Research and Development Technician

Bonduelle; Irwindale (CA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Bonduelle Americas is seeking an entry-level Product Development Assistant in Irwindale, CA to help bring plant-based products to market. You will support sample management, ingredient and packaging inventories, and supplier coordination with internal teams.

You will assist with product development tests, data recording, and spec maintenance, working with sales, operations and customer service to ensure smooth project progress. Strong organizational and communication skills are essential.

Qualifications

• 1-2 years of relevant work experience
• Knowledge of food product design, formulation and nutrition facts
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and adapt to change
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

Responsibilities

• Assist with managing and coordinating product samples and communications with internal and external teams
• Maintain inventories of ingredients, packaging, and shipping materials
• Order ingredients from production facilities and suppliers as needed
• Support product development activities: tests, shelf-life, sensory evaluations and related data
• Record and manage internal data, reports and file management
• Assist with specs setup/maintenance in internal/external systems

Skills

Project coordination

Interpersonal skills

Strong communication

Self-motivated

Job description

Make a greater impact at Bonduelle Americas!

Bonduelle Americas is a certified B Corp inviting people to embrace a flexitarian lifestyle with an expanding portfolio of plant-rich products available in and beyond the produce aisle. We operate four facilities and employ nearly 3,000 Associates in the US.

Bonduelle Americas is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Groupe Bonduelle (BON.PA), an established global brand with more than 170 years of family heritage bringing the joy of plants to tables around the world. Globally, our ready-to-eat plant-rich food products are grown on 173,000 acres by our grower partners and marketed in nearly 100 countries. Our mission is to inspire the transition toward a plant-rich diet to contribute to people's well-being and planet health.

Join us at Bonduelle Americas for an opportunity to advance your career in a culture that places people first. As a valued member of our company, you will work in a mission-driven environment aimed at preserving the planet’s resources while providing healthy plant-based products to millions of consumers around the world.

Position Summary:

This is an innovative and visionary team. The candidate for this position must be a self-motivated, creative thinker, with strong interpersonal skills. This position is an entry-level position, requiring multiple-project management skills, and ability to accomplish tasks in cooperation with others.

Key Responsibilities:

• Under the direction of the Product Development manager, this position is responsible for:
  50% Managing and coordinating execution of product samples including communication with internal teams (sales, operations, customer service, etc) and external teams (FedEx, DHL, etc).
  Maintaining adequate inventories of ingredients, packaging, and shipping materials.
  Ordering and picking up ingredients required from production facilities and suppliers when necessary.
  30%: Assisting with product development related activities:
  Conducting various tests and analytical procedures related to the development and improvement of new and existing products, including line trials, shelf-life testing, sensory evaluation, and other evaluation procedures.
  Recording and management of internal data, written and verbal reports, summaries, evaluations, and file management related to the above and other activities.
  Assisting with spec set up/maintenance of internal/external specs using various database systems.
  Utilizing Genesis nutritional program, preparation and maintenance of ingredient information
  10%: Participating in various project meetings with cross-functional teams, which involves program development, brainstorming sessions, timelines and project status updates.
  

Minimum Qualifications:

1-2 years of relevant work experience

Requires knowledge in food product design, formulation, ingredient functionality and interaction, nutrition facts, process design, product scale-up, plant testing and commercialization

Highly organized, excited to learn, open minded, self-starter able to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, adapt well to change and able to prioritize multiple work assignments

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (both verbal and written)

Physical Requirements:

Ability to conduct plant trials requiring climbing of catwalks and stairs in a refrigerated, wet processing environment

Ability to lift up to 30 lbs

30% desk time/70% standing/lab work

Some travel as required