What are the responsibilities and job description for the Research and Development Technician position at Guayaki Yerba Mate?
As an R&D Technician, you will play a key role in supporting our Research & Development team by assisting with product formulation, conducting laboratory tests, and ensuring the seamless execution of product evaluations. Your contributions will help drive innovation and maintain the highest standards of quality in our beverages. This in-office position, and this person will be expected to be in our Sebastopol office 5 days a week. ********This is also an hourly Temp to Hire position.
Here's what you'll do:
- Assist in the benchtop preparation of new and existing product formulations for R&D testing and tastings.
- Manage the shipment and receipt of lab samples, ensuring proper tracking, storage, and handling.
- Maintain a clean, organized, and compliant laboratory environment by following safety and quality protocols.
- Support the R&D team with administrative tasks, such as data entry, sample organization, and preparing materials for meetings or presentations.
- Conduct and document laboratory tests (e.g., pH, Brix, caffeine, and other key attributes) and analyze results to support product development.
- Assist in sensory evaluations, accurately recording and compiling test results to inform decision-making.
- Evaluate new ingredients and suppliers, compiling relevant data to support formulation discussions.
- Perform regular inventory checks for lab supplies and ingredients, ensuring availability for testing.
- Assist in product shelf-life studies, documenting stability data and identifying any changes over time.
- Maintain, calibrate, and coordinate the ordering of laboratory equipment to ensure accuracy and functionality.
Here's what you'll bring to the table:
- Associate's degree in Science, Food Science, Chemistry, or a related field (preferred).
- 1-2 years of laboratory experience and/or 2-3 years of experience in a food or beverage kitchen environment.
- Strong understanding of food science, chemistry, or biology.
- Prior experience in the beverage industry is a plus.
- Ability to conduct laboratory tests, analyze data, and present findings clearly.
- Experience with data entry systems and maintaining accurate records.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel).
- Familiarity with laboratory data management software or Quality Systems (preferred).
- Strong analytical skills, including the ability to interpret data and troubleshoot testing discrepancies.
- Comfortable with mathematical concepts such as proportions, ratios, percentages, and unit conversions.
- Detail-oriented with excellent organizational and problem-solving abilities.
What we offer:
At Guayakí Yerba Mate, we're more than just a beverage company: we believe yerba mate culture allows us to "COME TO LIFE" together and is an invitation to personal, social, ecological and cultural regeneration. Market Driven Regeneration™ is Guayakí Yerba Mate's business model that aspires to create a net positive impact in the world throughout our operations and supply web. It influences the ingredients we source and products we make, distribute, and sell in order to have a positive impact on people and the planet throughout our business.
As our team expands, we are looking for people to join us who are committed to this aspiration and believe a better world is possible. Our company culture is driven by collaboration, support and teamwork which allows us to grow together. We believe that learning from different perspectives and seeking shared solutions together is an opportunity to grow both individually and as an organization. As an international company rooted in yerba mate native to South America, our people come from different cultures and backgrounds that are welcomed and valued. We question the status quo and seek innovative solutions to help drive the global regenerative business movement. We invite individuals to join our team who embrace work as a collective and aspire to using business as a force for good.
More about who we are:
Yerba mate. We love it, we drink it, but what, exactly, is it? Guayakí Yerba Mate started in 1996 as a passion, guided by a purpose and transformed into a brand with the goal of bringing yerba mate to more people. Known to provide a smooth energy boost and improved focus, yerba mate comes from the naturally caffeinated leaves of a species of holly tree found deep in the Atlantic Rainforest of South America and naturally contains a combination of caffeine (also found in coffee), theobromine (also found in chocolate) and polyphenols (also found in green tea) offering a unique beverage experience.
Guayakí Yerba Mate offers a variety of options to meet energy and refreshment needs through a robust portfolio of ready to drink beverages and traditional loose-leaf products. Brewed with yerba mate and infused with real fruit juices and herbs, Guayaki Yerba Mate is proudly sourced with regenerative, organic and fair-trade certified ingredients.
To learn more about our impact, check out our Impact Report at: impactreport.guayaki.com
Guayakí Yerba Mate is an equal-opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will be treated with respect and receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, genetic information, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, uniform service, Veteran status, age, or any other protected characteristic per federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the CA Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.
