Technical Product Specialist

Mary's Gone Crackers; Reno (NV); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Mary's Gone Crackers seeks a hands-on Technical Services professional to drive manufacturing efficiency and quality improvements at our Reno, NV facility, with responsibility for data collection and supporting R&D when needed.

This role collaborates across departments, leads cost-reduction projects, and acts as the in-plant expert for Lean and process improvement, travel up to 25% of the year to North American sites.

Qualifications

• 2–5 years in a food manufacturing environment.
• Post-secondary degree or diploma in Food Science, Engineering, or Supply Chain.
• Knowledge of unit operations and processing equipment in large scale manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead technical initiatives driving manufacturing efficiency and quality.
• Support local and network-wide continuous improvement projects as the in-plant technical expert.
• Collaborate with Procurement to mitigate material supply disruptions and secondary sourcing.
• Lead workflows to commercialize and stabilize new product innovation within the facility.
• Create a continuous improvement project pipeline aligned to facility P&L goals.
• Work with Network CI to implement network-wide projects locally.

Skills

Communication

Influence & Coaching

Office & ERP Systems

Education

Food Science / Engineering / Supply Chain

Job description

As a member of the Corporate Technical Services Team, this individual will be responsible for executing all technical services initiatives within our Reno, NV facility while also supporting our other U.S. based facilities on an as needs basis.

This role will require a focus on data collection and technical manufacturing support, as well as having a strong continuous improvement focus and ability to support our R&D Innovation Team with new product development when required. This role reports to the Manager, Technical Services (Processing) with additional oversight from the Director, Technical Services and Continuous Improvement on direct Continuous Improvement projects.

Essential Functions

Technical Services

• Develop and lead technical initiatives that drive results in areas of both manufacturing efficiency and quality improvement.
• Support local and network wide continuous improvement projects by being an in-plant technical expert.
• Execute projects alongside our Procurement Team to mitigate potential material supply disruptions and secondary sourcing approvals.
• Lead workflows relating to commercializing and stabilizing new product innovation within the manufacturing facility.
• Develop a continuous improvement project pipeline of cost reduction that will support overall facility P&L goals.
• Work cross functionally with our Network Continuous Improvement Team to implement strategic network-wide projects within the local manufacturing facility.
• Support the local Operations Team with continuous improvement projects that enhance manufacturing efficiency and stability.
• Act as the local technical resource for our manufacturing facility in providing guidance to our Corporate Innovation R&D Team on plant processes and capabilities.
• Enhance our Innovation R&D development process by acting as a single point of contact to bridge communication to the local Operations Team to streamline communication and organization for plant trials.
• Execute and/or support bench development and plant trials on behalf of the Innovation R&D Team as required.
• Actively participate in Innovation R&D projects leading up to first production timing.

Supervisory Responsibility

No

Travel

Requirement to travel within North America up to 25% of the time.

Mental and Physical Demands

• Light physical activity performing non-strenuous daily activities of an administrative nature

Physical Demands - % of time

Stand -50%

Walk -25%

Sit -25%

Talk -25%

Use hands to finger, handle, or feel -50%

Reach with hands and arms -50%

Stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl -25%

Taste or Smell -25%

Lift up to 10 pounds -50%

Lift up to 25 pounds -10%

Lift up to 50 pounds -0%

• Well-lighted, heated and/or air-conditioned indoor office setting with adequate ventilation
• Atmosphere with moderate noise

Qualification

• Excellent communication and facilitation skills across levels and departments
• Ability to lead changes through influence, coaching, and example
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and capable of learning plant systems (e.g., ERP, MES, LMS)

Required Education, Experience, Certifications, and licenses

• 2-5 years of experience in a food manufacturing environment.
• Post-secondary degree or diploma in Food Science, Engineering, or Supply Chain.
• Knowledge of unit of operation and processing equipment in large scale manufacturing.

Preferred Education, Experience, Certifications, and licenses

• Project Management knowledge and strong collaboration skills.
• Knowledge of Lean concepts and tools including Process Mapping/Value Stream Mapping, Root Cause Analysis, Kaizen etc.
• Utilization of data analysis tools such as Microsoft Excel, Minitab (or equivalent) with ability to analyze, Cp, CpK and CpM type metrics.