Culinary R&D Team Lead - Food Innovation & Lab

Placements24; Polokwane; Hybrid; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Performance bonuses

Health insurance

Professional development opportunities

State-of-the-art culinary facilities

Hybrid work model

Paid time off

Retirement fund

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an innovative Culinary Team Lead in Polokwane, blending in-lab experimentation with strategic planning to drive new food concepts.

You will lead a small team of chefs and culinary technicians, oversee the product development lifecycle from ideation to prototype, and ensure top quality, safety, and market relevance across sensory evaluations and scale-up processes. This hybrid role offers opportunities for professional growth within a dynamic, R&D-focused environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of culinary experience, with at least 2 years in a leadership or supervisory role within R&D, product development, or a high-volume catering/restaurant setting.
• Strong understanding of food science, recipe development, and scaling principles.
• Bachelor's degree in Culinary Arts, Food Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Experience with sensory evaluation techniques and data analysis is a plus.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and teamwork skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of culinary professionals in the development of new food products and recipes.
• Oversee the entire product development lifecycle, from ideation and formulation to testing and refinement.
• Develop innovative and commercially viable food concepts and menu items.
• Conduct sensory analysis and consumer testing to gather feedback and guide product improvements.
• Ensure adherence to quality control standards, food safety regulations, and operational efficiency.
• Collaborate with R&D scientists, marketing, and production teams to ensure successful product launches.
• Manage culinary lab resources, equipment, and ingredient inventory.
• Stay updated on emerging food trends, ingredients, and culinary technologies.
• Document recipes, processes, and test results meticulously.
• Contribute to strategic planning for the culinary innovation pipeline.

Skills

Leadership

Food science

Recipe development

Sensory analysis

Team mentorship

Project management

Communication

Quality control

Education

Bachelor's degree in Culinary Arts or Food Science

Job description

Placements24 is seeking an innovative Culinary Team Lead in Polokwane, blending in-lab experimentation with strategic planning to drive new food concepts.

You will lead a small team of chefs and culinary technicians, oversee the product development lifecycle from ideation to prototype, and ensure top quality, safety, and market relevance across sensory evaluations and scale-up processes. This hybrid role offers opportunities for professional growth within a dynamic, R&D-focused environment.