Pilot Plant Technician

Imbibe; Niles (IL); On-site; USD 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision

401k with company match

FSA/HSA

Paid time off

Onsite gym

Paid parental leave

Life and disability insurance

Learning & development

Job summary

Imbibe, a dynamic food and beverage development company in Niles, IL, seeks a Hands-on Pilot Plant Technician to operate equipment and assist in product development for customer projects. You will work with Product Development and Flavorists to execute beverage and food formulations and support packaging and labeling processes.

The ideal candidate will be detail-oriented, a team player, and able to adapt quickly in a fast-paced lab and pilot plant environment, with comfort handling equipment and

Qualifications

• High school degree or GED required.
• Team player willing to support development and launch of new products on tight timelines.
• Ability to adapt to changing lab needs.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office including Outlook, Excel and Word.
• Able to lift and carry objects up to 50 lbs consistently.
• Able to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong attention to detail in observations.
• Active movement around the pilot plant, labs, and office.

Responsibilities

• Operate test plant equipment and assist in development work for beverage and food products.
• Partner with Product Development and Flavorists to produce customer projects.
• Take initiative and learn new processing technologies.
• Maintain stock of prepared packaging materials.
• Troubleshoot and repair damaged components promptly.
• Run beverage formulations through processing equipment.
• Ensure proper packaging and labeling of products.

Skills

Team player

Microsoft Office

Detail oriented

Adaptable

Education

High school degree or GED

Tools

Forklift

Unit operations equipment

Job description

About Imbibe

Imbibe is a dynamic, high-growth food and beverage development company based in Niles, Illinois. We specialize in developing, creating, and manufacturing beverage flavors, ingredient systems, and finished food and beverage products. Our mission is to design ingredients with impact for the food and beverage industry.

About Imbibe

Imbibe is a dynamic, high-growth food and beverage development company based in Niles, Illinois. We specialize in developing, creating, and manufacturing beverage flavors, ingredient systems, and finished food and beverage products. Our mission is to design ingredients with impact for the food and beverage industry. Since our founding in 1963, Imbibe has been at the forefront of flavor innovation and product development. We offer a comprehensive range of services, including full product development, taste modulation, and finished product solutions. Our state-of-the- art campus features an Innovation Center and Pilot Plant that enable us to tackle industry-wide taste and texture challenges, ensuring that our clients receive the highest quality products.

At Imbibe, we pride ourselves on our entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to continuous improvement. Our values of collaboration, accountability, and entrepreneurship drive us to deliver exceptional results for our clients. We also believe in giving back to the community. Through various initiatives we support efforts to combat food insecurity in the Chicagoland area by donating ingredients and our time.

If you're passionate about the food and beverage industry and eager to make a meaningful impact, Imbibe is the place for you. Let's create something extraordinary together!

Summary of Position

Hands-on individual that works in a test plant operating equipment and assisting in key development work for food and beverage. The Pilot Plant Technician partners with Product Development and Flavorists to produce beverage and food products for customer projects across our scope of project work. This individual takes initiative, has great observational skills, and wants to be on the development edge of new product and process techniques.

Essential Job Duties

• Become an expert in multiple new pieces of processing technology. In depth training will be provided on‑the‑job
• Maintain proper stock of prepared packaging materials
• Troubleshoot and repair damaged components in a timely manner
• Run beverage formulations through a variety of pieces of beverage processing equipment
• Ensure beverage products are properly packaged and labeled
• Follow all Good Manufacturing Practice guidelines during the production of beverage products. This includes properly cleaning and organizing all work areas and wearing all proper food safety and personal protective equipment
• Participate in Root Cause Analysis and Process Improvement projects

Minimum Qualifications

• High school degree or GED equivalent
• A team player willing to do what it takes to support the development and launch of new products on tight timelines in a fast paced and complicated environment
• Ability to adapt to the changing needs of the lab
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office software products including Outlook, Excel and Word
• Able to lift and carry objects up to 50lbs on a consistent basis
• Ability to work collaboratively and thrive in a fast paced and dynamic environment
• Ability to observe details at close range.
• Constantly moves about the pilot plant, labs, and office

Preferred Qualifications

• Forklift certification
• Previous Food and Beverage manufacturing experience
• Mechanical Background and familiarity with different parts to unit operations: Valves, Pumps, Seals, Thermocouples, etc.

Working Conditions

• Conditioned plant with floors that can be wet and/or slippery
• At times will need to: bend and kneel on floor; carry, move, or push objects weighing 50+ lbs; and work at elevated heights
• Plant equipment can be dangerous to touch due to rotary, electrical or temperature danger
• Exposure to food and beverage product tastings which may include allergens

Approximate Salary Range: $50,000 USD - $60,000 USD

Compensation & Benefits

The salary range listed represents the expected earnings for this role. The low end of the range reflects the starting salary for candidates with less experience or qualifications that meet the basic requirements for the position. The high end of the range reflects potential earnings for candidates with extensive experience, specialized skills, or qualifications above the standard requirements for the role.

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision care
• 401k retirement plan with company contribution and match
• FSA and HSA account
• Generous company holidays, PTO, and sick time
• Onsite gym and wellness opportunities
• Paid parental leave
• Life and disability insurance
• Learning and professional development opportunities