R&D Tech

Koch Foods
Fairfield, OH, United States

Manufacturing
Full-time
food labeling compliance
FDA regulations
USDA standards

Our job summary

The R&D Tech is responsible for maintaining product files to ensure compliance with FDA and USDA labeling and regulatory standards in the food industry. They act as subject matter experts on food science and regulatory issues, supporting product development, packaging, and quality assurance activities. The role involves collaboration across cross-functional teams, supplier communication, data management, and occasional travel to supplier or customer sites.

Maintain complete product files to support government label compliance standards and technical advertising/promotional claims through the development and maintenance of label, nutrition, and regulatory files per standards.
Act as subject matter expert to apply FDA/USDA regulations and its standards and principles of food science in close concert with the department manager and other appropriate resources.
Provide regulatory perspective for new and legacy products, and help identify and resolve regulatory hurdles.
Working independently, with external and internal experts, and with other Koch Foods' team members to prepare scientific support documentation for internal and external customers.
Monitor preprinted packaging for accuracy.
Enter and update specification information into database.
Verify regulatory information against specifications and labeling on file.
Facilitate shelf life and nutritional testing.
Generate daily reports for production and packaging.
Work on special projects as needed.
Assist production with packaging issues when necessary.
Recommend proper packaging materials (sizes and configurations) for existing and new product development.
Collaborate with Procurement to standardize packaging where possible while simultaneously designing customized packaging for unique product lines.
Communicate with packaging suppliers to develop appropriate packaging specifications and populate specification database with information.
Facilitate discussions across the cross-functional team (both internal and external) to move from artwork initiation through to printing finalization.
Responsible for recordkeeping of supplier documentation speaking to the appropriate compliance of all primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging materials with various food types and storage conditions.
Visit supplier and/or customer facilities as needed.
All other relevant duties as assigned.

Associate's degree in Food, Biological, Chemical, Physical, or Packaging Sciences, Food Engineering, Industrial Manufacturing, or other closely related field preferred.
3+ years food industry experience required.
Experience working in regulatory, production, quality assurance/control, or lab preferred.
Exposure to working with and current knowledge of USDA/FDA/FSMA regulations as they pertain to labeling, standards of identity, allergens, and food safety.
Experience working with and current understanding of nutrition, labeling, and regulatory concepts gained through technical reading, industry interaction, and/or attendance at appropriate seminars and educational courses as continuing education and scientific curiosity.
Ability to identify problems, collect data, establish facts, forecast, and draw conclusions both mathematically and analytically.
Excellent verbal and written presentation skills to communicate with peers, managers, and executive leadership team.
Bilingual language abilities are a plus.
Intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Office products, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.
General knowledge of food ingredients, interactions, and nutrition levels is preferred.
Willingness and ability to travel up to 10% of the time for overnight travel.

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