Hybrid Food & Beverage Product Scientist: Innovate & Launch

Placements24; Polokwane; Hybrid; ZAR 520,000 - 860,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Performance-based bonus

Medical aid and retirement provisions

Hybrid role with remote flexibility

Professional development opportunities

Access to R&D facilities

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Product Development Scientist to join its research and development team in Polokwane, Limpopo. This hybrid role combines in-office collaboration with remote flexibility to create innovative food and beverage products that meet market needs and consumer trends.

You will work with marketing, culinary, and manufacturing teams to bring ideas from the lab to market, ensuring quality, safety, and commercial viability.

Qualifications

• Master's/PhD in Food Science or related discipline required.
• 3–5 years of product development experience in the food & beverage industry.
• Strong knowledge of food chemistry and sensory science.
• Experience with HACCP/ISO food safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Conceptualize, develop, and optimize new food and beverage products from ideation to commercialization.
• Conduct laboratory-scale research, formulation development, and sensory evaluations.
• Analyze ingredients, product stability, and processing parameters for quality and shelf-life.
• Collaborate with marketing, culinary, regulatory affairs, and manufacturing for successful launches.
• Scale up formulations from laboratory to pilot plant and production; troubleshoot issues.
• Perform shelf-life studies and ensure compliance with food safety standards.

Skills

Analytical skills

Team player

Problem solving

Communication skills

Education

Master's or PhD in Food Science

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Product Development Scientist to join its research and development team in Polokwane, Limpopo. This hybrid role combines in-office collaboration with remote flexibility to create innovative food and beverage products that meet market needs and consumer trends.

You will work with marketing, culinary, and manufacturing teams to bring ideas from the lab to market, ensuring quality, safety, and commercial viability.