R&D Assistant Technician
Posted on May 31, 2024
Department: R&D
Reports to: Sr. Director of Research & Development
Pay Range: $66,560+
Job Site: Salinas, CA and Yuma, AZ
SUMMARY: The R&D Assistant Technician will assist with various R&D projects related to harvesting, cooling, post-harvest storage, processing, and New Product Development at the True Leaf Farms facilities in San Juan Bautista and Yuma and at the Church Brothers Farms facility in SLRC, Mexico. This role will travel seasonally to ensure consistent project management year round.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
R&D Duties
- Assist with execution of R&D trials in the field, processing or laboratory following trial protocols for new and existing products
- Assist R&D team with finished product sensory and quality evaluations and reporting
- Assist R&D team with evaluations of new varieties, harvest operations, sanitation processes, post-harvest technologies, and processing equipment
- Assist with packaging development (primary and secondary packaging optimization, bag and carton sizing, pallet stability and package integrity during shipping, and product temperature dynamics)
- Create product data bases and servings (household measure) for nutritional panel for new and existing products
- Create data bases for packaging materials
- Create data bases for product images
- Assist R&D team with daily product respiration rate measurements
New Product Development Duties
- Assist R&D team with finished product sensory and quality evaluations, blend composition and cut size evaluations, and surface moisture content measurements
- Assist R&D team with collecting data and images for validated process flow diagrams for new or modified finished products
- Assist R&D and Marketing teams with new product ideation and new product samples
- Collect film perforation information
- Assist R&D team with new product launches, including assist in pre-production trials and Post-launch product monitoring and reporting
EDUCATION/ EXPERIENCE:
- High School Diploma or College Degree in Agronomy, Plant Science, Engineering or Biology preferred.
- Interested in working with leafy greens and other vegetables
REQUIRED SKILLS:
- Proficient knowledge of Microsoft Office suite of applications (Word, PowerPoint and Excel).
- Excellent verbal and communication skills.
- Candidate must be highly organized and detail oriented.
- Candidate must be team oriented and able to work independently. Self-starter.
- Ideally bilingual English / Spanish
- Physical activity will include working in agricultural fields with exposure to dust and various weather conditions, working inside a fresh-cut processing facility under temperatures ranging from 34-38°F, and working in a laboratory environment.
- Must be able to lift 50 lbs.
- Valid driver’s license, minimum of 3 years with clear/insurable record
COMMUNICATION SKILLS:
- Excellent communicator, both verbal and written
- Ability to efficiently present information in one-on-one and small group situations to other employees, clients and customers of the organization.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees in this position. This is not intended to be a specific list of all responsibilities.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
- The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
- The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to use hands and fingers to handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
Please send your resume to resumes@churchbrothers.com
Church Brothers Farms is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.