CTI Technical Services Technician

We make pet food taste great! For over 30 years, AFB International has been providing pet food solutions that enrich the lives of pets and their people.  Our palatants are specially designed to make pet foods, treats and supplements taste better, ensuring pets receive the vital nutrients they need. We know wagging tails, licking whiskers and empty bowls equal happy pets and happy pet parents. Join AFB and you'll be a part of a team of highly skilled professionals that provide the greatest contribution to our success as an organization. Our team members are diverse, creative, passionate experts who are genuinely dedicated to our mission, our customers, and the pets we serve worldwide. ​

Job Description

Are you passionate about supporting customer projects through high-quality laboratory work that helps grow the business? Do you have initial experience working in a food or chemistry lab? Are you eager to contribute to customer success as part of a technical team supporting our customer-facing colleagues in the background? Would you like to work for a successful international company that makes pet food taste great?

Then we are looking for you!

AFB International is a global science and technology leader in pet food palatability, developing and producing a full range of liquid and dry palatability enhancers. As an expert in pet food, AFB International is a partner to pet food manufacturers to create better-tasting dog and cat foods, treats and supplements, meeting the specific needs of the pets and pet owners they serve. The company is part of Ensign-Bickford Industries, Inc. (EBI), a privately-owned high technology conglomerate, and has offices and/or production facilities in the USA (global HQ), Europe, Latin America, Mexico, Australia, Thailand and China.

As our CTI Technical Application Technician you will be a part of the R&D customer facing team, also known as Customer Technical Insights (CTI) where you will have the opportunity to perform lab work supporting Sales and Marketing colleagues, as well as customer projects, to improve business outcomes and maximize collaboration opportunities. This position is based in our North American Headquarters located in Saint Charles, MO.

Your opportunity within AFB International

The CTI Team in Saint Charles, MO, has a regional scope (North America). The responsibility of the team is to think and execute in line with the broader regional strategy while engaging other technical and non-technical functions (marketing, sales, quality, R&D) to leverage existing expertise to maximize the chance of success of projects, to bring new insights to the final customers and to translate customer roadmaps into potential new product or technology developments. While focusing on local customers, this team aims to execute flawlessly to achieve both financial and market share objectives.

The Technical Application Technician will be in charge of supporting the CTI team through laboratory activities. This role can cover multiple aspects such as customizing a product, preparing samples, taking care of external lab analyses, or participating in application projects (including with external partners) for internal knowledge building.

Your experience should demonstrate:

• Previous experience working in a food, feed science (quality, R&D…), or chemistry laboratory.
• Ability to design and execute lab experiments.
• Ability to process experimental data into reports and presentations.
• Co-ordination with interdisciplinary teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and conduct lab trials based on customer or the CTI team requests.
• Analyze data, write reports and presentations.
• Facilitate organization of customer kibble for palatability trials by coordinating with the rest of the CTI team.
• Help in preparing samples.
• Set-up and maintain SOPs to ensure effective coordination of laboratory activities between CTI, R&D and QA.
• Ensure the availability and accessibility of all key product data (proximate analysis, minerals, shelf-life, palatability, physical characteristics, composition, logistics, etc.) across the entire portfolio.
• Work closely with R&D and QA team.
• Provide assistance to the Technical Application Specialists to serve customers.

Your Qualifications

• An Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Food Science, Food Technology, Chemistry, Biology, Microbiology, or Laboratory Technology; or
• A technical certificate plus relevant work experience.
• Previous experience in the food industry is preferred but not required.
• Fluent in English and at ease interacting with international colleagues

Competences & other

• Ability to prioritize
• Accurate and strong analytical skills
• Organized, meticulous and detail-oriented
• Team player
• Ability to prioritize and oversee multiple projects in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent communication skills, strong sense of teamwork, networking mindset, and ability to thrive in multicultural environments

AFB International is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, national origin, or veteran status.