R& D Laboratory Technician Job Listing at Kelly Services in Waukegan, IL (Job ID 9602957)

Description

Kelly Science has an immediate opening for a Laboratory Technician for our growing client near Waukegan, IL
Pay: $22/hr
Contract Duration: 6 Months (with potential for extension)
We are looking for a motivated and detail-oriented Laboratory Technician to join our growing Research & Development (R&D) team. This role will support the R&D and Culinary teams by assisting with specification management, data entry, project documentation, and general R&D tasks. The position will also provide exposure to cross-functional teams and a dynamic work environment. Ideal candidates are proactive, solution-oriented, and capable of working independently in a manufacturing setting.
Key Responsibilities:
Specification Data Management

• Create, update, and maintain product specifications by entering standard parameters and vendor technical data into our specification database.
• Support ERP system implementation workstreams.
• Generate and organize project documentation for both new and existing projects using R&D templates and procedures.
• Maintain accurate records, including plant trial data, in Excel and store related project documents.

Research Support

• Perform functional evaluations of new ingredients and record results for further analysis.
• Assist with shelf-life studies, tastings, and preliminary fill evaluations for new products.
• Weigh, fill, and label bench samples, coordinate sample shipments, and manage retention samples.

Quality Assurance

• Ensure samples are prepared following Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and handle raw materials and packaging components correctly.
• Maintain a clean and organized work environment, adhering to proper record-keeping standards.
• Report and address any observed issues to management.

Lab & Culinary Center Management

• Manage inventory, project samples, and maintain an organized laboratory and culinary center.
• Track inventory lots, order supplies, and ensure the availability of necessary resources.
• Enforce safe working conditions and general housekeeping in all work areas.

Qualifications & Requirements:

• Experience with specification data management in systems such as SAP, Oracle, or PLM (preferred).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel).
• Previous laboratory experience, preferably in the food or beverage industry.
• Familiarity with manufacturing environments, R&D labs, or pilot plants (a plus).
• Strong work ethic and eagerness to learn.
• Fluency in English required; bilingual (Spanish) a plus.

Skills & Abilities:

• Knowledge of basic laboratory equipment (e.g., scales, mixers, benchtop tools).
• Attention to detail and the ability to follow tasks through to completion.
• Knowledge of GMPs and safety protocols.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Effective time management and the ability to prioritize multiple assignments independently.

Physical Demands:

• Regularly required to sit, stand, walk, and frequently bend or move around the facility.
• Exposure to manufacturing areas may require personal protective equipment (PPE).

Work Environment:

• Primarily office-based, with frequent exposure to manufacturing and warehouse environments.
• PPE may be required under specific conditions.

Join us for this exciting opportunity to work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment!

 

As part of our promise to talent, Kelly supports those who work with us through a variety of benefits, perks, and work-related resources. Kelly offers eligible employees voluntary benefit plans including medical, dental, vision, telemedicine, term life, whole life, accident insurance, critical illness, a legal plan, and short-term disability. As a Kelly employee, you will have access to a retirement savings plan, service bonus and holiday pay plans (earn up to eight paid holidays per benefit year), and a transit spending account. In addition, employees are entitled to earn paid sick leave under the applicable state or local plan. Click here for more information on benefits and perks that may be available to you as a member of the Kelly Talent Community.

Why Kelly® Science & Clinical?

Kelly Science & Clinical is your connection to premier scientific and clinical companies looking to hire industry experts just like you. Our team creates expert talent solutions to solve the world's most critical challenges. Every day, we match science professionals with dream jobs that fit their skills, interests, and career goals—it's the way we think job searching should be. Nearly 100 percent of our science recruiters have a professional background and education in science, so we know a thing or two about the science market and how to get your expertise noticed.

About Kelly

Work changes everything. And at Kelly, we're obsessed with where it can take you. To us, it's about more than simply accepting your next job opportunity. It's the fuel that powers every next step of your life. It's the ripple effect that changes and improves everything for your family, your community, and the world. Which is why, here at Kelly, we are dedicated to providing you with limitless opportunities to enrich your life—just ask the 300,000 people we employ each year.

Kelly Services is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We welcome, value, and embrace diversity at all levels and are committed to building a team that is inclusive of a variety of backgrounds, communities, perspectives, and abilities. At Kelly, we believe that the more inclusive we are, the better services we can provide. Requests for accommodation related to our application process can be directed to Kelly's Human Resource Knowledge Center. Kelly complies with the requirements of California's state and local Fair Chance laws. A conviction does not automatically bar individuals from employment. Kelly participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

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