Port Elizabeth: Food Technologist posted by Top Vitae

Role Purpose:
To drive profitability and product excellence by scientifically analysing recipes, production processes, and operational workflows. This role is focused on “Value Engineering”: finding smarter, more cost-effective ingredient solutions and improving production yields while maintaining the taste, quality, and shelf-life our customers expect. The successful candidate will bring industry expertise to provide technical assurance to customers and drive innovation across our product ranges.

Key Responsibilities:
Recipe Value Engineering: Analyse current product formulations to identify high-cost ingredients and recommend functional, cost-effective alternatives that maintain or enhance quality.
Ingredient Sourcing & Substitution: Research and test alternative ingredients to reduce costs, improve shelf-life, or enhance product performance.
New Product Development (NPD): Lead the development and testing of new product lines designed for high margin, scalability, and market appeal.
Yield & Flow Optimization: Monitor production shrinkage and wastage; analyse kitchen/production flows and implement changes to improve efficiency and output volume.
Shelf-Life Extension: Use technical knowledge to naturally extend product shelf-life, reducing returns and wastage.
Quality Control & Compliance: Ensure all products and reformulations meet relevant food safety, health and safety, and labeling standards, providing technical assurance to customers.
Industry Expertise: Act as a high-level technical resource, bringing industry experience and credibility to internal teams and customer relationships.

Focus:
Value Engineering, Recipe Optimization, Product Development & Quality Assurance

Candidate Requirements:
Education: Degree or Diploma in Food Science, Food Technology, or have the relevant experience with reputable entities demonstrating these skills.
Experience: 5+ years in a food production or R&D environment (ideally value-added/prepared foods).
Key Skill: Proven track record of reducing “Cost of Sales” through recipe reformulation and process optimization.

Please consider your application unsuccessful should you not receive a response within 2 weeks of applying.