Quality Warehouse Technician

THE COMPANY 

Website: www.nielsenmassey.com  

Company Values:

Quality- It’s about the best people, products & processes

Experts-We are knowledge leaders trusted by our industry, customers and consumers

Integrity-We act honestly, ethically and with transparency

Innovation-We continually seek-out creative and effective solutions

Collaboration-We work together and support each other in achieving excellence

Heritage-Our brand is firmly rooted in family. You are part of the family

Nielsen-Massey is a leader in the specialty foods world, specifically in the production and marketing of the world’s finest vanillas and flavors. The company operates a branded consumer goods business (CPG/B2C) as well as a business-to-business (B2B) ingredient and flavor business. The portfolio includes various forms of pure and natural vanilla ingredients, extracts, pastes, and powders plus other flavor extracts including: lemon, almond, chocolate, coffee, peppermint, and rosewater to wholesale, culinary, and industrial customers throughout the world. The global headquarters and state-of-the-art production facility are in Waukegan, Illinois, with an additional plant in the Netherlands. The brand is well established with culinary professionals and big branded players as the premiere vanilla brand in the marketplace while the next phase of growth will come from expanding the brand to a broader base of consumers via an aggressive retail and eCommerce strategy as well as diversifying and expanding the ingredient and flavor business.

Nielsen-Massey Vanillas (NMV) was founded in 1907 and is still owned by three members of the Nielsen family, who work as senior executives at the company. The fiduciary Board is composed of a majority of independent directors as well as the three family shareholders. The four independent members all have CEO experience in a variety of industries, including CPG, eCommerce and Industrial/ Manufacturing. 

The Company is committed to sustaining the plants, people and communities that supply their ingredients. Since 1907, NMV has demonstrated its commitment to civic and social responsibility. The company’s Community Relations initiatives encompass three main objectives: building relationships with the communities in which they live and work; showing their commitment through financial contributions to charities in support of education, youth, veterans and the environment, actively promoting volunteer service among their employees -- and demonstrating as a team that they make a difference. 

NMV supports approximately 18 organizations that represent their mission-driven values. They published their first annual “Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibilities Report” in 2018. Some past ESG programs include the funding of a new Malagasy school and the construction of a solar-powered water pump in the Madagascar Village that grows Nielsen-Massey’s fair-trade vanilla.

In 2009, The Nielsen-Massey Foundation was founded with a mission to assist disadvantaged children and adults with education and leadership development, especially in the field of culinary arts. The Foundation also considers requests for assistance in the development of sustainable environmental practices or for programs benefiting people in countries of need. The Foundation’s board of directors consists of Beth and Matt Nielsen—third-generation owners of Nielsen-Massey Vanillas—and their mother, Camilla.

Throughout its more than 110-year history as a family business, NMV is proudly and fully committed to the ethical manner in which it conducts business, including how employees and customers are treated. As a company, NMV remains committed to honesty and integrity, as well as openness and respect for the rights and interests of its employees. Employees are “treated like family,” in particular, with generous health care benefits. 

OPPORTUNITY 

Position: Quality Warehouse Technician – Vanilla Processing

Reports to: Global Quality Director

Location: Waukegan, Illinois, about 40 miles north of Chicago’s Loop (Full time on site).

Salary Range: $22 - $25 / hour (Compensation is based on education, skills, experience and other job-related factors.)

Position Summary:

At Nielsen-Massey Vanillas, we are dedicated to producing the world’s finest vanillas and pure flavor extracts. The Quality and Warehouse Technician plays a critical role in upholding this legacy of premium quality and food safety. 

We are seeking a hands-on Quality & Warehouse Technician to support quality assurance and daily warehouse operations in a food manufacturing environment. This hybrid role is responsible for inspecting raw materials (including vanilla beans, flavors, and powders), performing basic analytical testing, maintaining vanilla bean inventory quality and ensuring GMP compliance.

• Department: Innovation Quality and Compliance
• Employment Type: Full-Time, Exempt
• Work Setting: Warehouse, Laboratory. Exposure to varying temperatures and Humidity
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. and remain active throughout the shift

 Key Responsibilities:

• Inspect: Carry out incoming inspections on materials including vanilla beans, flavors, powders, and check ingredients for quality, moisture, defects, and verify specification compliance 
• Sampling: Take representative samples as needed
• Testing: Perform basic analytical testing (moisture and water activity) and document results 
• Verification: Verify COAs and supplier documentation against specifications. 
• Inventory control: Maintain a recurring inspection schedule for inventory; monitor stored materials for quality and stability and identify material quality risks before they impact production or customers.
• Conditioning: Perform sorting and grading of vanilla beans, including visual, aroma, and physical condition assessment, and recondition materials as needed. 
• Environmental Monitoring: Support monitoring and documentation of warehouse temperature and humidity conditions and report potential risks to material quality.
• Support warehouse operations: Assist with receiving, storage, inventory control (FIFO/FEFO), picking, and staging of Ingredients as needed.
• Good Manufacturing Practices: Follow and support GMP, HACCP, and food safety standards
• Record Keeping: Maintain accurate inspection, testing, and inventory records
• Internal Communication: Close cooperation with the Warehouse, Manufacturing, Sourcing and Quality teams.
• Team Player: Performs other related duties as assigned. 

Personal Characteristics: 

• Attendance: Must be punctual and timely in meeting all requirements of performance, including, but not limited to, attendance standards and work deadlines; beginning and ending assignments on time; and scheduled work breaks; where applicable.

COMPETENCIES:

• To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

Intellectual

• Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; 

Interpersonal

• Internal Working Relationships - Develops and maintains courteous and effective working relationships with inter and intra departmental colleagues; Meets commitments.
• External Working Relationships – Develops and maintains courteous and effective working relationships with clients, vendors and/or any other representatives of external organizations.

Knowledge and Characteristics:

MUSTS:

• High school diploma or equivalent required; associate or bachelor’s degree preferred
• 2+ years of experience in food manufacturing, quality, or warehouse operations 
• Familiarity with GMP and food safety practices 
• Experience with raw material inspection and handling 
• Strong attention to detail and ability to work in a hands-on, fast-paced environment 
• Basic computer skills
• Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills. 
• Time management and ability to follow inspection schedules

PREFERRED:

• Experience performing basic laboratory testing and using standard lab equipment, such as moisture and/or water activity testing.
• Forklift experience

Benefits

• 401k Plan and up to 4% company matching
• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Health Reimbursement Arrangement or Health Savings Account
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) – Health, Dependent Care, and Commuter
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Paid Parental Leave
• Bereavement
• Short & Long Term Disability
• Weekly paychecks
• Rewards & Recognition Programs
• Employee Referral Program
• Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)
• Annual Bonus Program