay well-connected to the industry we serve through our R&D, sales, and marketing efforts. Denali brings innovation forward to customers, and we collaboratively innovate with our customers for new custom products.

Summary

This role supports Denali’s vision to become the “go to” ingredient supplier for our customers for innovative products and solutions. Key responsibilities will include hands-on sample preparation, pilot lab equipment operation, sample packaging and shipping, and maintaining inventories of ingredients and packaging utilized within the R&D department. This position requires that a person be self-driven, have the ability to multi-task, be efficient in assigned work, and maintain information in an organized manner.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

This list of duties and responsibilities is not all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities as management may deem necessary.

• Prepare bench top samples that meet customer objectives.
• Operate pilot lab equipment and sample manufacture.
• Measure and record analytical results from samples prepared.
• Package and ship samples to internal and external customers with appropriate documentation.
• Prepare written reports on projects, as required.
• Record and keep documentation up to date for ingredients, finished goods, and packaging utilized within R&D. 
• Maintain inventory of ingredients and finished goods within R&D for use within the department.
• Follow Denali Best Practices when making samples. 
• Assist with scale-up of products to the pilot lab as well as production equipment.
• Keep lab and work area in a clean and organized manner.
• Other duties as required.

Requirements

A qualified individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Additionally, they must fulfill essential job functions in a consistent state of alertness and safe manner. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. 

Ensure Workplace Safety:  

Actively demonstrate and drive behaviors that result in zero accidents and injuries. Demonstrates that our employees are the most important asset under our care by making their safety the number one priority.   

Education & Experience

• Undergraduate degree with an emphasis in science is preferred.
• Experience working in a food lab is preferred. 
• 0-3 years of relevant experience

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Direct management of marketing staff; initially one direct report, with potential for growth.

Language and Other Skills

• Fluent in oral and written English.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize while maintaining attention to detail.
• Ability to work as a member of diverse, cross-functional teams.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as formulas, safety rules, production schedules, maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. 
• Abilities to work in Microsoft suite (Power Point, Excel, Word). 

Reasoning Ability

• Self-motivated, resourceful, creative, and teachable.
• Ability to multi-task and manage time. 

Mathematical Skills

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. 
• Ability to compute percent, density, ratio, and rate. 

Supervisory Responsibilities

No supervisory responsibilities.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, talk, and hear. The employee is required to sit and use hands to finger, handle, or touch objects, tools, or controls. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 55 pounds, carrying boxes, materials, and products. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The employee must be able to work with and around all major allergens (milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, and sesame), including sensory analysis. 

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Denali Ingredients is an equal opportunity employer that continues to build a culture of belonging through our commitment to attracting and retaining diverse talent from all backgrounds, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, gender identity, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We do not discriminate against any employee or applicant and believe in fairness and providing a level playing field for all. We foster a culture that thrives on diverse perspectives and contributions to ignite creativity and innovation to fuel our business and enhance the employee and customer experience.

Denali Ingredients is located in New Berlin, Wisconsin. We are customer-centric, fun and engaging. Beyond making ice cream treats tastier, Denali provides a fast-paced stimulating international environment, which will stretch your abilities and channel your talents. We also offer competitive compensation, industry-leading benefits, training, mentoring and growth opportunities. Join a team that makes the world a sweeter place!

The above statements reflect the general details necessary to describe the principal functions of the occupation described and shall not be construed as a detailed description of all the work requirements that may be inherent in the occupation.