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Fair State Brewing Cooperative is seeking a full-time Lab Manager to join our production staff in St. Paul, MN.
Fair State is one of a limited number of cooperatively-owned breweries in the US. We began operations at our Northeast Minneapolis brewery/taproom in August 2014, and added a large production brewery in St. Paul, MN in 2017. We operate a 7.5bbl brewhouse at the taproom location and a 4-vessel 30bbl brewhouse at the St. Paul location, where we also package our beer in cans and bottles. We focus on traditional lager beer, sour beer (ranging from kettle sours to 100% barrel-fermented mixed culture beers), and hoppy beers.
We’re looking for a dedicated, hardworking, and knowledgeable person to join our team. The ideal candidate would have significant brewery, lab, and quality experience; be willing to work across all brewing, cellaring, packaging, and quality operations; and be willing and able to contribute to our continued growth and excellence.
The Lab Manager is expected to manage all portions of the lab function, from documentation and lab work to inventory and purchasing. They must also act in a supervisory role to staff performing quality functions. They manage testing, data collection, data analysis, sensory panels, quality improvements and lab functions.
Responsibilities
Desired skills and experience
This is a full-time, salaried position compensated $50,000 per year. As a full-time employee, this role is also eligible for:
Application Process
To apply, email a resume and cover letter to productionjobs@fairstate.coop. Applications will be accepted, and interviews conducted on a rolling basis. We’re looking for someone to start ASAP.
Fair State is one of a limited number of cooperatively-owned breweries in the US. We began operations at our Northeast Minneapolis brewery/taproom in August 2014, and added a large production brewery in St. Paul, MN in 2017. We operate a 7.5bbl brewhouse at the taproom location and a 4-vessel 30bbl brewhouse at the St. Paul location, where we also package our beer in cans and bottles. We focus on traditional lager beer, sour beer (ranging from kettle sours to 100% barrel-fermented mixed culture beers), and hoppy beers.
We’re looking for a dedicated, hardworking, and knowledgeable person to join our team. The ideal candidate would have significant brewery, lab, and quality experience; be willing to work across all brewing, cellaring, packaging, and quality operations; and be willing and able to contribute to our continued growth and excellence.
The Lab Manager is expected to manage all portions of the lab function, from documentation and lab work to inventory and purchasing. They must also act in a supervisory role to staff performing quality functions. They manage testing, data collection, data analysis, sensory panels, quality improvements and lab functions.
Responsibilities
- Perform and train staff in quality testing and measurements from barley to finished beer
- Aseptic sample collection and media plating from all areas of the brewery
- Manage a sensory panel, maintain sensory inventory, assign panels, and train staff
- Report data to the other production managers on a regular basis
- Conduct root cause analysis to determine sources of quality issues
- Work with Head Brewer, Packaging Manager and others to implement improvements
- Audit SOPS, HACCP, GMP, and Quality Policy to ensure documents are up-to-date
- Develop and adhere to a budget for new equipment purchases, maintenance and repair, consulting services, and consumables
- Interface with brewery management software and paper forms to complete extensive record-keeping
- Contribute to a safe working environment by following safety procedures
- Represent Fair State at events, as necessary
- Maintain a clean and orderly work environment
- Operate forklifts, scissor lifts, hand trucks, and vehicles as needed
Desired skills and experience
- Experience working in a production brewery
- Ability to make informed decisions independently based on appropriate information
- Impeccable attention to record-keeping, with excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Very strong arithmetic, problem-solving, and mechanical skills
- Ability to troubleshoot, find solutions under pressure, and change tasks quickly while maintaining focus and a constructive attitude
- Willingness to work hard, find root causes, and support long-term improvements
- Commitment to ensuring compliance with company policies and procedures
- Bachelor of Science in a related field
- Five years of experience in lab, brewing, food production, or related environments.
This is a full-time, salaried position compensated $50,000 per year. As a full-time employee, this role is also eligible for:
- 7 paid holidays (New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Day)
- Paid Time Off, which can be used for any purpose and is accrued at a rate of 0.0769 hours of PTO per hour worked (4 weeks per year)
- Paid parental leave (160 hours of paid parental leave in the 12 months following, or the 9 months prior to, the birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child in their home)
- Health insurance for employee, spouse / domestic partner, and dependents, with a portion of premiums paid by Fair State
- Dental and vision insurance, with 50% of employee and dependent premiums paid by Fair State
- Short- and Long-Term Disability, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, and life insurance coverage, with 100% of premiums paid by Fair State
- Flexible savings account for medical and dependent care
- Simple IRA with employer-matching up to 3% (eligible in 2022)
- Employee Assistance Program
- Discounted membership in our cooperative (after 6 months)
- Annual safety clothing & equipment stipend
- Employee beer and merchandise stipend
- Employee merchandise and beer discounts
Application Process
To apply, email a resume and cover letter to productionjobs@fairstate.coop. Applications will be accepted, and interviews conducted on a rolling basis. We’re looking for someone to start ASAP.