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The Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre (Food Centre) is seeking to hire a Junior Food Safety Specialist for our Food Safety and Skills Development Program.
This position will assist with the coordination and development of the Food Centre’s initiatives and programs focused on food safety and quality, both internally and in support of the growing food industry in Saskatchewan.

In addition, the Junior Food Safety Specialist will:

• Assist and advise clients regarding developing and implementing food safety systems
• Advise clientele of product offerings from the program
• Provide assistance on projects which could be delivered directly at clients sites as per project scope
• Plan, schedule and develop project timelines
• Assist in development and implementation of required food safety and quality assurance programs

Qualifications and Skills for the Position:

•  B.Sc. in Food Science, Food Safety, Microbiology and/or closely related fields and 4+ years of work experience
• Graduate degrees in Food Safety, Quality Control and/or related fields will be preferred but not required
• A background in food safety, quality control, regulatory science, quality assurance and process troubleshooting will be preferred
• A background in audit, certification, GFSI, FSSC, ISO, BRC, HACCP, CanadaGAP, GMP and other food safety systems
• Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills with the ability to distill complex food safety, inspection, auditing, program development information into easily understood, accessible language
• A team player who engages with internal teams and external collaborators
• Strong technical writing and proposal writing/reporting experience and proven success in project execution
• Travel may be required as part for this role and will vary from project to project

A competitive professional salary will be available to the successful candidate, based on experience, education and a relevant skill set.

In your cover letter, please provide examples that demonstrate how your skills and abilities meet the requirements for this position as listed above.
Please apply by June 1st 2024 to Elmer Peralta:  eperalta@foodcentre.sk.ca

The Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre Inc. (Food Centre) is seeking to hire Manager, New Product Innovation to lead our Product Development Team. Manager, New Product Innovation will be responsible for all aspects of coordinating new product development activities including regulatory review for compliance, nutritional labelling and product evaluation. The position will be responsible for managing staff and projects to ensure they are completed in an efficient manner. Project management will be a key role as part of the position and the overseeing of staff and projects. The position will also be the primary contact for new clients in product development. Major responsibilities include:

Product and process development:

• Project management
• Deliver the projects for clients from ideation to commercialization
• Complete product development projects and provide information to clients and funding agencies
• Assist clients with new product development

Client services:

• Assist the Food Centre in providing advice to the clients regarding product improvement processing, labeling and packaging and trouble shooting
• Keep up to date on product innovations in order to inform processors of opportunities

Management of product development program:

• Business development
• Train and oversee staff in product development, processing techniques, and regulatory compliance
• Develop new partnerships and serve clients within the ecosystem

Qualifications and Skills for this Position:

• B.Sc. in Food Science and/or closely related fields with 10+ years of experience
• M.Sc. in Food Science and/or closely related fields with 6+ years of experience
• Ph.D. in Food Science and/or closely related fields with 4+ years of experience
• Relevant product development experience including plant and animal based foods, ingredient utilization and product formulation
• Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills
• A team player who engages with internal teams and external collaborators
• Strong technical writing and proposal writing/reporting experience and proven success in project execution.
• Good computer skills (Word, Excel, MS Teams, Internet, Email)
• Strong time and project management and multi-tasking abilities will be an asset

This is a full-time position. A competitive professional salary will be available to the successful candidate, based on experience, education and a relevant skill set.

In your cover letter, please provide examples that demonstrate how your skills and abilities meet the requirements for this position as listed above. Successful candidates will be contacted for an interview. Resumes are accepted until the position is filled. We do not accept telephone calls.

Email Cover Letter and Resume to Mehmet Tulbek: mtulbek@foodcentre.sk.ca

Core Function:
Reporting to the Ingredient Science & Technology Program Manager, this position will assist in R&D and mini-pilot scale testing.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Follow instructions related to operations and quality controls
• Operate, assemble, disassemble and clean equipment as required
• Maintain equipment and manage consumable supplies within the areas
• Keep all client project information confidential
• Develop and maintain a positive relationship with clients and coworkers
• Organize and follow sanitary operations in work areas
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent

Work conditions:

• Frequently required to stand, walk, and ability to lift or move 25 kg

Located in Saskatoon, SK, the Food Centre offers a competitive salary and an excellent benefits package to qualified candidate.  No phone calls please.

