Laboratory Technician

About Kerry

Kerry is a global leader in taste and nutrition, serving the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical sectors. We collaborate daily with customers to develop healthier, tastier, and more sustainable products that reach billions worldwide. Our goal is to be the most trusted partner, fostering a sustainable nutrition future. Working at Kerry offers career growth and exposure to a dynamic international environment.

Role Overview

The Laboratory Technician based in Otahuhu, Auckland, operates under the direction of the Quality Assurance Laboratory Lead. The role focuses on delivering precise and timely testing outcomes, fostering continuous improvements, optimizing lab processes, and promoting lean laboratory methodologies to enhance efficiency.

Main Duties

• Executing tests on finished products, in-process samples, raw materials, water, and samples nearing the end of shelf life, following established methods and standards.
• Ensuring prompt delivery of test results to support accurate release decisions for raw materials and finished products.
• Detecting, documenting, and escalating any non-conformities in raw materials and finished products; assisting in investigation and corrective action efforts.
• Managing sample identification, tracking, storage, and disposal for in-lab, retention, and external tests.
• Carrying out calibration, verification, and routine equipment checks while maintaining detailed and accurate laboratory documentation.
• Performing environmental surveillance and hygiene swabs in alignment with established schedules and procedures.
• Facilitating coordination with external laboratories, including sample transfers, follow-up on results, and record keeping.
• Maintaining quality data and logs accurately within Intelex, SAP, and other designated systems.
• Supporting both internal and external audits related to the laboratory scope, including customer, regulatory, and certification inspections.
• Participating in continuous improvement projects aimed at enhancing test reliability, operational efficiency, compliance, and data integrity.

Food Safety and Quality Responsibilities

• Adhering strictly to food safety, GMP, HACCP, allergen management, customer, corporate, and regulatory requirements.
• Promptly reporting and escalating any food safety, product integrity, or quality issues as per site protocols.
• Engaging fully in required training sessions to maintain competency in assigned laboratory and quality tasks.
• Ensuring all records are accurate, complete, legible, traceable, and comply with data integrity and documentation control standards.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• A tertiary degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Microbiology, Chemistry, or related fields.
• Hands-on experience with laboratory testing practices, Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), HACCP, GMP, and fundamentals of food safety.
• Familiarity with food safety and quality management systems like FSSC 22000 and applicable regulatory frameworks.
• Strong attention to detail, problem-solving capabilities, and competency in interpreting test data within specification limits.
• Effective organizational skills and capability to prioritize tasks in a high-paced manufacturing setting.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office; familiarity with SAP, Intelex, or laboratory information management systems is advantageous.

Additional Information

Candidates should be cautious of fraudulent approaches pretending to represent Kerry. Official communication will only come from Kerry’s official email accounts. The company does not use video chat platforms for interviews and will never request payment for participating in recruitment, except for reimbursable travel expenses. Payments are processed through official Kerry accounts only.