Safety Food Scientist

TekWissen ®; Glenview (IL); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A global workforce management provider is seeking a Food Safety Support Specialist in Glenview, Illinois. This position focuses on food safety and analytical methods, requiring a bachelor's degree in Food Science or Microbiology. Responsibilities include managing media preparation, quality control, and supporting validation studies. Ideal candidates will have lab experience, knowledge of Good Laboratory Practices, and excellent communication skills. This role offers opportunities for professional growth in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• 0-2 years of relevant food safety or analytical science experience.
• Experience with media preparation and basic microbial plating technique.
• Awareness of quality systems/processes, especially ISO 17025 requirements.

Responsibilities

• Support media preparation and quality control activities.
• Provide onsite laboratory support for Corporate Quality & Food Safety.
• Execute validation studies to evaluate microbiological test methods.

Skills

Knowledge of Good Laboratory Practices (GLPs)

Experience with Laboratory Management Systems (LIMS)

Excellent communication skills

Microbiology laboratory techniques

Project management skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, or related field

Advanced degree (preferred)

Job description

TekWissen is a global workforce management provider headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan that offers strategic talent solutions to our clients world-wide. Our client is an American food company formed by the merger of client Food and the third-largest food and beverage company in North America

Job Description

• This role supports the implementation and execution of key food safety design analytical methods by managing media preparation, quality control activities, and executing project work to develop microbiological and analytical methods needed to support food safety design and commercialization.
• The position provides onsite laboratory support and project execution support to Corporate Quality & Food Safety, as well as R&D.

Key Components of the role

• Support project completion through media preparation, quality control activities, and through execution of microbial testing on project by project basis
• Supports administrative tasks such as managing inventory, ordering supplies, and data entry.
• Supports the execution of validation studies, to evaluate and approve microbiological test methods (rapid and cultural) for the Client Laboratory network.
• Supports proficiency testing program and internal laboratory audit process for internal factories laboratories.
• This role provides scientific and technical food safety support to US and Canadian business partners to ensure product safety and quality by participating in evaluation of analytical methods.
• Identify and communicate method related impacts on factory verification programs.
• Support validation of designed HACCP preventive controls (Cooking, formulation, etc.) and assess validity of data obtained by others.
• Remain current in scientific and regulatory principles of food safety to ensure most relevant information and emerging issues are identified and incorporated into Client food safety programs.
• Supports cross-functional communication of results with internally and externally generated data.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, or related field required.
• Advanced degree preferred.
• 0-2 years of experience of relevant food safety or analytical science work
• Knowledge and experience implementing GLPs(Good Laboratory Practices)
• Experience with LIMS (Laboratory Management Systems) and data management
• Experience with microbiology laboratory techniques and rapid test methods analytical chemistry procedures.
• Awareness of quality systems/processes (ISO, Six Sigma etc.), especially ISO 17025 requirements.
• Excellent communication skills (presentation, report writing, teaching/training).
• Work experience in team-oriented functions as well as individual contribution.
• Action oriented with good project management skills.
• Travel requirements up to 20% a year.

Must Haves

• Someone who has worked in lab space previously (in a work environment)
• 1-2 years of prior Microbiology Lab experience (in a work environment)
• Prior experience with autoclaves and media preparation in particular (in a work environment), and basic microbial plating technique (aseptic technique)

TekWissen® Group is an equal opportunity employer supporting workforce diversity.