Laboratory Technician

Key outputs and responsibilities:

• Responsible for meeting Quality KPIs
• Prevent quality non compliances
• Promote quality awareness
• Contribute to quality performance at the site
• Promotion of a quality culture
• Maintain housekeeping and 5S standards

Maintain Equipment and Workplace:

• Maintain and calibrate equipment
• Maintain a safe and healthy environment

Analyse Samples:

• Prepare samples
• Conduct analyses

Compliance to VPO Quality Pillar and other applicable VPO requirements:

• Execute VPO activities in accordance with the VPO work practices
• Execution of activities to ensure compliance to food safety and quality management systems

Process Control:

• Sampling is carried out as per procedure
• Samples are identified, verified and handled to retain integrity as per procedure
• Samples are prepared and dispatched, if necessary, as per procedure
• Relevant apparatus, equipment and reagents are prepared as per procedure
• Analysis is performed using fundamental laboratory techniques and practices
• Accurate results generated at specified times
• Results are recorded and reported as per Quality standard
• Non-conformance identified and escalated as per procedure
• Out of control procedure adhered to
• VPO compliance

Lab Equipment:

• Equipment is maintained and calibrated according to procedure
• Equipment and verification calibration frequencies are adhered to
• Calibration records available and update

Safety and healthy work environment:

• Adherence to PPE policy
• Unsafe conditions and work practices are identified and actioned
• Chemicals and reagents are handled as per manualized procedure
• Hazardous substances are stored, handled and disposed of as per procedures
• Adherence to documented lab safety rules, guides and practices
• Incidents are reported and actioned as per procedure
• House-keeping schedules are adhered to

Specialist Analysis:

• Carry out specialized and highly specialized quality analyses where required
• Record the results of analyses conducted on appropriate information systems and communicate results accordingly
• Conduct analysis of results to identify problems and improvement opportunities timeously
• Assist the plant in the execution of quality analysis, where required
• Conduct calibration of specialist equipment for which the labs are responsible

Problem Solving:

• Support the production teams in problem solving, providing specialist assistance and techniques
• Assist with coaching/mentoring of production teams on problem solving and correct use of problem-solving techniques as required

Training:

• Support the training of the production teams
• Assist with coaching/mentoring of production teams on quality analyses and correct use of analytical techniques

Continuous Improvement

• Carry out specialised analyses in support of the evaluation of continuous improvement opportunities
• Determine additional analytical work required evaluating continuous improvement opportunities
• Take part in regional and divisional process optimisation initiatives as required

Minimum Requirements:

Education:

• Minimum Bachelor of Science in Microbiology/ Biotechnology or equivalent.
• Min 3-12 months on the job training
• 2-3 Years Experience in Laboratory , Brewing or Packaging operations,
  Experience in the Food Industry or laboratory environment

Skills:

• Understanding of process control within a brewing/process environment
• Proactive
• Proven leadership ability
• Ability to utilise computer programmes
• Analytical ability
• Communication skills and interpersonal skills
• Problem solving skills
• Precision and accuracy, attention to detail
• Numeracy

Work in teams:

• Communicate effectively in the work place
• Contribute to self and team development

CLICK HERE TO APPLY