Job title: Laboratory Support Assistant
Reporting to: Quality Control Manager
Location: Lakeland, USA
The Opportunity
The objective of this role is to provide support to the Quality Team as a whole and help increase the efficiency of sample flow through the lab. The primary functions are to ensure timely sample receipt of material into the laboratory, maintenance of chemical inventory and libraries, and ensuring the laboratory environment is kept clean, safe, and organized at all times.
What it’s like to work here
We’ve been making the world taste better since 1886 and sell over 3000 products in more than 90 countries, but we’re only just getting started. We’re on an exciting journey and have ambitious plans to become the indispensable partner of choice for the world’s leading flavor and fragrance houses, beverage and consumer brands.
On joining Treatt, you’ll become one of over 300 international experts, working together to collectively surprise and delight our customers. Nothing is more important to us than the happiness of our people as without them, we’d never succeed.
We think Treatt’s a great place to work, but don’t just take our word for it:
“Everyone wants your feedback and opinion; it feels like a place of study where nurturing and encouragement are the standard. It is very clear the hard work that goes into providing excellence for customers, but it is also very apparent that managers have the same goals for helping us all to progress.” – Anita, Innovation Scientist
“Joining my close and supportive team was the most enjoyable way to gain more skills and increase my knowledge” – Ashley, Distillation Control Team Leader
“Treatt creates an environment to help you be the best you can, with no two days the same and opportunities always available to help you learn and develop. The people and the culture create a fantastic company to be part of” – Rebecca, Commercial Coordinator
Duties & Responsibilities
The duties and tasks of a Laboratory Support Assistant involve the following:
• Maintaining chemical and consumables inventory for the QC laboratory and purchasing items necessary for routine and non-routine analysis. In addition, corresponding with other areas of Technical when ordering following the group strategy in chemical purchasing.
• Carrying out initial reviews on all samples coming into the laboratory, and bulk, split, and distribute to the relevant areas/lab personnel.
• Receiving re-samples and inventory check samples into test
• Monitoring QC dashboards to ensure that samples are not missing and get completed within due dates.
• Assisting with taste panel setup and cleanup
• Processing of raw materials such as fresh fruits and vegetables for quality check
• Working on external request for analysis forms and sample order requests for external testing
• Washing up glassware in the spaces used by QC and returning items to the appropriate locations.
• Preparing reagents and standards for routine and non-routine analysis
• Maintaining QC retain sample libraries for citrus oils and taste and retained pre-delivery samples.
• Assisting with the disposal of completed samples in the lab.
• Arranging for the disposal of hazardous waste from the site by corresponding with the HSE Manager
• Assisting with the tracking of equipment maintenance and service contracts
• Ensuring that the working area in the laboratory is maintained in a clean and orderly condition.
• Maintaining your own and other staff’s health and safety at all times and ensuring a safe working environment
• Undergo training in areas specific to Treatt plc business as required.
• Undergo training in additional practices to those aforementioned in order to aid the efficiency of the Quality Department as a whole.
• Performing such other tasks that may be required from time to time.
• Acting in the best interest of Treatt PLC at all times.
Education & Training
• High school diploma with strong skills in English, Math, and Chemistry. Industry or college experience preferred, but not necessary. Specific training for the role will be provided by Treatt.
Knowledge & Experience
Technical expertise: Ideally, a minimum of 1 years’ experience in a similar role. Safe working practices to be adopted within the laboratory environment at all times, ensuring appropriate use of PPE to prevent breaches of health and safety for yourself and colleagues. Report any issues to the Quality Control manager.
• Assessing and interpreting risks: Report any breaches in health and safety on the incident cards provided by the health and safety representative. Action should be made to prevent any such incidents where possible.
• Business/IT Knowledge: An understanding of laboratory information systems and automated laboratory equipment. Understanding of where the Quality Control department fits within the company alongside building and maintaining relationships with key departments. Be competent at using Microsoft Office applications.
• A critical thinker with strong attention to detail.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Skills & Abilities
• Organization skills: An ownership mentality with the aptitude to work independently as required. You will hold the capability to organize and prioritize with a strong eye for detail and the ability to work under pressure to strict deadlines. Ensure that materials are received into test on the day in which they are delivered, alongside managing the chemical inventory requirements and general upkeep of the laboratory.
• Leadership skills: Not required for this role. Open communication and teamwork are essential.
• Creative and Analytical thinking skills: You will have a curiosity, drive, and determination to make continuous improvements in all aspects of the portfolio with a creative capacity to generate solutions. You will have the ability to grasp new concepts quickly and to assimilate and evaluate data. You must hold analytical and problem-solving skills to be able to critically evaluate information and projects, then synthesize their insights to arrive at a summary to support business demands. Look out for continuous improvement opportunities within the laboratory and share any possible proposals with the Quality Control manager or supervisor.
• Communication skills: Ensure open and consistent communication with all team members. Any issues which may result in daily tasks being unable to be completed must be communicated to the Quality Control manager, Supervisor, or Senior Technical Coordinator. If assistance is required to maintain service levels, it is the responsibility of the Laboratory Support Assistant to communicate this need.
• Integrity: Essential within a Quality Control role to ensure accurate reporting of analysis. You will be trustworthy and hold confidence and resilience when faced against tough situations.
• People skills/relationship building: Gain an understanding of those departments with which we have key relationships, including Planning, Process Control, Procurement, Manufacturing, and Shipping and Receiving. Ensure that all work carried out is both of the required quality, whilst also meeting the needs of internal customers where possible.
We want you to love your work and bring that energy to the job every day, no matter what the task. You’ll be someone who keeps up to date with the latest technologies and is always willing to share their knowledge with colleagues.
Our department is busy. We need someone who can run with the pack but also bring their own personality to their work.
You should be personable, friendly and supportive, acknowledging that you’ll get to work with colleagues from all seniority levels across all departments on a daily basis.
What we’ll do for you
We offer an excellent package which includes a competitive salary; vacation time as well as the opportunity to purchase additional vacation, we also offer a discretionary annual bonus, medical (including family cover), dental and vision coverage, AFLAC, 401k employer matching up to 6%, company-paid short term and long term disability insurance, company-paid life insurance and stock purchase options.
With the encouragement and development you need, we help you to become your ultimate you. Beyond building a successful career, we also support the wishes and ambitions of our staff outside of the office in achieving a health work/life balance - the wellbeing of our staff is paramount to us, which we actively promote and support by regularly delivering a variety of wellbeing initiatives. There will also be opportunities to be actively involved in community and charity projects and to take part in numerous subsidized social events.
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Polite Notice
We politely request that we are not contacted by any recruitment agencies. We have a preferred supplier list and high volumes of speculative calls from agencies negatively impact upon the efficiency of our business. Please help us to maintain the highest levels of customer service by respecting our wishes.