FMCG Product Developer: Food Science Innovator (Hybrid)

Placements24; LegKraal Gate; Hybrid; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Competitive salary and bonuses

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Professional development support

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Product Development Scientist to join the R&D team in Mahikeng, SA. You will drive ideation, formulation, and testing of new FMCG products, guiding concepts from concept to commercialization and ensuring market relevance, quality, and regulatory compliance.

You will collaborate across marketing, manufacturing, and regulatory functions, leveraging trends in food science to create innovative consumer products while balancing cost, scale-up, and timeliness objectives.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Food Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience in product development, preferably in FMCG food and beverage industry.
• Strong understanding of food chemistry, ingredient functionality, and processing techniques.
• Experience with formulation development, pilot plant trials, and scale-up processes.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the research and development of new FMCG products, from ideation through to commercialization.
• Formulate and test new product concepts, conducting sensory evaluation and shelf-life studies.
• Optimize existing product formulations to improve quality, reduce costs, or meet new regulatory standards.
• Collaborate with marketing, manufacturing, and regulatory affairs teams throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Stay abreast of emerging trends in the food and beverage industry and identify opportunities for innovation.

Skills

Food chemistry

Ingredient functionality

Processing techniques

Analytical skills

Problem solving

Project management

Education

Master's or PhD in Food Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Product Development Scientist to join the R&D team in Mahikeng, SA. You will drive ideation, formulation, and testing of new FMCG products, guiding concepts from concept to commercialization and ensuring market relevance, quality, and regulatory compliance.

You will collaborate across marketing, manufacturing, and regulatory functions, leveraging trends in food science to create innovative consumer products while balancing cost, scale-up, and timeliness objectives.