Product Development Scientist - FMCG

Placements24; LegKraal Gate; Hybrid; ZAR 500,000 - 700,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Potential bonuses

Fully remote setup

Professional development opportunities

Access to virtual research tools

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Product Development Scientist to join their FMCG R&D team in a fully remote capacity. You will lead ideation, formulation, testing, and scale-up of new and improved consumer products from your home base, ensuring quality and market fit while collaborating with cross-functional teams.

The ideal candidate holds a Master's or PhD in Food Science, Chemistry, or related discipline, with proven FMCG product development experience, formulation know-how, and strong analytical

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Food Science, Chemistry, or a related scientific discipline.
• Proven experience in Product Development within the FMCG industry, ideally with food or beverage products.
• Strong understanding of formulation, ingredient functionality, and processing techniques.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and experimental design skills.
• Ability to work autonomously and effectively in a remote R&D environment.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research and development activities to create new FMCG products and improve existing formulations.
• Develop product prototypes, conduct sensory evaluations, and analyze ingredient interactions.
• Scale up product formulations from lab bench to pilot plant and commercial production.
• Ensure all product development activities comply with food safety regulations and quality standards.
• Collaborate with marketing, sales, and operations teams to align product development with business objectives.

Skills

Formulation expertise

Ingredient functionality

Analytical design

Remote R&D experience

Education

Master's or PhD in Food Science or related

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking an innovative and skilled Product Development Scientist to join their FMCG research and development team. This fully remote position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the creation of new and improved consumer products from your home base. You will be involved in all stages of product development, from ideation and formulation to testing and scale-up, ensuring products meet market needs and quality standards. The ideal candidate is a creative problem-solver with a passion for food science or related fields within the FMCG sector, eager to drive innovation remotely.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct research and development activities to create new FMCG products and improve existing formulations.
• Develop product prototypes, conduct sensory evaluations, and analyze ingredient interactions.
• Scale up product formulations from lab bench to pilot plant and commercial production.
• Ensure all product development activities comply with food safety regulations and quality standards.
• Collaborate with marketing, sales, and operations teams to align product development with business objectives.

Requirements

• Master's or PhD degree in Food Science, Chemistry, or a related scientific discipline.
• Proven experience in Product Development within the FMCG industry, ideally with food or beverage products.
• Strong understanding of formulation, ingredient functionality, and processing techniques.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and experimental design skills.
• Ability to work autonomously and effectively in a remote R&D environment.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and potential for bonuses based on product success.
• Flexible work arrangements and fully remote setup.
• Opportunities for continuous professional development and research.
• Access to state-of-the-art virtual research tools and resources.
• A culture that encourages innovation and scientific curiosity.