Sr. Laboratory Technician II, Process R&D

International Flavors and Fragrances; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 45,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player seeks a Sr. Laboratory Technician II to support process development in their Nutrition & Biosciences plant. This role involves routine laboratory tasks, new product strain development, and improvements in manufacturing processes. The ideal candidate will have a background in microbiology or biotechnology, strong analytical skills, and the ability to work independently on scientific experiments. Join a diverse and inclusive team dedicated to innovation and quality in food production, where your contributions will directly impact product excellence and efficiency.

Qualifications

• Degree in microbiology or related field with industry experience.
• Understanding of lactic acid bacteria physiology and fermentation.

Responsibilities

• Perform routine lab tasks including media making and fermentation setup.
• Design and conduct experiments, analyze results, and report findings.

Skills

Microbiology

Bioprocess Engineering

Statistical Analysis

Communication Skills

Project Management

Education

Associate's Degree in Microbiology

Bachelor's Degree in Biotechnology

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Data/Statistical Software

Job description

Job Summary

The IFF Nutrition & Biosciences plant located in Madison, Wisconsin, USA manufactures a variety of food products and ingredients used in everyday food items, many of them found in local grocery stores including: starter cultures used in the production of cheese, yogurt, buttermilk, sour cream; probiotic cultures used for their health promoting effects on the digestive system of humans and animals; and other food ingredients such as food antioxidants for food preservation and enzymes used in cheese manufacturing.

We are looking for a Sr. Laboratory Technician II to join our Process R&D Probiotics, Cultures, Food Protection Team! The candidate selected will provide support for process development at the Madison and Rochester sites including troubleshooting, improvements, transfers of processes, and manufacturing data ownership. There will be an emphasis on routine laboratory tasks balanced with new product strain development, scale-up, and improvement of yields, performance, and reduction of costs.

Essential Functions

1. Perform routine laboratory tasks and experimental work as directed by immediate supervisor. These tasks include media making, basic microbiology, fermentation setup and inoculation, microscopic evaluation, harvesting and downstream processing of fermentate, freeze dryer operations, water activity measurements, and cell enumeration.
2. Support lab-scale development of cost-effective manufacturing conditions impacting cell yield, stability, quality, or activity for microbial strains.
3. Maintain data sets and laboratory batch records accurately.
4. Perform statistical analysis on culture performance and communicate trends.
5. Investigate and support product deviations.
6. Design and conduct experiments, analyze results, and report findings.
7. Coordinate pilot-scale manufacturing of experimental products, working directly with operators and team members, and document results.
8. Monitor process data and product quality post-industrialization, troubleshoot issues, and support process improvements.
9. Assist in transferring products and processes between sites and from R&D to production, collaborating with relevant teams.
10. Serve as a technical resource for troubleshooting process or product issues and support quality improvements.
11. Document results thoroughly and communicate findings to the team.
12. Support occasional off-hour work including weekends.

Qualifications

• Associate's or Bachelor's Degree in microbiology, bioprocess, biotechnology, biochemistry, chemical/process engineering, or related field with industry experience.
• Understanding of lactic acid bacteria physiology, freeze-drying, microbial fermentation, and process equipment (preferred).
• Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to independently design, execute, and report scientific experiments.
• Familiarity with project management, Six Sigma Greenbelt tools, and data/statistical software.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion, valuing the unique qualities of each individual. Join us in fostering an inclusive workplace that celebrates authenticity.

Visit IFF.com/careers/workplace-diversity-and-inclusion to learn more.