About the position
A leading edible oils and fats manufacturing company is looking for an experienced R&D / NPD Specialist with strong experience in food product development, edible oil formulations, and innovation within the FMCG food manufacturing sector to join their team in Durban. The successful candidate will be responsible for driving new product development initiatives, improving existing formulations, and supporting innovation within a large-scale food processing environment. The company manufactures a range of consumer and industrial products including cooking oils, specialty fats, and related food products distributed across South Africa and into regional markets.
Responsibilities:
- Lead end-to-end New Product Development (NPD) projects from concept through to commercialisation.
- Develop and refine formulations for edible oils, blends, and related food products.
- Conduct laboratory trials, pilot plant testing, and product optimisation.
- Collaborate with production, quality assurance, and procurement teams to ensure successful product scale-up.
- Ensure all formulations comply with food safety, regulatory, and labelling requirements.
- Analyse market trends and customer requirements to identify new product opportunities.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives for existing product lines.
- Prepare technical documentation including product specifications, reports, and trial data.
- Assist with troubleshooting product quality issues and formulation improvements.
Requirements:
- Matric (Grade 12).
- Relevant tertiary qualification in Food Science, Food Technology, or a related field.
- Proven experience in R&D and New Product Development within the food manufacturing industry.
- Experience working with edible oils, fats, or similar food ingredients highly advantageous.
- Knowledge of food safety standards, product formulation, and manufacturing processes.
- Experience conducting laboratory trials and scaling formulations to production.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills.
- Excellent documentation and communication skills.
Benefits:
Contact Hire Resolve for your next career-changing move.
Apply for this role today, contact Abigail King at Hire Resolve or on LinkedIn.
You can also visit the Hire Resolve website: [URL Removed] or email us your CV: [Email Address Removed].com
We will contact you telephonically in 3 days should you be suitable for this vacancy. If you are not suitable, we will put your CV on file and contact you regarding any future vacancies that arise.
Desired Skills:
- R&D / NPD Specialist
- R&D / NPD Specialist
- R&D / NPD Specialist
