Product Development Scientist - FMCG

Placements24; Pretoria; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health insurance

Learning & growth opportunities

State-of-the-art laboratory facilities

Industry leader in consumer goods

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a talented Product Development Scientist to join its R&D team in Pretoria, focusing on the FMCG sector. The role involves hands-on formulation, sensory evaluation, and piloting scale-up from concept to commercialization, ensuring products meet consumer and regulatory standards.

The ideal candidate has a strong scientific background and at least five years of product development experience in FMCG, with proven laboratory techniques and collaboration across marketing,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's in a related scientific discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of product development experience in FMCG.
• Hands-on formulation development and sensory analysis.

Responsibilities

• Conduct R&D to create new FMCG products and improve formulations.
• Develop and optimize product formulations for stability, efficacy, and sensory appeal.
• Perform lab analyses and sensory evaluations to assess quality and consumer acceptance.
• Scale up formulations from lab to pilot plant and production levels.
• Collaborate with marketing, regulatory, and manufacturing teams.
• Maintain detailed records of experiments and specifications.

Skills

Formulation development

Sensory analysis

Team collaboration

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Food Science, Chemistry, or Chemical Engineering

Tools

Pilot plant equipment

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a talented and innovative Product Development Scientist to join their dynamic R&D team in Pretoria , focusing on the FMCG sector. This role is central to creating and enhancing the product portfolio, involving hands‑on formulation, sensory evaluation, and pilot plant trials. You will contribute to the entire product lifecycle, from ideation and concept development through to commercialization, ensuring our products meet consumer needs, regulatory standards, and business objectives. The ideal candidate possesses a strong scientific background, a creative mindset, and a passion for bringing exciting new consumer products to market within the fast‑paced FMCG environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct research and development activities to create new FMCG products and improve existing formulations.
• Develop and optimize product formulations, ensuring stability, efficacy, and sensory appeal.
• Perform laboratory analysis and sensory evaluations to assess product quality and consumer acceptance.
• Scale up laboratory formulations to pilot plant and commercial production levels.
• Collaborate with marketing, regulatory affairs, and manufacturing teams throughout the product development process.
• Maintain detailed records of experiments, results, and product specifications.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related scientific discipline.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in product development within the FMCG industry , preferably in food or beverage.
• Hands‑on experience with formulation development, laboratory techniques, and sensory analysis.
• Knowledge of food safety regulations and quality control principles.
• Strong problem‑solving skills and ability to work effectively in a team environment.

Benefits

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience.
• Comprehensive health insurance coverage.
• Opportunities for continuous learning and professional growth.
• Access to state‑of‑the‑art laboratory facilities.
• Be part of a leading company innovating in the consumer goods space.