R&D Technician - Fruit Snacks

General Mills, Inc; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 46,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

General Mills is seeking a Fruit Snacks R&D Technician to join the ITQ team. You will support experiments across labs, pilot plants, and production with R&D developers, capturing data and producing prototypes.

Build skills in product and process for fruit snacks while coordinating materials, lab spaces, and safety protocols. You will contribute to analytical, shelf-life and sensory activities, support consumer testing, and interact with business and sales teams.

Qualifications

• 2-Year Degree or High School Degree with 2+ years directly related experience.
• Basic computer/ technology skills (Office Suite, other computer programs).
• Comfortable in processing (pilot plant or plant) environment; comfortable operating equipment.
• Basic understanding of food safety and human safety.
• Ability to communicate effectively and work collaboratively with a team.
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Desire to learn new concepts quickly and apply in productive ways.
• Ability to complete work without frequent daily direction.
• Strong self-starter and holds a high regard for quality of work.

Responsibilities

• Support project work across multiple Fruit team initiatives (at the direction of others)
• Execute and document tests and experiments (in labs, pilot plant, plant) working with R&D developers and Integrated Operations support; data capture and organization; producing prototypes
• Build basic technical skills in product and process for Fruit Snacks
• Procure and manage materials; manage and maintain lab spaces; basic equipment set up, tear down, and sanitation
• Support analytical, shelf-life, and sensory evaluation activities
• Support consumer testing and related sample preparation of logistics as needed
• Manage samples and support requests from business and sales teams
• Agile, ability to flex across projects within Fruit Snacks team as work needs shift
• Build and leverage internal and externa; network (for example manufacturing facilities, suppliers) to support and execute work
• Participate in pipeline building activities

Skills

Basic computer skills

Office software

Team collaboration

Problem-solving

Education

2-Year Degree or High School Diploma with 2+ years related experience

Bachelor's degree preferred

Job description

COMPANY OVERVIEW

We exist to make food the world loves. But we do more than that. Our company is a place that prioritizes being a force for good, a place to expand learning, explore new perspectives and reimagine new possibilities, every day. We look for people who want to bring their best - bold thinkers with big hearts who challenge one another and grow together. Because becoming the undisputed leader in food means surrounding ourselves with people who are hungry for what's next.

OVERVIEW

The Fruit Innovation, Technology, and Quality (ITQ team) is a standout place to innovate at General Mills, with beloved brands, meaningful whitespace, and runway for breakthrough ideas. The Fruit Snacks R&D Technician will be part of the Fruit Snacks Team supporting different technologies and product chassis including fruit shapes, fruit by the foot, fruit roll ups, gushers, and more. As an R&D Technician, you are joining a team that is pursuing Innovation technology development as well as Core Renovation to drive growth and competitive advantage in the fruit snacks category.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Support project work across multiple Fruit team initiatives (at the direction of others)
• Execute and document tests and experiments (in labs, pilot plant, plant) working with R&D developers and Integrated Operations support; data capture and organization; producing prototypes
• Build basic technical skills in product and process for Fruit Snacks
• Procure and manage materials; manage and maintain lab spaces; basic equipment set up, tear down, and sanitation
• Support analytical, shelf-life, and sensory evaluation activities
• Support consumer testing and related sample preparation of logistics as needed
• Manage samples and support requests from business and sales teams
• Agile, ability to flex across projects within Fruit Snacks team as work needs shift
• Build and leverage internal and externa; network (for example manufacturing facilities, suppliers) to support and execute work
• Participate in pipeline building activities

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• 2-Year Degree or High School Degree with 2+ years directly related experience
• Basic computer/ technology skills (Office Suite, other computer programs)
• Comfortable in processing (pilot plant or plant) environment; comfortable operating equipment
• Basic understanding of food safety and human safety
• Ability to communicate effectively and work collaboratively with a team
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Desire to learn new concepts quickly and apply in productive ways
• Ability to complete work without frequent daily direction
• Strong self-starter and holds a high regard for quality of work

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 2-year degree or bachelor's degree preferred
• Previous work experience in a similar field (Food product development experience/ laboratory experience)
• Effectively manage multiple priorities
• Strong attention to detail and ability to gather, organize, and interpret data
• Interpersonal ability to build relationships at all levels within the organization to advance your work
• Passionate about the creation of food, CPW industry, and consumer trends
• Learning mindset, agility, and maturity to navigate fast-paced situations
• Interest in building technical depth while supporting a broad range of Fruit Snacks projects

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

• International relocation or international remote working arrangements (outside of the US) will not be considered.

• Applicants for this position must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. General Mills will not sponsor applicants for this position for work visas.

SALARY RANGE

The salary range for this position is:

$45,800 - $63,100 Annual

At General Mills we strive for each employee's pay at any point in their career to reflect their experiences performance and skills for their current role. The salary range for this role represents the numerous factors considered in the hiring decisions including, but not limited to, educations, skills, work experience, certifications, etc. As such, pay for the successful candidate(s) could fall anywhere within the stated range.

Beyond base salary, General Mills offers a competitive Total Rewards package focusing on your overall well-being. We are proud to offer a foundation of health benefits, retirement and financial wellbeing, time off programs, wellbeing support and perks. Benefits may vary by role, country, region, union status, and other employment status factors. You may also be eligible to participate in an annual incentive program. An incentive award, if any, depends on various factors, including, individual and organizational performance.

ELIGIBILITY

Applicants must meet a minimum 18-year age qualification.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER (EOE)

General Mills is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital or familial status, status regarding public assistance, or membership or activity in a local human rights commission.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION REQUEST

If you need to request an accommodation during the application or hiring process, please fill out our online accommodation request form by following this link: Accommodation Request.