Thermal Process Specialist

About LiDestri Foods

LiDestri Foods has grown from our roots as a pasta sauce and salsa manufacturer to become an R&D engine, formulating and producing innovative food products for our national and retailer brand partners. A family-run company based in Rochester, NY, LiDestri employs over 1,000 people across three U.S. locations. We have decades-long partnerships with some of the most respected consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies and the most highly inventive retailer brands. 

Excellent Pay and Benefits:

• Great career-pathing 
• Professional development, including unlimited online training courses
• Health insurance with premium contributions
• Dental, vision, HSA
• 100% company paid life insurance and long-term disability
• 401k – with employer match
• Paid time off to include- vacation, sick pay, wellness time off, and 10 holidays
• Company bonuses
• And many more….

POSITION SUMMARY:

Responsible for assisting Process Authority with technical resource and implement precise process calculation in both acidified high and low acid foods.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Work closely with retort formulae processes and food sterilization equipment to ensure commercial sterility in compliance with food industry regulations
• Calculate cook time for new Retort formulas and establish process
• Support the determination of Critical Control Points (CCP) and other specifications for products
• Regularly monitor and validate all CCP practices of production personnel
• Conduct heat penetration studies of existing retort formulas with various conditions to ensure existing CCP parameters ensure sterility and compliance.   Implement corrective action when needed
• Conduct retort audits and annually calibrate equipment to ensure they are operating correctly
• Support and communicate updates to Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan, flow diagrams, and procedures annually to ensure safety programs are up to date and in compliance with federal requirements
• Annually conduct audit of all pasteurizers to ensure thermal processing is adequate and meets requirements
• Support the submission of processes to the FDA via website
• Hands on preparation and communication for Heat Penetration trails to include wiring, capping thermal coupling and data setup. 
• Support all original process development files, process deviation files, and regulatory process filing files for regulatory compliance; Filing with FDA and California as needed 
• Report food safety & quality problems to personnel with authority to initiate action

REQUIRED EDUCATION, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor degree in the Natural Sciences, Engineering or Technology preferred
• Quick learner willing to accept and apply hands-on training; eager to expand Thermal Processing knowledge 
• Better Processing School Certificate and HACCP certified preferred
• Familiar with FDA and USDA regulations
• 3 to 5 years of experience preferred with Heat Penetration, Temperature Distribution tests, process calculations, and Thermal processing equipment and software
• Intermediate computer and communication skills, math functions, and reasoning
• Demonstrated ability to use QC test equipment (refractometer, salt titrator, acid titrator, PH meter, color meter, moisture meter, viscometer and consistometer, various gauges, torque meter and other equipment
• Proficient with thermal processing loggers, retorts, thermo-couples, DataTrace temperature recorders, Retort MIG calibration equipment, etc.
• Previous experience in QC and with Food Safety programs preferred
• Ability to wear personal protective equipment (bump cap, hair net, ear plugs, beard net (if applicable), Kevlar gloves, safety glasses and leather skid resistant work shoes/boots.) 
• Willing and able to travel in support of trials, commissioning and testing (20%)

 WORKING CONDITIONS: 

• Regularly required to sit, use hands
• Occasional climbing, reaching, bending required
• Occasional lifting and/or moving up to 10 pounds, with a potential of up to 50 pounds
• Frequent exposure to manufacturing plant floor requiring the use of personal protective equipment (ear plugs, safety glasses, bump cap, hairnet, beard net (if applicable), skid-resistant leather shoes/boots, Kevlar gloves etc.)
• Occasional sedentary office work with frequent exposure to manufacturing environment
• Must follow Good Manufacturing Practice (hair net, no jewelry, no fake nails or eyelashes, no food/drink, gum, etc. in manufacturing Plant).

DISCLAIMER: The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed and is not an inclusive summary of job duties and responsibilities.  The omission of specific statements of duties or responsibilities does not exclude them from the position.  This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and the employee and is subject to change by the Company as the needs of the Company and requirements of the job change.

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