Senior Food & Beverage Product Developer – R&D Leader

Placements24; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 950,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical & retirement benefits

Advanced training

Generous paid time off

Employee discounts

R&D environment in Mossel Bay

Job summary

Placements24 in Mossel Bay, Western Cape, seeks a Senior Product Developer to lead the creation and enhancement of new food and beverage products within the FMCG sector.

You will translate consumer insights into viable formulations, run pilot plant trials, ensure regulatory compliance, and collaborate with marketing, QA, and manufacturing to scale products.

The role offers a stimulating R&D environment, opportunities for professional growth, and a competitive salary with benefits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Food Science, Food Technology, Chemistry, or related field.
• 5+ years in FMCG food and beverage product development.
• Experience launching successful products.
• Strong knowledge of formulation and processing techniques.
• Experience with sensory evaluation methods.
• Knowledge of food safety regulations and quality control.
• Lab techniques and analytical instrumentation proficiency.
• Strong project management and cross-functional collaboration.
• Effective communication and teamwork.
• Creative problem-solving and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of new foods and beverages from concept to market launch.
• Conduct formulation development, benchtop testing, and sensory evaluation.
• Collaborate with marketing to translate consumer insights into products.
• Optimize formulations for taste, texture, nutrition, and cost.
• Plan pilot plant trials and scale-up activities with manufacturing.
• Ensure compliance with QA and regulatory requirements.
• Research new ingredients and processing methods.
• Prepare development reports and presentations for stakeholders.
• Stay updated on industry trends and technologies.
• Provide technical support to manufacturing, marketing, and sales.

Skills

Food formulation

Sensory evaluation

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Quality control

Education

Bachelor's degree in Food Science/Technology or Chemistry

Tools

Analytical instrumentation

Pilot plant equipment

Job description

Placements24 in Mossel Bay, Western Cape, seeks a Senior Product Developer to lead the creation and enhancement of new food and beverage products within the FMCG sector.

You will translate consumer insights into viable formulations, run pilot plant trials, ensure regulatory compliance, and collaborate with marketing, QA, and manufacturing to scale products.

The role offers a stimulating R&D environment, opportunities for professional growth, and a competitive salary with benefits.