Lab Analyst

ofi North America (Olam Food Ingredients); Bayonne (NJ); On-site; USD 55,000 - 67,000; Full time

Job summary

ofi North America (Olam Food Ingredients) seeks a Lab Analyst in Bayonne, NJ to oversee the Quality Control laboratory. You will manage day‑to‑day QA activities, perform physical and chemical testing, and ensure regulatory compliance while collaborating with operations and product teams.

The role requires a biology/chemistry degree and 3 years of lab experience, with strong data management and communication skills in English; GMP knowledge is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, chemistry or related field required.
• Three years of lab experience required or five years if no degree.
• Proficiency in English; Spanish a plus; GMP knowledge expected.

Responsibilities

• Operate and maintain laboratory instruments for moisture, density and related analyses.
• Analyze results, ensure material specs are met, and document findings.
• Support food safety and quality with cross‑functional teams and ISO practices.
• Prepare samples for testing and manage data entry into databases.
• Maintain lab records and organize sample archives.

Skills

Analytical chemistry knowledge

Microbiology knowledge

Data entry skills

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, Chemistry, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office/Excel

Job description

Description
Job Description
Job Title: Lab Analyst
Location: Bayonne, NJ
Department: Quality Control
FLSA Status: Exempt
Safety Sensitive: Yes
We are a global leader in food & beverage ingredients.Pioneers at heart, we operate at the forefront of consumer trends to provide food & beverage manufacturers with products and ingredients that will delight their consumers. Making a positive impact on people and planet is all part of the delight. With a deep-rooted presence in the countries where our ingredients are grown, we are closer to farmers, enabling better quality, and more reliable, traceable and transparent supply. Supplying products and ingredients at scale is just the start. We add value through our unique, complementary portfolio of natural, delicious and nutritious products. With our fresh thinking, we help our customers unleash the sensory and functional attributes of cocoa, coffee, dairy, nuts and spices so they can create naturally good food & beverage products that meet consumer expectations. And whoever we’re with, whatever we’re doing, we alwaysmake it real.
Position Summary
Reporting to the Food Safety Supervisor, the Lab Analyst will oversee the day-to-day activities of Quality Assurance Laboratory and provides guidance to laboratory employees. This Lab is physical characteristics lab that works closely with operations and innovation doing physical analysis and managing chemical and micro analysis done by third party lab.
The ideal candidate will have familiarity with a lab environment and demonstrate analytical techniques all while maintaining an organized. They must be able to communicate effectively with all quality staff and management team.
Primary Responsibilities

• Responsible for the operation and maintenance of laboratory instruments such as the bulk density, moisture, and water activity machine
• Analyze incoming test results and determine whether material is within specification
• Aid in tasks related to quality and food safety to other departments such as Production Operations, Engineering, Customer Service, and/or Sales as requested
• Responsible for training and implementation of all practices and procedures associated with food safety, food security, and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Laboratory Standards.
• Maintain accurate documentation and records of all quality control activities, test results, and inspections according to regulatory requirements
• Conduct organoleptic or sensory evaluation tests to assess flavor, aroma, and overall quality of spices
• Implement and maintain an environmental monitoring program including testing water, air and food contact surfaces to ensure compliance with regulations

Additional Responsibilities Include

• Daily sample retrieval needed for regular inbound testing or sensory evaluation
• Generate and submit daily certificate of analysis to customers requiring them
• Prepare sample for submission to testing laboratory and entering all relevant data into databases
• Organize sample retains/archives and ensure general lab upkeep

Position Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, Chemistry, or related field is required.
• Three (3) years of relevant laboratory experience is required. Candidate may substitute five (5) years of experience in lieu of Bachelor’s degree.
• Ability to relay clear and concise instructions is required.
• Ability to speak, read, and write in English is required.
• Spanish speaking is a plus
• Thorough knowledge and technical proficiency in analytical chemistry, knowledge of microbiology, instruments and techniques
• Ability to properly lift samples weighing up to 50 pounds is required.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office/Excel is required.
• Experience in dataentry, research and computer programming (i.e. Word, Excel) skills is required.
• Knowledge and understanding of food regulation and good practice programs pertaining to a food processing plant Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs),food safety, almond specifications and grading, andlaboratory testing methodsis required.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

The pay for this role in the state of NJ ranges from $55,000 - $67,000 and is based on the position responsibilities and geographic location. Actual pay within this range may be determined based on candidate’s experience, qualifications and/or other determining factors.
Note: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee may perform other related duties as negotiated to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.
ofi provides equality of opportunity for all persons with respect to hiring without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation. All employment will be decided on the basis of qualifications, merit and business need. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us for support at:[email protected]
At ofi, we celebrate our diversity. Olam Americas Inc. is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.