R&D Food Product Developer & Innovator

Placements24; Stellenbosch; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Bonuses

Medical aid

Pension plan

Training & development

Modern labs

Collaborative culture

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a highly skilled Product Development Scientist to join its R&D team in Stellenbosch, Western Cape. You will conceptualize, formulate, test, and scale new food products, collaborating with marketing, operations, and QA to align with market trends and safety standards.

The role demands a strong background in food science, hands-on formulation and sensory evaluation, and a track record of launching FMCG products.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Chemistry, or related discipline.
• Minimum of 5 years in product development within the FMCG food industry.
• Proven track record of developing and launching new food products.
• Strong knowledge of food ingredients, processing techniques, and formulation principles.
• Experience with sensory evaluation methodologies and statistical analysis.
• Familiarity with food safety standards (HACCP, GMP) and regulatory requirements.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and project management skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• Must be based in or willing to relocate to Stellenbosch, Western Cape.

Responsibilities

• Lead the research and development of new food products, from concept generation to commercialization.
• Formulate new product recipes and optimize existing formulations for taste, texture, cost, and nutritional value.
• Conduct sensory evaluations and consumer testing to gather feedback and refine product attributes.
• Develop and scale-up new product processes, working closely with engineering and operations teams.
• Collaborate with the marketing team to understand consumer needs and market trends, translating insights into product concepts.
• Ensure all product development activities comply with food safety regulations, quality standards, and company policies.
• Conduct shelf-life studies and stability testing to ensure product quality and integrity.
• Manage project timelines and budgets effectively, ensuring projects are delivered on time and within scope.
• Stay abreast of emerging food technologies, ingredients, and industry best practices.

Skills

Food science

Product formulation

Sensory evaluation

Statistical analysis

Project management

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Food Science/Technology/Chemistry

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a highly skilled Product Development Scientist to join its R&D team in Stellenbosch, Western Cape. You will conceptualize, formulate, test, and scale new food products, collaborating with marketing, operations, and QA to align with market trends and safety standards.

The role demands a strong background in food science, hands-on formulation and sensory evaluation, and a track record of launching FMCG products.