Factory Technologist

RPO Recruitment; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 300,000 - 500,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food manufacturing company in Cape Town is seeking a Factory Technologist to oversee technical operations in their Cake Production Department. The ideal candidate will have a tertiary qualification in Food Science, at least 3 years of industry experience, and strong knowledge of food safety standards. Responsibilities include managing the Quality Control team, improving safety protocols, and ensuring compliance with customer specifications. The position offers a competitive market-related salary.

Qualifications

• Grade 12 / Matric.
• Minimum 3 years experience in the food industry, with at least 1 year in leadership.
• Strong knowledge of food safety, HACCP, GMP, FSSC22000.

Responsibilities

• Oversee technical operations in the Cake Production Department.
• Maintain and improve the Food Safety Management System.
• Lead investigations into customer complaints.
• Monitor production processes to ensure consistency.
• Prepare for and manage audits for compliance.

Skills

Food safety

Quality assurance

Technical process management

Communication skills

Problem-solving skills

Leadership

Education

Tertiary Qualification in Food Science / Technology

Job description

Description

A leading food manufacturing company is seeking a Factory Technologist to join their Production Department in the south of Cape Town. The ideal candidate will hold a tertiary qualification in Food Science / Technology bring at least 3 years of industry experience (with 1 year in a leadership role) and demonstrate a strong track record in food safety quality assurance and technical process management. Experience in the baking industry and working with Woolworths will be highly advantageous.

Duties and Responsibilities

Oversee technical operations within the Cake Production Department to ensure compliance with food safety and quality standards.

Maintain and continuously improve the Food Safety Management System HACCP GMPs and FSSC22000.

Ensure all products meet customer specifications and regulatory requirements.

Lead investigations into customer complaints analyse trends and implement corrective and preventative measures.

Lead and manage the Quality Control (QC) team assigning tasks monitoring performance and providing guidance.

Foster a culture of accountability attention to detail and continuous improvement.

Facilitate training to ensure staff remain aligned with best practices and compliance standards.

Monitor production processes to ensure consistency and identify risks or deviations.

Implement corrective and preventative actions to maintain product quality.

Review and approve product specifications recipes and process controls.

Support new product development and ensure technical accuracy in production.

Prepare for and manage internal and external audits ensuring full compliance.

Maintain accurate documentation and reporting for regulatory and customer requirements.

Drive ongoing improvements across quality and safety systems.

Liaise with customers including Woolworths to ensure specifications and standards are met.

Provide technical support and respond to customer queries and feedback.

Collaborate cross-functionally with production RandD and management teams.

Minimum Requirements

• Grade 12 / Matric
• Tertiary Qualification in Food Science / Technology (Post-graduate qualification advantageous)
• Minimum 3 years experience in the food industry / manufacturing sector (with at least 1 year in leadership)
• Baking industry experience (advantageous)
• Experience with Woolworths (advantageous)
• Strong knowledge of food safety quality assurance HACCP GMP and FSSC22000
• Excellent organisational problem-solving and communication skills
• Attention to detail assertiveness and ability to work independently and in a team
• Ready to take the lead in driving food safety and quality in a top-tier manufacturing environment

Package & Remuneration

Market Related