Please email resume to Maria Hounjet:  mhounjet@foodcentre.sk.ca

The Food Centre is an established industry leader in value added processing in Saskatchewan.  We are looking for an individual seeking a unique opportunity to work in a diversified food processing setting.

The Food Safety and Quality Assurance (FSQA) Coordinator is responsible for ensuring the overall quality and food safety in their assigned areas through the management of regulatory, company, and customer policies, programs and work instructions. FSQA Coordinator ensures all products manufactured meet company and food safety specifications. This requires working closely with other departments on production issues/situations, product dispositions and investigations into root causes for deficiencies. The FSQA Coordinator must assist in managing quality programs and exercising technical expertise, including training, assessing performance and making improvements.

KEY ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Conduct all quality inspections in the area of assigned responsibility and manage quality programs
• Perform routine verifications and inspections to ensure product quality, compliant procedures, and food safety
• Responsible for maintaining all outside audit/certification requirements (GFSI and CFIA)
• Responsible for catching out of specification product by stopping the production process or removing product for rework as required
• Works with other departments to implement procedure changes due to non-compliance
• Ability to interpret customer/sales specifications and apply subjective quality decisions to product (i.e. product appearance, color, texture, etc.)
• Ability to effectively and immediately communicate with plant management and personnel on any arising issues
• Must be able to keep accurate and timely documentation
• Conduct operational sanitation inspections and audits to ensure no food safety deviations
• Take proactive action in response to identifying/correcting deficiencies to ensure continuous improvement
• Follow all appropriate departmental procedures regarding all potential quality assurance or food safety holds
• Provide training to personnel/clients in compliance with company Good Manufacturing Practices / GFSI Standards
• Maintain current knowledge of HACCP, GFSI, Regulatory Affairs, and Product Quality standards
• Various other tasks can be assigned by the FSQA management team as business needs progress

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the work environment, knowledge, skill, and/or ability required or preferred. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: Requires a B.Sc. in Meat or Food Science or other related area of study; or 4+ years in the food industry. Candidate needs a basic knowledge of processing plant operations, Food Industry Regulations (USDA, SSOP, HACCP, and GMP) or the combination of education and experience that enables performance in all aspects of the position. A PLUS: Knowledge/experience in food certification claims (e.g. Organic, NON-GMO, Halal, Kosher, etc.), HACCP Certification and basic GFSI (BRGS) training desirable.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS: Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills and demonstrated ability to work well with others. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, and/or governmental regulations. Requires the ability to work as a team member and individually to complete given tasks.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read and interpret documents in the English language such as safety files and procedure manuals. Must be able to effectively communicate with management personnel and others within and outside of the organization.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Ability to apply mathematical applications to practical situations. Must possess strong analytical and metric-based skills.

REASONING ABILITY: Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical, diagram, written and/or verbal form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables. Ability to troubleshoot, analyze varying situations and develop quantifiable solutions.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Proficient in computer skills such as Outlook, Excel and Word, as well as all standard programs used by the industry and the ability to learn and effectively use any and all other computer programs that are or will be made available. Must be organized, detail oriented and possess good troubleshooting skills. Must have reliable transportation.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to talk or hear. Generally the incumbent must be able to sit and use a computer for extended periods of time. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; move about the facility; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. This position requires the ability to occasionally lift, push/pull up to 40 pounds. Must be able to climb ladders and platforms and enter confined spaces. Must be able to wear all safety equipment. Individual must be able to effectively work in a laboratory environment as well as normal production environment where temperatures and noise levels may vary.

Located in Saskatoon, SK, the Food Centre offers a competitive salary and an excellent benefits package to qualified candidate.  No phone calls please.

