Oberland Agriscience Inc. is a sustainable black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) farm in Halifax, NS. We are dedicated to closing the food loop in our region and making a positive contribution to our planet. Oberland’s high-performing team rears BSFL in our zero-waste facility, delivering exceptional productivity per hectare and yielding nutrient-rich, low-environmental impact products.
Partnering with local food producers and distributors, Oberland upcycles organic waste and food production by-products such as spent grains from local craft breweries to grow BSFL on an industrial scale. Oberland actively plays a role in a more sustainable circular economy in Atlantic Canada. Oberland generates high-quality sustainable protein products from the larvae, marketed and sold under the Obie’s BSFL brand, and is seeking certification on an insect-derived fertilizer product for home gardens and agricultural lands.
Job Summary
We are seeking a detail-oriented and data-driven professional to join our team as an R&D Lab Technician / Feed Formulator. This role focuses on feed formulation, laboratory experimentation, data analysis, and formulation validation to support product development and production readiness.
The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting R&D initiatives, maintaining formulation accuracy and consistency, and improving operational efficiency across the organization. This position is well suited for a technically minded individual who enjoys analytical problem-solving, laboratory work, and working with data and formulation systems in a fast-paced research environment.
Key Responsibilities
Formulation & Data Management
- Develop, validate, and optimize feed formulations, and maintain formulation databases
- Ensure ingredient specifications, nutritional values, assay results, and formulation inputs are accurate and current
- Serve as the primary technical lead for formulation release, ensuring formulations are production-ready
- Support production troubleshooting and internal technical requests
- Maintain consistency and alignment across formulation and operational systems
Laboratory & R&D Support
- Conduct laboratory experiments, testing, and product analysis to support R&D projects
- Assist with trial design, sample collection, method development, and data interpretation
- Maintain accurate records of experiments, results, and technical documentation
- Prepare technical reports, summaries, and presentations of findings
- Collaborate with operations, production, and purchasing teams to support project goals and timelines
- Stay current with emerging technologies, ingredients, and industry developments
Collaboration & Professionalism
- Build strong working relationships with internal teams and external partners
- Demonstrate professionalism, accountability, and attention to detail in all aspects of work
- Contribute positively to a collaborative, hands-on, and fast-paced team environment
- Lead by example and embody company values and cultural commitments
Qualifications & Skills
- Post-secondary education in Nutrition, Animal Science, Biochemistry, Food Science, or a related field is required
- Knowledge of feed formulation principles and practical experience formulating diets is required
- Strong numerical, analytical, and quantitative problem-solving skills
- Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy
- Proficiency working with databases, spreadsheets, laboratory data, and formulation systems
- Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining organized records
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a team
- Experience working in an R&D laboratory environment with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP)
- Hands-on attitude and willingness to work in both laboratory and production environment
- Experience in food, feed manufacturing, or product development environments; GMP facility and feed formulation software experience is an asset
Pay: $50,000.00-$60,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Dental care
- Disability insurance
- Extended health care
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- Vision care
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Halifax, NS: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (preferred)
Application question(s):
- What interested you in applying for a position Oberland Agriscience?
Work Location: In person
