Food Technologist

OK Foods Inc.; Fort Smith (AR); On-site; USD 52,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

OK Foods Inc. seeks an R&D Food Technologist to apply scientific and engineering principles to research, develop, and maintain foods. You will conduct basic and new product research, developing improved methods for processing, production, and packaging.

The role involves enhancing flavor, color, texture, nutrition, and convenience, and coordinating with process engineers, flavor experts, and packaging and marketing specialists to resolve problems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in food science or related field; 2 years related experience and/or training.

Responsibilities

• Conducts basic research and new product development of foods.
• Develops new and improved methods and systems for food processing, production and packaging.
• Studies methods to improve food quality (flavor, color, texture, nutrition, convenience, composition).
• Develops food standards and tests in test kitchen; collaborates with process engineers, flavor experts, packaging and marketing teams.

Skills

Reading documents

Writing reports

Public speaking

Typing

Education

Bachelor's degree in food science or related field

Tools

Word

Excel

Job description

Summary

The R&D Food Technologist applies scientific and engineering principles in the research, development, and maintenance of foods.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Conducts basic research and new product research and development of foods.
• Develops new and improved methods and systems for food processing, production, and packaging.
• Studies methods to improve quality of foods, such as flavor, color, texture, nutritional value, convenience, or physical, chemical, and microbiological composition of foods.
• Develops food standards, tests new products in test kitchen and develops specific processing methods, and confers with process engineers, flavor experts, and packaging and marketing specialists to resolve problems.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

Bachelor's degree from four-year college or university; 2 years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Language Skills

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.

Mathematical Skills

Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

Must have a valid driver’s license and qualify for the company driving program

Computer Skills

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have extensive typing skills and knowledge of word processing and spreadsheet software; preferably Word and Excel. Other basic computer skills including knowledge of Windows software are also needed.

Additional Information

Employee must be available for office hours between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Some after-hours work and light traveling may also be required for this job.

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 accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear and taste and smell.

The employee is frequently required to sit. The employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; and use hands to finger, handle or feel. The employee is frequently required to stoop and kneel. The employee is frequently required to work near moving mechanical parts. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 70 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Work will be performed in an office, test kitchen, and production plant. Plant work may be frequently include working in a wet or humid condition (non-weather) and occasional exposure to freezer and cooler temperatures of 0 to 40 F. Employee may be regularly required to handle cleaning solutions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud. Note: Necessary safety equipment will be furnished.