Western Cape: Laboratory Technician posted by West Coast Personnel

About the Role

We are seeking a highly skilled Laboratory Technician to join our team at West Coast Personnel in Athlone, Western Cape. The successful candidate will be responsible for conducting laboratory testing and ensuring compliance with food safety standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform testing on raw milk, pasteurized milk, cream, buttermilk, yogurt, juice, and dairy blends.
• Analyse parameters including pH, butterfat, protein stability, sugar content (Brix), viscosity, texture, and total solids.
• Conduct titrations for CIP and COP chemical strength verification.
• Test for antibiotics using rapid and confirmatory methods and reject products if tests fail.
• Complete “Product Release” documentation and issue release slips based on test results.
• Conduct microbiological analyses on raw materials, in-process products, and finished goods.
• Plate samples as per SOPs and monitor microbial development overnight.
• Evaluate results against standards and report deviations immediately.
• Perform additional tests as required for over-developed samples.
• Collect and store daily production samples for retention and shelf-life testing.
• Organize and maintain retention samples and remove outdated samples.
• Perform organoleptic and shelf-life tests upon expiry or for customer complaints.
• Analyse drain water/effluent samples for pH and COD to ensure compliance with environmental standards.
• Accurately record all test results in hard copy and electronic formats.
• Maintain and update records for COAs, trend analyses, and non-conformance reports.
• Transfer data to shared systems for reporting and traceability.

Requirements

• Post-matric qualification in Chemistry, Microbiology, Food Technology, or Agriculture.
• Strong foundation in Mathematics and Science.

Qualifications

• None mentioned

Salary & Benefits

• Market-related salary

Working Conditions

• Production/factory environment with potential exposure to wet, slippery, and cold conditions.
• Handling of chemicals and testing equipment.
• Shift work, including nights and weekends.

Reporting Structure

• Line Managers:
• Chemistry Laboratory Coordinator
• Microbiology Laboratory Coordinator
• Food Safety Systems Administrator
• Food Safety Systems Coordinator

Decision-Making Authority

• Stop production if products fail to meet specifications.
• Request additional samples to verify test results.
• Inform supervisors of non-compliant products immediately.

Participation Areas

• Implementation of best practices in laboratory operations.
• Problem-solving initiatives and continuous improvement projects.
• Corrective and preventative action planning.