Technical Manager Position

The Northern Crops Institute (NCI) is seeking a Technical Manager. The Technical Manager will provide leadership and internal oversight for processing, technical aspects of education programs, product development and laboratory facilities. Maintains private industry involvement and provides technical consulting both in the U.S. and abroad. Generate income from technical services and grant projects provided by NCI, write contracts and set fee schedules for technical services, product development, and staff time for courses. Coordinate and schedule services with staff and clients in a timely manner, including meetings, proposals, reports and invoices. Assure timely invoicing for technical services, develop, maintain and increase industry contacts with current and potential users of NCI services and assist NCI Director in promoting NCI services to industry. Assess value-added processing needs in the region, keep current with industry trends, technology advances, consumer trends, etc. through scientific literature and interaction with industry, university, commodity groups and scientific leaders. Provide technical information when requested and handle referrals in areas of crop quality, functional attributes, milling, baking, pasta and other forms of processing.

Supervise NCI technical personnel as determined by the NCI Director.  Provide supervision of technical staff, coordinate and assign staff responsibilities for all NCI technical projects, perform annual reviews in keeping with NDSU policies, guidelines and timelines. Mentor and provide leadership to each technical staff member to help them in their professional growth, coordinate technical staff travel and seek ongoing educational opportunities for staff (seminars, internships, professional training, etc.). Help cross train technical staff on various laboratory equipment, keep NCI Director informed of the performance of technical staff and make recommendations for recognition, salary adjustments, and disciplinary action when required, work with NCI Director to assess staffing needs to effectively provide technical services and coordinate recruitment of personnel for filling new and existing technical positions.

Coordinate and participate in technical aspects of educational programs. Provide lectures and demonstrations in educational programs about crop quality, functional characteristics, baking, extrusion, and other processing techniques, and use of various laboratory equipment as needed. Provide leadership and assist in identifying, developing and delivering new educational programming, act as liaison between tech team and educational staff. Help assess industry needs for educational programming through contact with commodity groups, industry, university and the scientific community, attend and participate in professional organizations to provide input regarding regional commodities and to the advancement of NCI programs. Propose educational programming ideas to commodity groups and assist program managers in writing associated proposals and contracts.

Oversee and maintain facilities.  Formalize maintenance program for existing equipment and determine new equipment and instrument needs, strive to maintain or have access to testing capabilities representing the current state-of-the-art in the areas of raw material and finished product evaluation. Coordinate laboratory demonstrations with NCI staff and others, maintain FDA approvals, food safety operating protocols, and lab cleanup procedures. Work with technical team on equipment purchases, instillation, and equipment utilization, assist in industry solicitation efforts for potential equipment donations. Supervise NCI Safety program to post appropriate safety reminders and make safety program/information available to NCI staff and to conduct safety meetings for NCI staff, ensure that all staff and student workers are current with their yearly safety training certifications. Assess status of NCI equipment/operations and identify safety hazards and correct and/or report deficiencies.

Minimum Qualifications

• B.S in Food Science, Cereal Science, Plant Science, Agricultural Engineering, or other food related fields, with 8 years of related experience or a minimum of 10 years of experience managing people and processes in food industries. 

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Northern Crops institute is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. NCI and NDSU do not discriminate in its programs and activities on the basis of age, color, gender expression/identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, participation in lawful off-campus activity, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, public assistance status, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, spousal relationship to current employee, or veteran status, as applicable.  Direct inquiries to Vice Provost, Title IX/ADA Coordinator, Old Main 201, 701-231-7708, ndsu.eoaa@ndsu.edu.