Lab Tech 1st Shift - Clark, NJ

Kerry; Clark (NJ); On-site; USD 30,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Paid time off

401(k) plan

Employee Share Plan

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Kerry in Clark, NJ, is hiring for a role within its Taste Division, producing flavors and ingredients. The Clark facility has two buildings with distinct focuses. The North building has a fruitier smell to it, the teams in that building are producing natural flavorings and essential oils. The South building is the complete opposite, it will have savory and garlic smells because the team is producing seasonings for meat, chicken broth, and beef gravy.

160 Terminal Ave, Clark, NJ

Qualifications

• Associate degree plus 1 year in a GMP laboratory environment.
• Preferred bachelor’s degree in food science, chemistry or similar discipline.
• Ability to taste all products and work in a lab setting.

Responsibilities

• Perform sensory testing to evaluate raw materials and finished products.
• Prepare materials for laboratory sensory evaluation.
• Learn sensory, physical, chemical, or instrumental evaluation methods.
• Retrieve standards and generate worksheets.
• Maintain clean & safe lab equipment and environment.
• Perform GC, wet chemistry, IR, LAB colorimeter, SG, RI, and other testing as needed.
• Submit evaluation results to respective areas involved.
• Follow all quality, safety, and company protocols & procedures.
• Provide extensions for inventory products, including finished goods and raw materials.
• Benchtop compounding with recipe, BOMs, and batch adjustments.
• May perform other duties as required by the Department.

Skills

Sensory testing

Lab testing

Chemical analysis

GC testing

IR testing

Education

Associate degree + 1 year GMP lab

Bachelor’s in food science/chemistry (preferred)

Tools

GC

IR

LAB colorimeter

Job description

About Kerry

Kerry is the world's leading taste and nutrition company for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. Every day we partner with customers to create healthier, tastier and more sustainable products that are consumed by billions of people across the world. Our vision is to be our customers' most valued partner, creating a world of sustainable nutrition. A career with Kerry offers you an opportunity to shape the future of food while providing you opportunities to explore and grow in a truly global environment.

Requisition ID 66212

Position Type: (US) Full Time

Workplace Arrangement

About Kerry

Kerry is the world's leading taste and nutrition company for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. Every day we partner with customers to create healthier, tastier and more sustainable products that are consumed by billions of people across the world. Our vision is to be our customers' most valued partner, creating a world of sustainable nutrition. A career with Kerry offers you an opportunity to shape the future of food while providing you opportunities to explore and grow in a truly global environment.

About the role

Our Clark location is part of our Taste Division, producing flavors and ingredients. Our Clark facility is unique in the sense they have two buildings. The North building has a fruitier smell to it, the teams in that building are producing natural flavorings and essential oils. The South building is the complete opposite, it will have savory and garlic smells because the team is producing seasonings for meat, chicken broth, and beef gravy.

160 Terminal Ave, Clark, NJ

Pay Rate/Hourly Rate/shift differential $22 - $31/hr.

Shift/Working Hours 1st Shift Days – 7 am to 330 pm

Key responsibilities

• Perform visual, odor, and taste tests to become knowledgeable regarding raw materials and finished products.
• Prepare materials and products for laboratory sensory evaluation.
• Learn sensory, physical, chemical, or instrumental evaluation methods.
• Retrieve standards and generate worksheets.
• Maintain clean & safe lab equipment and environment.
• Perform GC, wet chemistry, IR, L.A.B colorimeter, SG, RI, OR, Particle size testing, and other instrumentation testing as needed.
• Submit evaluation results to respective areas involved.
• Follows all quality, safety, and company protocols & procedures.
• Provide extensions for inventory products, including finished goods and raw materials.
• Benchtop compounding with recipe, BOMs, and batch adjustments.
• May perform other duties as required by the Department.

Qualifications and skills

Physical Requirements

Must be able to taste all products with no dietary restrictions.

Must be able to be exposed to and smell a variety of flavor and fragrance products, essential oils, and raw materials.

Must be able to stand and work at a lab bench for long periods of time.

Must be able to operate lab testing equipment and interpret results.

Educational Requirements

Associate degree plus 1 years' experience in a GMP Laboratory environment. Preferred bachelor's degree in food science, chemistry or similar discipline.

Working Environment

Laboratory environment with some exposure to the production environment.

Compensation Data

The pay range for this position is $22.00 - $31.00 per hour. Kerry typically does not hire an individual at the top or near the top of the range, as we are a pay-for-performance company, and this range is set to continue to reward performance annually while in role. Compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. The specific compensation offered to a candidate within the above range may be influenced by a variety of factors including skills, qualifications, experience, and internal equity.

This job posting is anticipated to expire on 12-2026.

We may use artificial intelligence tools to support the review and assessment of applications and assist with scheduling interviews. We do not use AI to make decisions during the interview process. All candidate assessments and hiring decisions are made by our recruitment and leadership teams.

Kerry offers a competitive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, paid time off, a 401(k) plan with employee and company contribution opportunities, Employee Share Plan, Life, disability, and accident insurance, and tuition reimbursement.

• medical
• dental
• vision
• paid time off
• a 401(k) plan with employee and company contribution opportunities
• Employee Share Plan
• Life
• disability
• accident insurance
• tuition reimbursement

Kerry will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States for this opening. Any offer of employment is conditional upon the successful completion of a background investigation and drug screen.

Kerry is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.

Additional information can be found at Know Your Rights Workplace Discrimination is Illegal (dol.gov).