About the position
An established FSSC-certified food and beverage manufacturer is seeking a proactive and technically strong Food Scientist / Food Technologist to join its FSQA team in Riebeeksriver, Malmesbury. This is a hands-on role supporting the Food Safety Team Leader, with a particular focus on quality control, product development, training, research and continuous improvement.
The ideal candidate is a natural go-getter who takes initiative, investigates issues independently, challenges anything that appears out of place, and follows improvements through to successful implementation. The successful candidate will contribute across QA/QC and New Product Development (NPD) while operating within the company's FSSC 22000 / ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System.
Responsibilities:
Food Safety & Quality Management
- Support the implementation and continuous improvement of the FSSC 22000 / ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System.
- Maintain HACCP plans, hazard analyses, CCPs, OPRPs and verification records.
- Ensure effective implementation of GMP, hygiene, allergen management, sanitation, pest control and other PRPs.
- Support TACCP and VACCP assessments.
- Conduct internal audits, identify non-conformances and ensure corrective actions are implemented and closed out.
Quality Control & Product Release
- Perform and oversee QC testing of raw materials, in-process samples and finished products.
- Conduct and interpret physical, chemical, microbiological and sensory testing.
- Verify process parameters and finished-product release criteria.
- Manage CoAs, retention samples, deviations and out-of-specification results.
- Inspect incoming raw materials and packaging and approve, reject or place products on hold where necessary.
- Maintain and verify QC and measuring equipment.
New Product Development & Research
- Develop, reformulate and improve products from initial concept through to commercialisation.
- Conduct bench-top trials, pilot runs and factory-scale validations.
- Research and evaluate new ingredients, raw materials, processes and product opportunities.
- Conduct shelf-life, stability, compatibility and sensory trials.
- Maintain formulations, recipes, process specifications and technical data sheets.
- Identify opportunities for cost savings, improved yields and production efficiencies without compromising quality or food safety.
Regulatory Compliance & Specifications
- Maintain raw material and finished-product specifications.
- Conduct nutritional analysis and support compliant product labelling and claims.
- Ensure compliance with relevant South African food legislation, including the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act and applicable regulations.
- Stay informed of regulatory, customer and industry requirements.
Investigations & Continuous Improvement
- Investigate quality deviations, customer complaints, OOS results and non-conforming products.
- Conduct structured Root Cause Analysis and implement CAPAs.
- Monitor trends and proactively identify potential quality or food safety risks.
- Conduct traceability and mock-recall exercises.
- Drive improvements through research, investigation, training and implementation.
Training, Documentation & Audits
- Maintain accurate, audit-ready FSQA documentation and records.
- Assist with certification, customer and regulatory audits.
- Train and coach production and QC employees on food safety, hygiene and quality requirements.
- Promote a strong food safety and quality culture throughout the operation.
Requirements:
- National Diploma, BSc or BTech in Food Science, Food Technology, Microbiology, Biotechnology or a related discipline.
- 3-6 years relevant experience within a food and beverage manufacturing environment, ideally across QA/QC and/or NPD.
- Sound knowledge of FSSC 22000 / ISO 22000, HACCP, GMP, allergen management, sanitation, traceability and recalls.
- Working knowledge of South African food legislation.
- Completed HACCP training.
- Internal Auditor training in ISO 22000 / FSSC 22000 would be advantageous.
- Experience with sensory evaluation, nutritional analysis and product labelling would be advantageous.
- SAAFoST registration or eligibility for professional registration would be beneficial.
- Strong Microsoft Office and digital systems proficiency.
Key Attributes:
- Proactive and self-driven - someone who identifies what needs to be done without waiting for instructions.
- Technically curious and willing to research and investigate unusual results or processes.
- Confident enough to raise concerns and challenge practices when food safety or quality may be compromised.
- Highly analytical with strong problem-solving, RCA and CAPA skills.
- Detail-oriented with excellent documentation accuracy.
- Passionate about quality, training, research and continuous improvement.
- Able to take an improvement from identification and investigation through to practical implementation.
- Comfortable working independently while collaborating effectively across production, QA, maintenance, procurement and management.
- Calm, decisive and solutions-focused under pressure.
Desired Skills:
- HACCP
- BSc
- BTech
- Food SCience
- Microbiology
- Food legislation
- ISO 22000
- GMP
- FSSC 22000
- QA
- Research
- Analysis
- Food safety
- Food and beverage enviroment
- Food technology
Desired Work Experience:
