Product Development Manager - Food

Placements24; Stellenbosch; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and bonuses

Health and wellness benefits

Employee discounts

Generous annual leave

Creative work environment

Job summary

Placements24 in Stellenbosch seeks an innovative Product Development Manager to lead the food product pipeline in the FMCG sector. Based in the winelands, you will identify new opportunities, develop cutting-edge food products, and drive launches with R&D, marketing and operations.

The role is hands-on for a seasoned food scientist or product developer with strong project management and regulatory knowledge in South Africa.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in product development, preferably within the FMCG food industry.
• Proven track record of successfully launching new food products into the market.
• Strong understanding of food chemistry, processing technologies, and sensory evaluation.

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end product development process for new FMCG food products, from ideation to commercialization.
• Conduct market research, trend analysis, and consumer testing to identify unmet needs and opportunities for innovation.
• Develop product concepts, formulations, and specifications, ensuring compliance with regulatory and quality standards.
• Collaborate with R&D, culinary teams, and external partners to create prototypes and optimize product formulations.
• Work closely with marketing and sales teams to develop launch strategies and ensure successful market introduction.
• Manage project timelines, budgets, and resources effectively to ensure timely delivery of new products.

Skills

Food science background

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Regulatory knowledge

Food chemistry

Sensory evaluation

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Food Science/ related field

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking an innovative and experienced Product Development Manager to lead their food product innovation pipeline within the FMCG sector. Based in the picturesque town of Stellenbosch , this role is crucial for identifying new product opportunities, developing cutting-edge food products, and ensuring their successful launch into the market. You will work collaboratively with R&D, marketing, and operations teams to bring exciting new food concepts to life, catering to evolving consumer tastes and market demands. This is a hands-on role for a passionate food scientist or product developer.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end product development process for new FMCG food products, from ideation to commercialization.
• Conduct market research, trend analysis, and consumer testing to identify unmet needs and opportunities for innovation.
• Develop product concepts, formulations, and specifications, ensuring compliance with regulatory and quality standards.
• Collaborate with R&D, culinary teams, and external partners to create prototypes and optimize product formulations.
• Work closely with marketing and sales teams to develop launch strategies and ensure successful market introduction.
• Manage project timelines, budgets, and resources effectively to ensure timely delivery of new products.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in product development, preferably within the FMCG food industry.
• Proven track record of successfully launching new food products into the market.
• Strong understanding of food chemistry, processing technologies, and sensory evaluation.
• Excellent project management, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Knowledge of South African food regulations and labeling requirements is essential.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and performance-based bonuses.
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits package.
• Employee discounts on a wide range of company products.
• Generous annual leave and company holidays.
• A dynamic and creative work environment in the heart of the renowned Stellenbosch winelands.