Quality Assurance Technician - Leoti, KS

JOB PURPOSE

As an RNG Lab Technician, your primary role is to ensure the accuracy, integrity, and usability of sampling and testing data across our renewable natural gas operations. You will be responsible for collecting samples, conducting lab analyses, and validating test results to support data-driven decision-making. Your ability to interpret technical data, maintain rigorous quality standards, and identify trends will be critical to improving operational performance. In this role, you will also contribute to enhancing data accessibility, optimizing lab workflows, and supporting continuous improvement efforts across the RNG program.

RESPONSIBILITIES & TASKS

• Sampling and Data Collection: Perform routine sampling of biogas, digestate, water, and other materials across the RNG process to ensure representative and reliable data
  * Laboratory Testing: Conduct standardized lab analyses (e.g., methane content, VFA, alkalinity, solids) with precision and in accordance with QA/QC protocols
  * Data Validation and Integrity: Ensure all lab data is accurately recorded, validated, and stored securely to maintain traceability and compliance
  * Technical Interpretation: Analyze and interpret lab results to identify trends, anomalies, or potential operational issues, providing actionable insights to operations teams
  * Documentation and Reporting: Prepare clear, timely lab reports and maintain detailed logs of test procedures, results, and corrective actions
  * Quality Control and Calibration: Maintain lab equipment, perform regular calibrations, and follow SOPs to ensure consistency and accuracy in testing
  * Process Improvement: Support initiatives to improve lab efficiency, testing accuracy, and turnaround times; assist in the development of improved sampling protocols
  * Compliance and Safety: Follow all environmental, safety, and regulatory requirements applicable to sampling and lab testing within RNG operations
  * Collaboration with Operations: Work closely with plant operators, engineers, and data analysts to align lab findings with production metrics and operational goals
  * Data Integration: Assist in integrating lab results with broader production and performance datasets to support decision-making and long-term trend analysis

CORE COMPETENCIES FOR SUCCESS IN ALL ROLES: instills trust, communicates effectively, action oriented, ensures accountability, and drives results.

CRITICAL COMPETENCIES

Cultivates Innovation - Creating new and better ways for the organization to be successful

Collaborates - Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.

Attention to Detail - Ensuring all work is thorough, accurate, and consistent by maintaining high standards in sampling, testing, and data recording processes

REQUIREMENTS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty/function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the work environment, knowledge, skills, and/or ability required or preferred. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions as listed below.

• Basic understanding of laboratory testing methods related to renewable natural gas, such as gas composition, volatile fatty acids (VFA), alkalinity, solids, and other standard parameters
• Prior experience with sampling techniques and maintaining data integrity in a lab or field-based setting is preferred
• Proficiency with data entry and basic data analysis tools (Excel required; familiarity with SQL or Tableau is a plus)
• Strong attention to detail with a commitment to producing high-quality, accurate results under time constraints
• Ability to clearly document procedures and results, and communicate findings effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences
• Comfort working in agricultural or industrial environments, including exposure to odors, outdoor conditions, and personal protective equipment
• Strong organizational and time-management skills; ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks independently

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds, occasionally lift to 100 pounds and sometimes push/and or move up to 300 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and is commonly exposed to airborne particles and gases at low concentrations. The employee is frequently exposed to waste material, feed and hog dust.

NORMAL WORK SCHEDULE: The hours and days of work are established by departmental needs and at the discretion of management. After-hours, weekends and overnight travel as requested.

ABOUT SEABOARD FOODS

At Seaboard Foods, we create the most sought-after pork. A top U.S. pork producer/processor and leading exporter to 30+ countries, we are committed to bringing excellence to the table, seeking a better way to produce wholesome pork and connect every step between our farms and family tables. Together, more than 5,000 employees in five states work in our farms, feed mills, and processing plant, to produce Prairie Fresh pork, ensuring the well-being of our animals, the environment, our employees and the communities we call home.