Job Location: Chicago Company description Ferrero is a family-owned company with a truly progressive and global outlook and iconic brands such as Nutella, Tic Tac, Ferrero Rocher, Raffaello, Kinder Bueno and Kinder Surprise. As the love for our brands continues to grow, so too does our global reach. Represented in more than 50 countries, with products sold in more than 170, the Ferrero Group is loved by generations around the world. The secret to our global success? 40,000 dedicated employees who celebrate care and quality to craft a business, careers and brands we are proud of. Join us, and you could be one of them. About the Role: You have always loved it, now be part of it! Ferrero North America is thrilled to be launching its Industrial Graduate Program (IGP), a career acceleration program, which seeks to groom top new graduate talent into the future leaders of Ferrero food manufacturing. What to Expect The IGP offers a comprehensive 3-year journey, which will prepare you for a career with Ferrero through mentorship, technical on-the-job training, as well as a supplementary training curriculum to support your development. This program embodies the Learning by Doing spirit of Ferrero, and will introduce you to the industrial setting, learning the "Ferrero Way" and exploring industrial career path opportunities. This 3-year program will include the first 2 years in the Home location and the 3rd and final year on a rotation to a different plant with Ferrero North America to expand your breadth of experience with the company and in Manufacturing. Ferrero's Chicago 110 St. plant, home to Keebler Cones and Pie Crusts is looking for a Jr. Food Technologist to join the team! In this role, you will: * Learn to apply procedures using specifications, standards, methods, and instruments to monitor the production process and ensure product quality. * Gain expertise in understanding all aspects of the product, overseeing the quality of semi-finished and finished goods, and adjusting processes as needed. * Acquire proficiency in conducting standardized qualitative and quantitative tests to enhance product aesthetics, preserve quality, and optimize costs. * Embrace and uphold company guidelines, policies, and procedures to maintain operational excellence. This position will start September 2024. Main Responsibilities: * Understand product characteristics and troubleshoot technological issues. * Build familiarity with manufacturing processes and critical variables. * Calculate moisture contents, ingredient percentages, and formulas. * Collect data and analyze system performance for quality assurance. * Advise Production on process adaptations for product enhancement. * Assist in identifying and resolving root causes of quality issues. * Support Quality and Production in research, development, and quality control. * Conduct tests, including organoleptic tests, on products, raw materials and processes. * Analyze test results and provide feedback to improve product quality. * Record production sample results and analyze data and support Production and Quality in determining corrective actions. * Assist Quality in inspecting finished product output. * Support implementation and maintenance of program requirements. Who we are looking for: * Recent graduate (Bachelor's or Master's) in the last 12 months * Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Microbiology, or related field, preferred. * Demonstrates interests in Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Process Technology or another Industrial Career Path * Knowledge of Organoleptic Testing * Knowledge of food industrial equipment, food production process and technology, standard operating procedures, health & safety / food quality standards and work instructions, food industrial installations. * Product technical knowledge (in connection with mechanical/industrial application) and technological knowledge (relating to the science * of the process applied to the product). How to be successful in the role and at Ferrero: Consumers, quality and care are at the heart of everything we do. So, to be successful at Ferrero, you'll need to be just as consumer and product centric as we are - dedicated to crafting brilliant results for consumers around the world. Diversity Statement Ferrero is committed to building a diverse and inclusive culture in which all employees feel welcomed and appreciated and have the same opportunities. We believe all of our people are equally talented in their own way. In nurturing the curiosity and natural abilities of our employees, we provide them, generation after generation, the means to succeed personally and professionally, enabling them to craft their journey at Ferrero. The diversity of our talents is what makes our work environment multicultural, innovative and highly rewarding. Ferrero N.A. provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics.