Senior Horticultural Scientist — Post-Harvest, Hybrid

Placements24; Richards Bay; Hybrid; ZAR 600,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Medical aid

Retirement fund

Conference travel

Laboratory facilities access

Job summary

Placements24 in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal seeks a seasoned Horticultural Scientist specializing in post-harvest technologies. The role blends on-site lab work with remote data analysis within a hybrid framework.

You will lead R&D aimed at extending shelf-life and quality of fresh produce, collaborate with growers and packhouses, and contribute to value-chain improvements across the Richards Bay region and beyond.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Horticulture, Food Science, Plant Science or related field with post-harvest focus.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant post-harvest R&D experience.
• Strong knowledge of fruit/vegetable physiology, ripening and storage.
• Experience with analytical techniques for quality attributes and data interpretation.
• Familiarity with refrigeration, controlled atmosphere and modified atmosphere storage.

Responsibilities

• Research and develop advanced post-harvest treatments and technologies for fruits, vegetables, and other horticultural commodities.
• Investigate methods to control physiological disorders, ripening processes, and microbial spoilage.
• Evaluate the efficacy of packaging materials, controlled atmosphere storage, and modified atmosphere packaging.
• Conduct laboratory experiments and pilot-scale trials to assess impact on quality and shelf-life.
• Analyze data on quality parameters, sensory attributes, and storage performance.
• Develop SOPs and standard operating procedures for post-harvest handling.
• Collaborate with growers, packhouses, and logistics providers to implement findings in Richards Bay and beyond.
• Stay updated with literature and advancements in post-harvest horticulture.
• Prepare technical reports, research papers and presentations for stakeholders.
• Contribute to product development and quality assurance initiatives.

Skills

Post-harvest physiology

Data analysis

Laboratory techniques

Hybrid collaboration

Education

Master's or PhD in Horticulture/Plant Science (post-harvest focus)

Tools

Statistical software

Job description

Placements24 in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal seeks a seasoned Horticultural Scientist specializing in post-harvest technologies. The role blends on-site lab work with remote data analysis within a hybrid framework.

You will lead R&D aimed at extending shelf-life and quality of fresh produce, collaborate with growers and packhouses, and contribute to value-chain improvements across the Richards Bay region and beyond.