Product Development Scientist

Placements24; Stellenbosch; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Performance incentives

Health & retirement benefits

State-of-the-art facilities

Professional development

Collaborative environment

Job summary

Placements24 in Stellenbosch seeks a seasoned Product Development Scientist to drive new FMCG products from concept through commercialization. You will formulate recipes, optimize processes, and run lab and pilot-scale tests while partnering with marketing, QA, and manufacturing to ensure quality, safety, and cost efficiency.

The role emphasizes regulatory compliance, technical troubleshooting, and scale-up expertise, offering access to advanced facilities and a collaborative R&D culture.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Food Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related scientific discipline.
• Proven experience (5+ years) in product development, particularly within the FMCG industry.
• Strong knowledge of formulation science, product testing methodologies, and process scale-up.
• Experience with regulatory requirements for food and consumer products.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and a passion for innovation.
• Strong analytical and project management capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead the research and development of new FMCG products from concept to commercialization.
• Formulate and optimize product recipes and processes, ensuring quality, safety, and cost-effectiveness.
• Conduct laboratory experiments and pilot plant trials to test product viability and scalability.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including marketing, quality assurance, and manufacturing.
• Ensure all product development activities comply with relevant regulatory standards and company policies.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical challenges that arise during product development and scale-up.

Skills

Product development

FMCG

Formulation science

Scale-up

Lab testing

Project management

Analytical skills

Education

Master's or PhD in Food Science/Chemistry/Chemical Engineering

Tools

Laboratory equipment

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a highly skilled and creative Product Development Scientist to join their innovative FMCG research and development team in Stellenbosch . This role is central to the creation and improvement of new and existing products, focusing on formulation, testing, and scaling up for production. You will work closely with marketing and operations to translate consumer needs and market trends into successful, high-quality FMCG products. This is an exceptional opportunity for a scientific professional to contribute to product innovation and shape the future of the company's offerings within a leading research-focused organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the research and development of new FMCG products from concept to commercialization.
• Formulate and optimize product recipes and processes, ensuring quality, safety, and cost-effectiveness.
• Conduct laboratory experiments and pilot plant trials to test product viability and scalability.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including marketing, quality assurance, and manufacturing.
• Ensure all product development activities comply with relevant regulatory standards and company policies.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical challenges that arise during product development and scale-up.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Food Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related scientific discipline.
• Proven experience (5+ years) in product development, particularly within the FMCG industry .
• Strong knowledge of formulation science, product testing methodologies, and process scale-up.
• Experience with regulatory requirements for food and consumer products.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and a passion for innovation.
• Strong analytical and project management capabilities.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and performance-based incentives.
• Comprehensive health, retirement, and insurance benefits.
• Access to state-of-the‑art research facilities and equipment.
• Opportunities for further academic and professional development.
• A collaborative and intellectually stimulating work environment.