Formulating Nutritionist

Urban Farmer Pty Ltd; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 334,800 - 446,400; Full time

Job summary

A leading agricultural firm in Centurion is looking for a skilled formulating nutritionist with experience in monogastric species, particularly poultry and swine. Ideal candidates should have an M.Sc. or B.Sc. degree in Animal Science and be proficient in feed formulation. Strong communication and organizational skills are essential, along with the ability and willingness to travel within Africa for on-farm management consulting. This role presents excellent growth prospects and a chance to work in a dynamic, multi-disciplinary environment.

Qualifications

• 5 years of experience in a Nutritionist role focusing on monogastric species.
• Understanding of livestock nutrition, health, hygiene, and management principles.
• Ability and desire to travel into Africa.

Responsibilities

• Provide formulation and nutritional advisory services to customers.
• Perform administrative duties, including monitoring technical queries.
• Engage with internal and external stakeholders effectively.

Skills

Formulation experience

Poultry nutrition

Good communication skills

Team player

Organizational skills

Education

M.Sc. Animal Science or B.Sc. Animal Science or BVSc

SACNASP registration

Tools

FORMAT platform

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Location: Urban Farmer’s office in Centurion (Pretoria)

This is a mid-level position (1 to 5 year’s experience in a Nutritionist role with a focus on monogastric species (swine and poultry) but with the ability/experience to formulate for ruminants and other specialized species). This role offers exciting growth prospects and the chance to gain on-farm management consulting experience for an applicant that shows a passion for excellence and dedication in the execution of their tasks.

The position requires quarterly travel into Africa and an interest and passion for this type of travel would be a definite advantage.

Applicants who do not have formulating experience and have not yet worked as a Formulator/Nutritionist specifically in the animal feed industry need not apply.

Duties and responsibilities

The formulating nutritionist will work within Urban Farmer’s technical team and be responsible for the provision of formulation and nutritional advisory services, as well as on-farm technical support and training to our customers in Africa.

The nutritionist will also be required to perform certain administrative duties, such as recording and monitoring technical queries on our CRM system, preparing training material, coordinating meetings, researching topical content and preparing reports to present to management.

They will also be responsible for the day-to-day administration of feed and raw material samples that have been collected for analysis by our sales and technical teams. This would involve the packaging and logging of samples, delivery to third‑party service providers and the collation and presentation of results to relevant parties.

The nutritionist must be aware that they are working in a small, multi‑disciplinary company and should be prepared to assist in all aspects of day‑to‑day business if required.

The position will require limited travel domestically and into Africa; this would be a minimum of one trip a week per quarter with the possibility of additional travel during training and induction and ad hoc trips as necessary in emergencies. Please do not apply if this is not a possibility for you.

Complexity of the role

The role is primarily a formulating nutritionist role, and the applicant should already be competent and comfortable with basic formulation work on the FORMAT platform or similar.

The applicant is also required to have a good understanding of poultry and general livestock nutrition (formulation), health, hygiene and management principles. While poultry is the main species of focus, an understanding of swine and ruminant (large and small) would be beneficial.

The applicant will be expected to engage with a wide range of stakeholders, both internal and external. The position demands a “team‑player” with a high emotional quotient and good communication skills. The applicant needs to be energetic and self‑disciplined with strong organizational skills. The applicant must have the ability and desire to travel.

Knowledge and education level

• M.Sc. Animal Science or B.Sc. Animal Science or BVSc.
• SACNASP registered (or in the process thereof).
• Excellent command of English (spoken and written) is required.
• High level of computer literacy (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook) is required.
• Proficiency on a feed formulation program (FORMAT preferred).
• Premix industry experience is an advantage.