We are looking for an R&D Lab Technician II to join our R&D Snacks team in Chicago, Illinois!

Located in downtown Chicago, Conagra's R&D team sits at our Center for Food Design (CFD). The CFD is a new R&D space with baking and snacks labs, a top-of-the-line culinary kitchen, pilot plant capabilities, and a vibrant open-office culture.

As a Lab Technician II, reporting to an R&D Manager, you’ll conduct varied tasks in bakery and snacks labs, the culinary kitchen and pilot plant. You will support sweet treats (baked goods, pudding, hot cocoa) and salty snacks (popcorn, sunflower seeds, and extruded snacks). You’ll prepare bench top or pilot plant samples in collaboration with Food Scientists. You’ll be responsible for general lab upkeep/cleaning duties and inventory management while maintaining an organized and efficient workspaces for the Snacks teams. You’ll help with inventory management – ordering and stocking of supplies, ingredients, and product samples. You’ll help in the creation of great food within a high impact culture!

Product Development Support

• Conduct bench top and pilot plant testing

• Set up, operate, disassemble, sanitize and reassemble lab equipment

• Prepare samples for shipment in collaboration with Food Scientists

• Learn and utilize online specification systems

• Train new employees on lab procedures including cleaning, proper maintenance and bench scale development processes

• Develop and leads new processes or procedures to simplify work processes for a more efficient way of operating

• Ensure food safety and food handling techniques are followed during storage, preparation and cleanup of all foods

• Coordinate shelf-life studies and sample preparation

• Submit team purchase orders

• Test multiple variables using established procedures as well as create innovative, new procedures

Laboratory Maintenance

• Organize, clean and maintain shared frozen, refrigerated and ambient storage spaces

• Facilitates lab cleaning including shared equipment i.e. microwaves, stovetop, ovens

• Calibration of lab equipment including temp probes, microwaves and ovens

• Works with facilities & building manager to maintain lab appliances, plumbing or electrical needs

Inventory Management

• Develop, organize, and maintain stock of general use raw materials in Snacks labs, including shelf-life monitoring and rotating out old inventory

• Assist in managing the ordering and shipments of samples and ingredients to our lab, pilot plant, and various production facilities

• Maintain key product libraries and relevant samples for all business pillars

• Ensure proper delivery of goods/services, coordinating with building/facilities team to track and manage incoming goods

Position Qualifications:

• High School diploma or GED required.

• 2+ years work experience in a food or lab environment

• Basic knowledge of food safety practices

• Demonstrated ability to communicate well, follow directions and effectively collaborate with others to accomplish common goals

• Willingness to taste a wide variety of food products for evaluation purposes.

• Ability to learn and independently operate specialized lab equipment

• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to lift 40 lbs on a regular basis.

• Ability to stand continuously for up to 4 hours

• Ability to operate and move freely around manufacturing equipment

• Exposure to laboratory and pilot plant manufacturing environments for periodic extended workdays which may include loud noise, heat, cold, wet and slippery conditions, exposure to all food allergens

We require applicants for this role to be legally authorized to work in the United States without requiring employer sponsorship either now or in the future.

This role is typically in the office Mon - Fri with some flexibility.

Our benefits include medical, dental, vision, 15 vacation days, 6 additional days off and 10 paid holidays. Check out our 401k plan too! Conagra will match 100% up to the first 6% of pay you save. We will also provide a 3% non-elective contribution to your account regardless of your participation (that's 9%) !

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Our Benefits:

We care about your total well-being and will support you with the following, subject to your location and role:

• Health: Medical, dental and vision insurance, company-paid life, accident and disability insurance

• Wealth: great pay, incentive opportunity, matching 401(k) and stock purchase plan

• Growth: online courses, virtual and classroom development experiences

• Balance: paid-time off, parental leave, flexible work-schedules (subject to your location and role)

Our Company:

Conagra Brands is one of North America's leading branded food companies. We have a rich heritage of making great food, and a team that’s passionate about innovation and growth. Conagra offers choices for every occasion through iconic brands, such as Birds Eye®, Marie Callender's®, Banquet®, Healthy Choice®, Slim Jim®, Reddi-wip®, and Vlasic®, and emerging brands, including Angie's® BOOMCHICKAPOP®, Duke's®, Earth Balance®, Gardein®, and Frontera®.

We pride ourselves on having the most impactful, energized and inclusive culture in the food industry. For more information, visit www.conagrabrands.com (https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2940510-1&h=2999397156&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.conagrabrands.com%2F&a=www.conagrabrands.com) .

Conagra Brands is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, pregnancy, leave status, disability, veteran status, genetic information and/or any other characteristic or status protected by national, federal, state or local law. ​