Quality Lab Technician

MGP Ingredients is a leading supplier of premium distilled spirits and food ingredient solutions. Its Distilling Solutions segment provides bourbons whiskeys ryes gins and vodkas to craft and multinational brands. MGPs own Branded Spirts business is growing following the 2021 acquisition of Luxco a top spirits producer bottler supplier and importer as well as the 2023 acquisition of Penelope Bourbon known for its wide range of uniquely blended expressions. Ingredient Solutions delivers nutritional functional wheat- and pea-based ingredients aligned with consumer trends. The company operates in locations across the Midwestern U.S. and overseas in Northern Ireland and Mexico.

THE OPPORTUNITY:

To make raw material and product acceptance or rejection schedule prepare and conductappropriate analysesof samples ina timelyaccurate and cost-effective manner according to the written laboratory methods quality control standards good laboratory and safety practices and procedures todeterminethat ingredients and finished products meet specifications.

To accurately document test results and enter those in the Enterprise Resource Program (SAP) to ensure adherence to customer and internal specifications in support of the companys quality program within all strategic platforms.

WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING:

• Make acceptance or rejection decisions for finished products and raw materials.

• Conduct necessary testing including microbiology on all products before shipment to ensure material is within specified parameters.

• Execute necessary daily testing in all areas to assist all managers and / or operators.

• Inspect sifter overs samples from the warehouse to ensure foreign objects are not in the packed product causing possible adulteration.

• Prepare reagents standards check samples and media following Good Laboratory Practices to support laboratory and plant activities.

• Monitor inventory of consumables and report needed items to supervisor to ensure there is always a sufficient supply.

• Assist in the disposal of retained line and batch samples followed by cleaning of storage containers to recycle for continued use.

• Perform daily housekeeping tasks necessary for efficient and accurate laboratory operation.

• Manage and maintain laboratory supplies instruments and equipment to provide maximum accurate and safe output to meet data deadlines.

• Collect environmental samples to evaluate adequate microbial environmental control in support of all strategic platforms (as assigned).

• Review and retain incoming raw material chemical certificates of analysis and other quality documents.

Instrument Maintenance

• Perform routine maintenance on all laboratory instruments to ensure accurate results.

• Oversee the instruments in the plant areas to ensure that the production results will be accurate as the product is being produced.

• Interpret and document daily check sample and audit results to maintain instrument integrity.

• Create a clean laboratory environment for the continued maintenance of instruments many of which are sensitive to dust.

• Request maintenance services (internal or external to MGPI) for proper sustainability of equipment operations when needed (as assigned).

Department Assistance

• Distribute needed testing solutions to plant areas for accurate test results of production material.

• Assist Research and Development with testing to aid in new product development or formula changes and upon request from production managers.

• Execute training of plant and laboratory personnel to ensure quality of in-plant and laboratory testing.

• Coordinate with operators and managers to troubleshoot production quality problems and help find a solution.

• Complete the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations training course to ship hazardous samples.

• Participate in MGPs safety process to ensure that all employees are working safely and in a safe environment.

• Complete internal auditor training if needed to assist with finding items or areas of the facility that need improvements made.

• Verify FedEx and UPS charges and assign costs to the correct department.

Data Maintenance

• Post test results in SAP Infinity and to other agreed-upon test result reporting methods for internal use.

• Track incoming flour by recording all COA data on a spreadsheet and entering that data into an Excel spreadsheet.

• Report results that are out of specification to necessary individuals to ensure no product is shipped to a customer when not approved.

• Generate COAs for customers customer service or sample department that are printed through SAP or generated in Word format.

• Generate Glico COA information in a special spreadsheet and send COA data when product ships (as assigned).

• Maintain and store plant quality records for easy access of results.

Sample Retention

• Create a retain sample of every product for shipment for use if needed for further analysis.

• Provide pre-shipment samples to customers (ex: Glico Itochu) to receive approval for shipment (as assigned).

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

• Bachelors degree in chemistry biology cereal science or related field preferred
• Knowledge of laboratory instruments sensory evaluation experience good laboratory practiced (GLP) training and Dangerous Goods training (HAZMAT shipping)
• Ability to be a service provider to Operations and Customer in support of sales
• Ability to accurately analyze samples and make disposition decision
• Ability to effectively organize sample workload and prioritize analyzed
• Ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing to all departments.
• At least on year of basic laboratory techniques preferred.
• Previous experience with a quality management system is highly desired.

PYHSICAL 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 position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers handle or feel objects tools or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; and reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision distance vision and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate. Includes frequently used office equipment computer software programs manuals books or other written resources hand tools power tools two-way radios and other tools/equipment/resources; Includes use of sanitation equipment and lab/field equipment. Various lab equipment two-way radios will be required to use. If you require a reasonable accommodation in the employee selection process please direct your inquiries to Karen Beckett HR Manager

If the above speaks to you were excited to learn more about you! At MGP we know that our people are our greatest strength. With different perspectives and unique ways of thinking our employees are as varied as our products. We believe that inclusivity strengthens the organization and champions a company culture that is evolving to reflect all of us. Culture results from our behaviors our personal commitment our curiosity how we collaborate and the ways we courageously share our perspectives and expect others to do the same. Each of us can make a difference by fostering thinking and actions that empower us to connect belong and grow together. Compensation is competitive and is commensurate with experience. MGP offers exceptional medical dental vision short and long-term disability life insurance 401(k) Match and PTO. All successful candidates for this position will be required to submit to a criminal background check and drug test.

Required Experience:

IC