Junior Product Technologist - (FTC 6 Months)

Clicks Group Limited; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Clicks Group in Cape Town is seeking a Junior Product Technologist on a fixed-term contract of 6 months to support the NPD development plan, ensuring quality, safety and regulatory compliance across product categories from concept to market readiness.

You will apply scientific and regulatory expertise to develop formulations, manage documentation, and collaborate with suppliers to deliver innovative, compliant products while protecting the brand and driving profitability.

Qualifications

• Excellent planning and organisational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects across teams.
• Knowledge of cosmetic formulation and product development.
• Knowledge of cosmetic packaging.
• Computer literacy – Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent knowledge of Cosmetic legislation for Personal Care and product development, quality management and supplier auditing experience.

Responsibilities

• Manage Quality, Safety & Legislation across PL development.
• Lead from concept to manufacturing scale-up delivering right first time.
• Maintain CTSO and regulatory paperwork; update with new quality processes.
• Review product specifications and ensure they conform to quality standards.
• Investigate customer complaints and deliver ongoing product and process improvements.
• Regulatory meetings and reporting; communicate changes to stakeholders.

Skills

Planning

Organising

Cosmetic formulation

Packaging knowledge

MS Office

Communication skills

Cosmetic regulation

Education

Bachelor or Science degree in a related field

Job description

Junior Product Technologist - (FTC 6 Months)

Position summary

Industry: Wholesale & Retail Trade

Job category: FMCG, Retail, Wholesale and Supply Chain

Location: Cape Town

Contract: Fixed Term Contract

Remuneration: Market Related

EE position: Yes

About our company

Clicks Group

Introduction

To drive, protect and enhance the Clicks brand by taking responsibility for ensuring all products developed and sourced as part of the NPD development plan and subsequently sold in our stores have integrity and at a minimum meet the local and international quality, health and safety requirements whilst constantly striving to deliver increased profitability and grow market share.

Key Responsibilities:

Manage Quality, Safety & Legislation

To support the NPD team within their development plans to ensure quality, safety and compliance across all PL development by adhering to legislation and NPD approval processes to protect the brand reputation and financial impact on the business

You will use your scientific, regulatory and technical expertise in the relevant category area to develop formulations/products from concept to manufacturing scale-up, delivering right first time, on time

Implement the CTSO into the business and the supplier base and maintain all quality processes and correct paperwork. Update the CTSO with new quality processes and protocols

Utilise the regulatory system to ensure correct administration of documents and compliance to regulation.

Product specifications and RAG process kept for each product and database maintained

Ensure product specifications conform to the quality standards

Accountable for investigating customer complaints and identifying and delivering on‑going product and technical process improvements.

Responsible for customer complaints/queries, red alerts, public product recall and product withdrawals

Write quality protocols/SOP’s procedures and manuals for all categories (health, beauty, confectionary, electrical and home ware)

Review and communicate TQM results to relevant stakeholders (including customer complaints, quality control results etc)

Report and feedback on quality timeously

Ensure the China QA office is used for all export requirements and the RAG process is followed

DC release process to be implemented for all high risk/new launches

Prepare ongoing and timely sales, quality and corrective action reports (including scorecard, supplier scorecards) for management through drawing, analysing and interpreting accurate data

Lead regulatory change – to manage new legislative requirements into the categories, communicate and ensure total compliance of this within product and packaging developments

Technical training – product and process training new product launches

Attend regulatory meetings

Manage NPD & Costs

Assist with bi‑annual competitor quality review report

Manage relevant technical information to enable final sign off of projects for product and packaging compliance

Lead technical product/ingredient/process and packaging innovation

Find a unique position of Clicks top brands through technical innovation

Co‑ordinate and present new innovative ideas/ingredients and packaging trends every 6 months

Adherence and input to critical project path

Export – project framework/plan to retrofit product into international rules and launch timely

Provide input at concept stage to inform NPD buyers to make an informed decision at development stage

Scrutinise open book costings and identify opportunities to optimise costs and challenge fixed costs related to technical aspects for products (Value Chain Optimisation) re‑engineering of products

Tender evaluations – product/packaging and price

Regular audit scorecard to be obtained from an approved local and international supplier list annually

Corrective action plan presented to key stakeholders and implemented

Build up good working relationships with suppliers to benefit from key learnings

Resolve critical raw materials/sourcing issues

Understand the impact of low or no in‑fills on the categories and resolve issues of quality/capacity

JOB RELATED SKILLS

• Excellent planning and organisational skills
• Ability to work on multiple projects and across teams
• Intermediate knowledge of cosmetic and toiletries formulation, development, manufacture and quality processes to lead innovation in these categories.
• Intermediate knowledge of product packaging
• Computer literacy – Word, Excel level 2, Outlook and Power Point
• Quality orientated
• Good verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent knowledge of Cosmetic legislation with Personal Care and Cosmetic product development, formulation, quality management and supplier auditing experience.

JOB EXPERIENCE

• Excellent knowledge of Cosmetic legislation with Personal Care and Cosmetic product development, formulation, quality management and supplier auditing experience
• Ability to use technical know how to solve problems and create business opportunities to enhance consumer value.
• Ability to work within multi‑functional teams, effectively build relationships with potential technology/research partners and communicate new regulations/technologies to non‑technical team members.
• Ability to work with a high level of autonomy with a sound understanding of value chain impact

EDUCATION

• Graduated in Science with more than 3 years’ experience in Product Development and Formulation with manufacturing knowledge.

JOB RELATED COMPETENCIES

• Leading and Deciding
• Supporting and Cooperating
• Interaction and Presenting
• Analysing and Interpreting
• Creating and Conceptualising
• Organising and Executing
• Adapting and Coping
• Critical Path Management

All positions will be filled in accordance with our Employment Equity plan. We also encourage people with disabilities to apply.