R&D Innovation Intern

Job Title:  R&D Innovation Intern

FLSA Exemption Status: Non-Exempt

Status:  Hourly

Department: Research and Development 

Reports To: R&D Manager 

Job Summary:  The purpose of the R&D Innovation Intern is to assist the R&D Manager and R&D Food Technologists with development of new products from inception to full manufacture. The Intern will learn to work with Sales, Quality, Production, Ingredients, and Purchasing to identify means to develop and deliver value added, innovative solutions for own brand and new/existing customers.    

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Ensure all R&D developments, activities and procedures adhere to Marketing and/or customer expectations, Food Safety and Regulatory Standards (HACCP, FDA, USDA and Organic.)
• Searches the marketplace for related products that might be adapted and customized for customer’s needs.
• Brainstorm new product creation and present ideas to R&D Innovation Manager and respective sales teams.
• Work closely with R&D Technical team for commercialization of new product launches.
• Supports Ingredient team in evaluation of new ingredients and suppliers, as needed.
• Submit requests for needed ingredients to Ingredient and Purchasing teams.
• Creates and disseminates internal product specifications for new products to appropriate departments.
• Develops detailed R&D product specifications for customers when samples are presented.
• Serves as company ambassador during visits with current and prospective clients as needed.
• Compiles samples of new products for customer presentations.
• Other duties, as needed.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Working towards Bachelor’s degree in Food Science or related area (Biology, Chemistry, etc.)
• Basic knowledge of HACCP, USDA, FDA, Organic, Non-GMO, Kosher certification regulations.
• Accuracy with detail, planning, organizing, and efficiency.
• Regular and reliable attendance required.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to communicate with all levels of production and management.
• Excellent analytical and reasoning skills.
• Experience with experimental design/process improvement methodology.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook.)
• An excellent level of sensory acuity is required, i.e., taste, sight, smell and touch; the incumbent must not have any factors that would limit their ability to participate in evaluations.

Working Environment:  

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a teammate encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The R&D Food Technologist is expected to work in an office, production, and lab environments. While performing the duties of this job, the teammate frequently will be exposed to outside weather conditions, wet and/or humid conditions, and extreme heat and/or cold, long periods of sitting standing, and walking. The teammate occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and in high precarious places and has to the risk of exposure to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, and the risk of electrical shock.  The incumbent will be exposed to loud noises from production equipment and thus will be required to wear PPE.   The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but may be high at times due to production and mechanical equipment noise. 

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be performed by a teammate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the teammate is regularly required to stand, walk, use hands to handle, or feel objects, equipment, or controls; reach with hands and arms; see, talk and /or hear.  The teammate is occasionally required to taste, touch or smell.

This description is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty that will be required of positions that will be given this title and shall not be construed as declaring what the specific duties and responsibilities of any position shall be. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of teammates under his/her supervision. The use of a particular expression or illustration describing duties shall not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of similar kind or level of difficulty.