R & D Intern

About the Role

As a Research & Development Intern, you will research, design, and evaluate materials, assemblies, processes, and equipment within the plants. You will also sample numerous milk, whey, and cheese products to ensure they meet customer, government, and Saputo project standards, and analyze the results.

Key Responsibilities

• Responsible for microbiological, analytical, and organoleptic analysis of all milk, whey, and cheese products for conformance to government, customer, and Saputo specifications.
• Must be able to perform all lab testing.
• Responsible for understanding and complying with Good Manufacturing Practices.
• Perform sample preparation and any analytical tests as needed, including moisture, pH, salt, fat, total solids, chlorides, COD, rennet, starter activity, mojonnier, kjeldahls, Gel Electrophoresis. Interpret the results.
• Set-up, operate, maintain, clean, and calibrate all pieces of lab equipment on a daily basis.
• Sort and analyze sample results efficiently and ensure information is reported in a timely manner.
• Responsible for awareness of all aspects of laboratory testing and quality related tasks.
• Provide Technical Support to designated plants in the U.S.
• Maximize plant profitability by monitoring raw material utilization, plant efficiencies, ingredient recoups and analytical targets.
• Monitor and maintain or improve the quality of products from plants.
• Review and analyze problems in plant and be part of corrective action.
• Review cheese make records and make recommendations for improvement.
• Document all research work and changes or implementations made at plants.
• Network with all resources available and keep up on new technologies within the Dairy Industry.
• Help aid in the recommending, installation, and commissioning of new plant equipment and processes.
• Assist in coordinating product development activities at the plants.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as deemed necessary.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Proficient in data collection, analysis, and reporting using Microsoft Word, graphing, creating, and managing Excel spreadsheets.
• Proficient in the use of word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation software.

Qualifications

• Have a bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Dairy Technology, or a related field.
• Have the ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Are able to interpret a variety of technical information in mathematical and/or narrative form and deal with abstract and concrete variables.
• Have the ability to work flexible hours and travel 50% of the time.
• Have demonstrated excellent writing skills.
• Have the ability to communicate in a professional manner with press and community contacts.
• Are self-motivated, possess good organizational skills, are detail-oriented, prioritize accuracy, can multi-task and meet deadlines.
• Have experience or education in corporate communications.
• Have the ability to be flexible and work on multiple projects simultaneously.
• Have the ability to work scheduled hours and required overtime as needed.
• Display traits of reliability, honesty, respect, attention to detail, and punctuality.
• Can work independently, and as part of a team.
• Demonstrate professionalism and positively represents and promotes Saputo at all times.