Junior Product Developer - Food

Placements24; Paarl; On-site; ZAR 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive entry-level salary

Annual salary increases

Health insurance

Retirement contributions

Mentorship

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Junior Product Developer for our FMCG client in Paarl. You will assist in creating new food items, focusing on taste, texture, and nutrition, while working with R&D, marketing and QA to meet consumer needs and market trends.

You bring a background in food science and some product development experience, plus strong lab skills and knowledge of Paarl safety standards. This role offers exposure to the full development lifecycle and mentorship.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant food science discipline.
• Internship or experience in product development is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the research and development of new food products, focusing on taste, texture, appearance, and nutritional value.
• Conduct pilot plant trials and scale-up studies for new product formulations.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including R&D, marketing, quality assurance, and production.
• Prepare product samples for sensory evaluation, internal reviews, and customer presentations.
• Maintain accurate records of experiments, formulations, and process parameters.
• Ensure all product development activities comply with food safety regulations and quality standards.

Skills

Food chemistry

Food processing

Sensory evaluation

Laboratory skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Food Science / Food Technology / Nutrition

Job description

About the Role

Our client is looking for an enthusiastic and detail-oriented Junior Product Developer specializing in food products for their FMCG division in Paarl . This role is pivotal in supporting the innovation pipeline, from concept generation to product launch. You will work closely with senior developers, R&D teams, and marketing to create new food items that meet consumer needs and market trends. This is an excellent opportunity for a passionate individual with a background in food science or a related field to contribute to the development of exciting new products within a dynamic company environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist in the research and development of new food products, focusing on taste, texture, appearance, and nutritional value.


• Conduct pilot plant trials and scale-up studies for new product formulations.


• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including R&D, marketing, quality assurance, and production.


• Prepare product samples for sensory evaluation, internal reviews, and customer presentations.


• Maintain accurate records of experiments, formulations, and process parameters.


• Ensure all product development activities comply with food safety regulations and quality standards.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Nutrition, or a related scientific discipline.


• Some experience or internship in product development, preferably within the FMCG food sector.


• Strong understanding of food chemistry, food processing techniques, and sensory evaluation.


• Excellent laboratory and experimental skills.


• Good communication and teamwork abilities.


• Familiarity with food safety standards and regulations relevant to Paarl.

Benefits

• Competitive entry-level salary with potential for annual increases.


• Opportunity to work on innovative food products.


• Exposure to the full product development lifecycle.


• Mentorship from experienced product development professionals.


• Comprehensive benefits package including health insurance and retirement contributions.