Koppert Canada Limited Looking for Research And Development Technician at Leamington, Ontario, Canada Full Time

Job Overview

Reporting to the Head of Scientific Development & Quality Assurance, the R&D Technician will be responsible for a host of duties as outlined below. Mainly, the R&D Technician will, participate, execute, and complete field and laboratory trials, including data collection, analysis, and reporting. The R&D technician will be responsible for the functional side of R&D, taking our theoretical or hypothetical knowledge and applying it in tangible applications. The R&D Technician will also be responsible for product knowledge and application of that knowledge to best practices for field or research applications as well, the R&D Technician will carry out technical duties within production, ensuring various measures for success.

Position Competencies

The successful candidate for the R&D Technician position will exhibit the following:

• Works well independently or in a team
• Is a self starter; able to complete and think of relevant tasks without direction
• Takes initiative with confidence
• Organized and timely
• Client facing skills
• Represent the company well
• Comfortable in front of clients and sales environments

** Note that travel is required national and occasional travel internationally may be required.**

Interdepartmental Collaboration

The successful applicant acts as a link between our official research and our technical sales teams. Communication is key in this process and is crucial to the success of both the Science and Sales departments. This position must reliably communicate relevant research and results from both local and global research initiatives and convey the information in a clear and concise manner to our sales teams.

Multifunctional Support

Sales and Research Support (SRS) play a crucial role in this position and are done so in the form of mini trials or projects. The results from these trials directly impact the language, technical advice, and forward progress of our products in and out of the field.

Internal & External Protocol

Technical Consultants rely on the knowledge gained from the Science department to influence their decision making in the field directly with the growers. When a product is ready to be used, these knowledge gains or protocols are vital to the success of IPM counter measures and directly affect the perception and success of the company, and that specific Technical Consultant.

Multifaceted Research & Development

The R&D portion of this job can be broken into three areas of interest, mainly, Field, Lab, and Production.

• Field R&D directly affects how our products behave in the field, thus relying heavily on collaboration between sales and quality to ensure the products, and the advice behind them, is correct.
• Lab R&D focuses on changes, testing, trialing, or any variation of fluctuation on our products. It is here where creativity and thorough problem solving come into play.
• Production R&D and support focuses on identifying and employing best practices in production, assembling the best format to produce quality products in an efficient and timely way.

General Competencies and Qualifications

Successful candidates in the R&D Technician position must demonstrate and obtain:

• Graduate of a Post-Secondary Institution (College or University) in sciences related studies. Biological Sciences an asset.
• Minimum two- five years work experience in related field. Experience working in a research capacity is an asset.
• Communicate effectively in English, both verbally and written.
• Ability to travel by vehicle or commercial transportation to other offices, meeting locations, customer farms, attend training, or management gatherings as directed. A valid Driver’s License is required.

Technology Competencies

The R&D Technician must be able to adapt on the fly using the technology provided to them. This includes in and out-of-office interactions. Successful candidates must have:

• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint etc.)
• Adept at utilizing smart phone technologies; text, photo sharing, messenger groups etc.
• Experience with R or SAS statistical software an asset.
• Experience with A.R.M. an asset.

Behavioural Competencies

These are a combination of skills, attributes, and behaviours, which are directly related to the successful performance on the job.

• Maintain a high degree of integrity and ethical behaviour in all business activities and decisions
• Set personal standards of conduct that meet or exceed company or legal requirements
• Keeps confidences, admits mistakes, and does not misrepresent themselves for personal gain.
• Models and reinforces ethical behaviour in self and others.
• Maintains Koppert standard of work as deemed fit by Manager
• Protects and demonstrates company vision of excellence
• Follows accountability chart as prescribed by Manager
• Dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers.
• Establishes and maintains effective relationships with customers and gains their trust and respect while proactively addressing customer needs.
• Follows through on identified problems until resolution.
• Establish and maintain harmonious professional relations by demonstrating respect for and sensitivity to others.
• Facilitate effective brainstorming while bringing good, creative ideas out of others.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with team members, internal partners, customers and others using strong interpersonal skills. Obtain cooperation of others, seek and encourage win-win alternatives.

We partner with Nature:

• We have a deep respect for nature. Nature was here first and will always find a way. We use nature as a tool against itself to provide ethical, health-conscious ways to produce, maintain, and promote growth.

We Work for Growers:

• Our growers are key figures within our business. We feel a strong responsibility to share our expertise to serve them, and in doing so, our communities in the best way possible. Without our growers, there is no Koppert.

We Keep Improving:

• Just as the world we live in is constantly changing and innovating, so to does our company. We believe that constant innovation is the only way to keep a growing company that employees, our growers, and our world can benefit from. Without innovation, we cannot hope to continue.

We Build Global Networks:

• Collaboration is in our DNA. We cannot do this on our own. We know that in order to get closer to realizing our mission and vision, we need to work together. That’s why, in partnership with 100 countries around the world, Koppert’s name can continue to grow, globally.

We are Family:

• We care, respect, and value each other. We are welcoming and open. Within Koppert, we are united through values and a strong belief in biological solutions and sustainable growing practices. We understand that tough times may come, but through a familial bond and care for nature, we believe that anything can be overcome. We have your back!

What you can expect

• This position involves an in-office working model. Part of the time, your work will involve an office space, and part of the time, your work will consist of field or lab settings.
• This position requires to be physically able to endure outdoor or indoor climates including hot or cold extremes and walking on uneven surfaces. Regular exposure to pollinators (bumblebees) will occur.
• Ability to work flexible hours or weekends as needed.