New Product Development Technologist

Talent 101; Durban; On-site; ZAR 200 000 - 300 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food technology company in South Africa is looking for a Product Development Specialist. You will lead new product development projects, reformulate products for quality and efficiency, and ensure compliance with safety and regulatory standards. The ideal candidate has a degree in Food Technology and 3-5 years of experience in food manufacturing with a focus on innovation. This role requires collaboration with various teams and suppliers to successfully launch products.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years’ experience in food manufacturing, preferably FMCG, with product development exposure.
• Strong understanding of food safety regulations and quality standards.
• Experience with fats, oils, and related edible products is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Lead new product development projects from concept ideation to commercial launch.
• Reformulate and optimize existing products to enhance quality, nutritional value, and cost efficiency.
• Conduct lab-scale and pilot-scale trials to validate product formulations and processes.
• Collaborate with production, quality, procurement, and marketing teams.
• Maintain technical documentation, specifications, and standard operating procedures.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, quality, and regulatory standards.
• Conduct market and competitor analysis to identify trends and opportunities.
• Liaise with suppliers to source raw materials and packaging solutions.

Skills

Product Development

Food Safety Regulation Knowledge

Market Analysis

Collaboration

Education

Diploma or Degree in Food Technology, Food Science, Biotechnology

Job description

Lead new product development projects from concept ideation to commercial launch.

Reformulate and optimize existing products to enhance quality, nutritional value, and cost efficiency.

Conduct lab-scale and pilot-scale trials to validate product formulations and processes.

Collaborate with production, quality, procurement, and marketing teams to ensure smooth product development and launch.

Maintain technical documentation, specifications, and standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Ensure compliance with food safety, quality, and regulatory standards (FSSC 22000, HACCP, Codex).

Conduct market and competitor analysis to identify trends and opportunities for innovation.

Liaise with suppliers to source raw materials and packaging solutions for new products.

Qualifications & Experience :

• Diploma or Degree in Food Technology, Food Science, Biotechnology, or related field.
• 3-5 years’ experience in food manufacturing, preferably FMCG, with product development exposure.
• Strong understanding of food safety regulations and quality standards.
• Experience with fats, oils, and related edible products is an advantage.