Closing date: May 3, 2024

Email resume and cover letter to Greg Hamilton:  ghamilton@foodcentre.sk.ca

The Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre Inc. (Food Centre) seeks a Microbiology Technician for its new Fermentation & Bioengineering program. You will be part of a team involved in fermentation projects for food and non-food applications for external clients and internal initiatives. You will have opportunities for growth and develop skill sets in fermentation technology over time.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Extensive understanding of microbiology principles and hands-on experience including proper aseptic techniques, microbial testing, cell banking, plate counts, staining techniques
• Experience with basic analytical techniques
• Experience with DNA, RNA and protein isolation techniques from bacteria and fungi
• Experience performing quantitative real-time PCR assays
• Strong ability to read and understand operating manuals and standard operating procedures (SOPs)
• Generate, complete and maintain data records
• Basic data analyses in Excel
• Follow QA/QC standards, practices and protocols established at the Food Centre
• Monitor growth of microorganisms and progress of fermentation
• Perform in-process testing during fermentation runs including plating, microscopic analyses, and various analytical procedures
• Contribute to improve and optimize process quality and efficiency
• Perform routine maintenance and calibration of equipment
• Follow all safety protocols and safely operate equipment
• Maintain inventory of supplies, consumables and strains
• In consultation with supervisor, request quotes from suppliers and order laboratory supplies
• Ability and willingness to work after hours, if needed
• Ability to lift weight up to 22.5 Kg

Qualifications and skills:

• Diploma or bachelor’s degree in Microbiology, Biotechnology and/or related fields
• Superior attention to detail, good communication, computer knowledge, ability to observe, report and participate in process optimization
• Enthusiastic with a willingness to learn

Email resume and cover letter to Pooba Ganeshan: pganeshan@foodcentre.sk.ca

Resumes will be accepted until position is filled.

The Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre Inc. (Food Centre) seeks a professional individual who enjoys collaboration and the rewards of assisting food processing companies to bring new products to market. As a Food Product Development Specialist, you will be a part of a team developing new food products, carrying out projects and working directly with clients. This is a great opportunity for a creative person with a knack for food innovation, a desire to learn new technologies, and strong planning, organizational and verbal and written communication skills.

Core Duties and Responsibilities:

• Communicate with clients and work with the Department Director to develop work plans for clients’ projects
• Managing projects from start to end
• Design recipes and prepare products both independently and collaboratively with the other specialists for internal and external evaluations
• Perform sensory evaluations including preparing products, setting up tests, and assisting with sensory panels
• Keep good records of test results and prepare summaries
• Analyze data/findings and prepare reports for clients
• Review food regulations and develop nutritional labels
• Arrange sample shipments for clients, and track samples as required
• Contact ingredient vendors for information, samples, and procurement
• Perform other tasks as assigned by the manager.

Professional Requirements:

• Enter into a Confidentiality Agreement with the Food Centre
• Professionally conduct their self by positively and accurately representing the Food Centre to clients and the public at large
• Work collaboratively and proactively with the Food Centre team to serve client needs efficiently and effectively.

Qualifications Required:

• Degree in food science
• 3-4 years of experience in food product development will be an asset
• Meticulous attention to detail
• Strong adaptability to the changing needs of projects
• Good interpersonal communication skills (both written and verbal)
• Good computer skills (Word, Excel, MS Teams, Internet and Email)
• Ability to handle several projects simultaneously and prioritize effectively
• Willingness to learn and grow in the job
• Enjoy cooking

This is a full-time position. The start date is to be determined.
The Food Centre offers a competitive salary and benefits package to qualified candidates.
Successful candidates will be contacted for an interview.
Resumes are accepted until the position is filled.

Please email resume and cover letter to mtulbek@foodcentre.sk.ca

We have several immediate openings for a part-time Processing Personnel at our Pilot Plant facility, located at 52 Innovation Boulevard, Saskatoon, SK (on U of S Campus).  The employee will be responsible for assisting in the production of a diverse range of food products.

Shifts vary starting as early as 7:30 – 8:00 a.m. to finishing as late as 4:30 p.m. with competitive wages for entry level food production workers.

Benefits package available for part-time employees.

Skills and Abilities:

• Working with others
• Problem solving
• Decision making
• Critical thinking
• Continuous learning

Work Conditions and Physical Capabilities

• Repetitive tasks
• Manual dexterity
• Hand-eye coordination

Email resumes to sirvine@foodcentre.sk.ca.  Resumes accepted until position is filled.

We are hiring part-time/casual processing personnel food production workers to staff our Agri-Food Innovation Centre location (2335 Schuyler Street, Saskatoon, SK) .  Shifts vary starting as early as 6 a.m. to finishing as late as 5 p.m. with competitive wages for entry level food production workers.

Skills and Abilities:

• Working with others
• Problem solving
• Decision making
• Critical thinking
• Continuous learning

Work Setting:

• Fruit and vegetable processing plant

Email resume to kmelchkart@foodcentre.sk.ca or nsanchez@foodcentre.sk.ca

Resumes accepted until positions are filled.