Lab Technician 1 - Soledad (R&D)
An industry leader, The Wine Group is one of the world's foremost producers of award-winning wines across more than 60 wine brands and many winery facilities in California, New York, and Australia. Headquartered in Livermore, California, TWG is an industry innovator when it comes to developing, marketing, and selling wine brands beloved by consumers around the world, including Cupcake, Franzia, Benziger, Imagery, Tribute, 7 Deadly, Cooper & Thief, The Dreaming Tree, Charles Smith Wines, and more. The Wine Group believes in producing wine using sustainable and earth-friendly practices to foster healthy land and agriculture for generations to come. The company demonstrates environmental stewardship through its commitment to clean energy and by ensuring that all its owned vineyards are certified sustainable or biodynamic. To learn more, please visit: www.thewinegroup.com.
JOB SUMMARY
Lab Technician 1 is responsible for performing non-routine/ routine chemical/physical analysis, tests required for quality control, research, and development purposes for the evaluation of raw ingredients, and products and processes during our "Crush" season. Assists in compiling, analyzing, and interpreting results. Needs to be flexible to work any shift, with weekends as needed.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Perform wine quality analysis pertaining to grape maturity, White and Red juice analysis, fermentation tracking, press analysis, monthly QC, barrel monitoring, cellar/aging operations, storage, tank/line sanitation and bottling QC.
- Ensures accurate operations of all laboratory equipment/instrumentation such as ChemWell, Alcolyzer, Spectrophotometers, pH meters, ColdStab, filterability, etc. Ability to troubleshoot when necessary to ensure accurate results.
- Performs non-routine and routine analysis utilizing appropriate distillation, titrimetric, colorimetric, and instrumental methods as required.
- Operates laboratory instruments such as a refractometer, balances, turbid meters, and other instruments as required to perform duties.
- Maintain and calibrate analytical instruments in the laboratory in optimum operation condition. Work directly with suppliers' technical staff to resolve maintenance issues. Recommend new equipment and assist in selecting suppliers and appropriate accessories for proposed equipment.
- Understands the proper use and preparation of standardized chemical solutions used in the laboratory. Ability to perform preparations when needed.
- Executes data collection, analysis, and reporting of monthly analysis on Inventory of wines held in cellar. Accurately report analysis and flag possible issues.
- Validates methods and equipment using a range of analytical techniques and instrumentation.
- This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for their job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Must be 21 years or older at time of hire.
- BS in Enology, Chemistry, Food Science, or related field or equivalent of 5 years industry experience.
- Previous winery experience desired but we will consider training the right person.
- Good working and theoretical knowledge of analytical instrumentation.
- Ability to work in an environment that has changing priorities and multiple projects.
- Proficient in the following computer applications: Microsoft Word, Excel, VA, and ability to learn new programs.
- Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills with attention to detail.
- Ability to set priorities and work independently within set guidelines.
- Strong knowledge of production/manufacturing operations.
- Provide good verbal and written communications to all levels of management, both internally and externally.
- Prioritize while able to adapt to changing priorities.
- Demonstrated reliability and punctuality, work effectively in team/crew environment, adherence to all safety regulations and operating procedures.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
- Must be able to frequently lift and carry weights of up to 50 pounds at varying frequencies.
- Working environment is both indoors and outdoors, with exposure to related equipment and noise levels.
- Ability to perform tasks requiring bending, stooping, standing, and twisting.
- Occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
COMPENSATION
- Hourly Pay Range Posted: $19.76 - $29.66/hr.
- Actual compensation will be based on factors such as experience, skills, knowledge, and abilities, education; and other position-related factors.
At The Wine Group, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristic protected by law.
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NOTICE TO THIRD PARTY AGENCIES
Please note that we do not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of a signed Recruitment Services Agreement, we will not consider, or agree to, payment of any referral compensation or recruiter fee. In the event that a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed agreement, we explicitly reserve the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency.
