Research & Development Ops Graduate

Reckitt Benckiser LLC; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 200 000 - 300 000; Full time

Job summary

A global health and hygiene company is looking for an R&D Operations Graduate in Johannesburg. This role involves managing technical documentation, supporting R&D projects, and conducting chemistry testing. Ideal candidates should possess a relevant Bachelor’s degree, strong communication skills, and a passion for science. The role offers opportunities for professional development and includes benefits in line with local market standards.

Benefits

Parental benefits

Employee Assistance Program

Life insurance

Global share plans

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree equivalent in relevant science.
• Preferably no work experience required; one year in FMCG is a plus.
• Strong communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Create and manage technical documents for regulatory approval.
• Support R&D projects managing formulation and testing.
• Conduct analytical chemistry testing.

Skills

R&D

Product Lifecycle Management

Commercial Awareness

Collaboration

Analytical

Chemistry

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Pharmacy, Chemical Engineering or relevant science

Job description

Research & Development Ops Graduate

City: Johannesburg

Home to the world’s best loved and trusted hygiene, health, and nutrition brands. Our purpose defines why we exist: to protect, heal and nurture in the relentless pursuit of a cleaner, healthier world. We are a global team united by this purpose. Join us in our fight to make access to the highest quality hygiene, wellness, and nourishment a right and not a privilege.

Research & Development

In Research and Development, we’re full of highly skilled talents that include Scientists, Engineers, Medical, Clinical and Regulatory professionals – all working to create a cleaner, healthier world. With nine Centres of Excellence, we continually seek out new opportunities by using science, our entrepreneurial flare and our fearless innovation to develop and enhance our existing portfolio, never compromising on quality or performance.

We do the right thing, always, by ensuring we act with responsibility and integrity, by complying with regulatory legislation across the globe, whilst ensuring our products are safe for our consumers and are to the highest quality.

The size of our organisation means you’ll have the opportunity to learn and work in different functions within R&D, giving you exposure to different disciplines, teams and environments. You will also have access to our Research and Development Academy, designed to develop our team and allow you to grow in our great organisation.

About the role

As an R&D Operations Graduate at Reckitt, you will thrive in our fast‑paced environment alongside a team of expert scientists dedicated to ensuring product safety and efficacy. Your meticulous attention to detail will be crucial in supporting technical dossier management and analytical lab compliance.

Your responsibilities

• Create and manage technical documents for regulatory licence variations, ensuring scientific accuracy and market compliance.
  • Conduct analytical chemistry testing, data processing and report generation for stability studies of products globally.
  • Engage in and potentially lead formulation activities and raw material management, contributing to R & D project success.
  • Collaborate with cross‑functional teams and external partners to drive global R&D activities, particularly for gastrointestinal products.
• Support low risk R&D projects in a relevant category, ensuring the implementation of projects by ensuring all:
  • Required formulation, feasibility work, analysis, validation, stability testing, industrial trials and dossier preparation are performed on time and to the required internal and external standards and market conditions.
• Read, understand, and apply SOP/ISO/GLP protocols with regards to:
  • Data generation for Product Registration where applicable.
  • Proper operation, standardization & maintenance of lab equipment.
  • Maintaining accurate laboratory notebooks.
  • Following the Safety and Good Housekeeping requirements.
• Conduct performance and analysis evaluations of competitive products.
• Maintain lab supplies inventory (e.g., reagents and lab consumables) and other items when needed.
• Perform other assignments as delegated by line manager.
  • Key Performance Indicators:
    • Support to realisation of projects in full and on time.
    • Accurate tests and effective laboratory practice management.

The experience we’re looking for

• Bachelor’s degree equivalent to the region in Chemistry, Pharmacy, Chemical Engineering, or other relevant science.
• Experience
  • Preferably straight from university.
  • One year experience in a FMCG company desirable.
• Capability to manage projects, large and small, with diligence and efficiency.
  • Strong communication skills, capable of providing advice and best practice guidance.
  • Aptitude for innovative thinking and an entrepreneurial attitude within scientific realms.
  • Experience working under pressure, prioritising quality while delivering on deadlines.

The skills for success

R&D, Product Lifecycle Management, Commercial Awareness, Business Partnership, Collaboration, Partnership building, Collaborator, Ability to challenge the status quo, Propose improvement, Accountability, Adaptability, Analytical, Formulation, Science, Chemistry.

What we offer

With inclusion at the heart of everything we do, working alongside our four global Employee Resource Groups, we support our people at every step of their career journey, helping them to succeed in their own individual way. We invest in the wellbeing of our people through parental benefits, an Employee Assistance Program to promote mental health, and life insurance for all employees globally. We have a range of other benefits in line with the local market. Through our global share plans we offer the opportunity to save and share in Reckitt’s potential future successes. For eligible roles, we also offer short‑term incentives to recognise, appreciate and reward your work for delivering outstanding results. You will be rewarded in line with Reckitt’s pay for performance philosophy.

Equality

We recognise that in real life, great people don’t always ‘tick all the boxes’. That’s why we hire for potential as well as experience. Even if you don’t meet every point on the job description, if this role and our company feels like a good fit for you, we still want to hear from you. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, disability or medical condition; colour, ethnicity, race, citizenship, and national origin; religion, faith; pregnancy, family status and caring responsibilities; sexual orientation; sex, gender identity, gender expression, and transgender identity; protected veteran status; size or any other basis protected by appropriate law.