Research & Development Technologist

About

Description

At RCL FOODS, we’re passionate about growing what matters – and that includes innovation, quality, and our people. We’re looking for a Research & Development Technologist to join our Milling Division. The R&D Technologist will be responsible for developing products according to brief, lead all laboratory and factory trials, and manage delivery of R&D projects from concept to launch. This includes technical support in flour applications, coatings, and breading solutions to improve product quality and meet customer needs. The role will be based at Pretoria West and will report into the Technical Manager

Responsibilities

• Innovation: Conduct regular trade reviews and identify gaps in the market for potential innovations
• Assist in customer presentations and conduct proactive product development
• Identify opportunities in current product recipes and processes for recipe and cost optimisation
• Product Development: Develop products according to project brief or customer specification
• Conduct the necessary laboratory and factory trials for the launch of new products
• Develop make-up recipe and cooking instructions, for premixes/maize/coatings, respectively
• Liaise with suppliers for the sourcing of new ingredients
• Keep abreast with new ingredient technologies for recipe and cost optimisation
• Screening of all raw materials to ensure they are suitable for the application and/or manufacturing plant
• Conduct sensory evaluation/tasting sessions for products that are in development
• Develop product specifications
• Conduct product shelf-life tests and reports
• Train the production teams on how to manufacture the new product while conducting factory trials in conjunction with them
• Liaise with commercial teams to complete product costings
• Project Management: Provide input towards the development of project timelines for all projects in the R&D pipeline
• Manage project delivery against project timelines
• Quality Assessments: Conduct quality assessments such as softness, texture, volume, water activity studies, sensory analysis where required
• Interpretation of data collected from the quality assessment instruments
• Administration & Reporting: Recording of all laboratory trial data
• Ensuring all relevant QC & Food Safety documents are completed for all new ingredients
• Completing and archiving of all laboratory trial data
• Compiling of all factory trial reports
• Drafting of project specifications
• Completing shelf-life test reports
• Policy

Qualifications

• BSc or BSc (Hons) in Food Science or National Diploma or BTech in Food Technology or equivalent qualification
• Minimum of 2 years R&D experience with in-store baking and/or plant baking experience required
• Basic knowledge of flour, it’s quality specifications and associated applications, namely coatings and breading
• Computer literate

Application instructions:

• Apply Urgently!