Junior Food Technologist - R&D

Lactalis Australia; Australia; Hybrid; AUD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Lactalis Australia is seeking a Junior Food Technologist to support a major industrial project in the Food Service dessert sector. You will develop products, run trials in lab and pilot settings, and provide technical support across sensory and analytical activities.

The role emphasizes collaboration with the Senior Food Technologist, lab testing, trial data analysis, and maintaining product specifications, contributing to high-quality dairy product development.

Qualifications

• Master Degree (preferred) in food science/technology or equivalent.
• Knowledge of Food Science/Food technology is required.
• Milk science and technology: knowledge of milk components and processing.
• Physics and chemistry of milk: identifying milk components in lab.
• Microbiology basics and crisis management relevant to group products.
• Nutrition basics and nutritional implications.
• Sensory evaluation basics and comparing group products with competitors.
• Laboratory analysis: understanding main analyses and equipment.
• Understanding of all relevant regulations for the category.
• Good stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate preparation, shipment, and receipt of samples; conduct bench-scale trials and report data.
• Perform laboratory testing including pH, compositional testing, viscosity, and other assessments.
• Participate in cross-functional sensory evaluation sessions to understand customer requirements.
• Attend industrial trials with training and support; assist with data collection and analysis.
• Evaluate existing products and assist in sensory quality standards maintenance.
• Support creation and maintenance of raw material, intermediate mix, and finished product specifications.
• Provide assistance to other R&D team members as required.

Skills

Master degree knowledge

Food science

Milk science

Physics & chemistry of milk

Microbiology basics

Nutrition basics

Sensory evaluation basics

Laboratory analysis

Regulatory understanding

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Master Degree in food science/technology

Job description

• A 9 month contract role offering competitive salary
• Office-based role, working out of the Rowville site
• #1 Dairy Global company with a portfolio of awesome market leading brands

We are Lactalis Australia

We are owned by the Lactalis Group, the world’s largest producer of dairy goods. With a range of more than 2,000 products, Lactalis is committed to playing a daily role in the health and well‑being of consumers throughout the world, via the provision of nutritious dairy products - milk, cheese, yoghurt and other soft foods and beverages.

At the heart of our business locally, we have over 2,700 passionate employees, working closely and constructively with some 500 Australian farmers to produce the finest dairy products in the country.

Pillar brands such as Pauls, Oak, Ice Break, Tamar Valley Dairy, Vaalia, President and Galbani provide Lactalis Australia with a deep national footprint for growth and prosperity.

We are a growing global company that takes great pride in who we are. We are humble, proud and resilient. Our brands, people and know how define who we are. We provide a workplace that delivers the opportunity to drive your development, and believe that true success comes from us.Collaboration, flexibility and diversity are pillars of our environment. With knowledge and experience we encourage you to make a difference!

About the Opportunity

This position is primarily focused on supporting a significant industrial project involving bulk desserts within our Food Service business. The role is project-focused, and will provide hands‑on experience in product development, industrial trials, laboratory testing, sensory evaluation, and technical support activities within the Food Service category. The successful candidate will work closely with and support the Senior Food Technologist in the following areas:

Main responsibilities will include but will not be limited to:

• Coordinate the preparation, shipment, and receipt of samples, conduct bench-scale trials, and compile, analyse, and report trial data.
• Perform laboratory testing, including pH analysis, compositional testing, viscosity measurements, and other functional assessments.
• Participate in cross-functional sensory evaluation sessions to develop an understanding of customer requirements from both sensory and functional perspectives.
• Attend industrial trials with appropriate training and support, assisting with data collection, documentation, and analysis throughout the trial process.
• Evaluate existing products and assist in the development and maintenance of sensory quality standards.
• Support the creation and maintenance of raw material, intermediate mix, and finished product specifications.
• Provide assistance to other members of the R&D team as required.

About You

To be the successful applicant for the Junior Food Technologist role you should have

• Master Degree (preferred) in food science/technology or equivalent
• Knowledge of Food Science/Food technology
• Milk science and technology: Knowing of milk components, interaction and evolution during processes
• Physics and chemistry of milk: Knowing different forms of milk components and how identify them in laboratory
• Microbiology basics: Ability to understand relevant microbiology and its effects on Group products, including effective and timely crisis management.
• Nutrition basics: Ability to analyse nutritional implications of products and improve it.
• Sensory evaluation basics: Ability to conduct a basic sensory evaluations and comparisons between Group products and competitors' so to offer consumers a superior product.
• Laboratory analysis: methods knowledge and interpretation: Knowledge of main analysis, equipment and methods to provide understanding and measurement during development phase
• Understanding of all relevant regulation for the category
• Good stakeholder management skills and working effectively cross-functionally

In return we offer an exciting and challenging opportunity for you to make an immediate impact, career growth opportunities, competitive salary package and a team orientated and fast paced work environment committed to succeeding.