Remote Senior FMCG Product Innovator

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

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Professional development

Home office allowance

Remote work flexibility

Job summary

Placements24 represents an FMCG leader seeking a Senior Product Developer to conceptualize, develop, and launch new products from concept to commercialization. The role is fully remote within South Africa, with collaboration across marketing, R&D and supply chain to deliver market-ready innovations.

The ideal candidate will have 6+ years in FMCG product development, strong formulation and regulatory expertise, and proven ability to lead cross-functional projects in a remote setting.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Food Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related field.
• 6+ years in product development within FMCG with a strong launched product portfolio.
• Deep knowledge of formulation development, ingredient functionality, and processing tech.
• Sound understanding of HACCP and national/international regulatory requirements.
• Strong project management, remote collaboration, and cross-functional teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Lead ideation, development, and market launch of new FMCG products.
• Perform market research to identify trends and consumer needs.
• Create formulations, prototypes, and testing protocols meeting safety standards.
• Scale lab formulations to production scales with R&D team support.
• Source materials, evaluate suppliers, and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Oversee testing, shelf-life studies, and sensory evaluations.
• Collaborate with marketing on positioning, claims, and packaging.
• Manage timelines and budgets; mentor junior team members.

Skills

Formulation development

Regulatory compliance

Project management

Team collaboration

Remote work

Education

Master's or PhD in Food Science/related

Tools

HACCP knowledge

Analytics software

Regulatory databases

Job description

Placements24 represents an FMCG leader seeking a Senior Product Developer to conceptualize, develop, and launch new products from concept to commercialization. The role is fully remote within South Africa, with collaboration across marketing, R&D and supply chain to deliver market-ready innovations.

The ideal candidate will have 6+ years in FMCG product development, strong formulation and regulatory expertise, and proven ability to lead cross-functional projects in a remote setting.