Head of Product Development - South Africa at Westfalia Fruit

Purpose of the role:

• The successful incumbent will lead all research, product development, and technical optimization activities for fresh and processed guacamole products across local and export markets. The role is responsible for delivering commercially viable new products, improving and cost-optimizing existing formulations, and ensuring successful, on-time product launches. Working cross-functionally with Commercial, Operations, Quality, and retail customers, the incumbent ensures products meet regulatory, technical, and customer requirements. As custodian of all product recipes and specifications, the role safeguards formulation integrity, compliance, and competitive advantage.

Key Responsibilities: Product Innovation & Commercialization (NPD)

• Lead product development from concept brief to factory launch, including formulation, pilot trials, and scale-up validation
• Conduct shelf-life studies (microbiological, sensory, and stability) for local chilled and extended export supply chains
• Deliver commercially viable products that meet customer specifications, margin targets, and operational capability

Product Optimization & Continuous Improvement (EPD)

• Reformulate existing SKUs to improve cost efficiency, avocado yield, and raw material utilization
• Enhance product stability (color retention, texture consistency, flavor profile) and reduce complaints
• Drive clean-label improvements, sodium reduction, and retailer-driven product upgrades

Technical Compliance & Export Governance

• Support customer technical approvals, audits, and regulatory submissions
• Maintain complete product documentation including specifications, allergen declarations, and validation reports
• Support customer technical approvals, audits, and regulatory submissions

Process & Technical Excellence

• Optimize processing parameters (oxygen control, acidification, HPP/MAP where applicable) to maximize shelf-life and consistency
• Lead factory trials and troubleshoot products or process deviations
• Collaborate with Operations and QA to validate CCPs, shelf-life extensions, and quality improvements

Customer & Cross-Functional Leadership

• Act as primary technical contact for major customers and key accounts
• Manage and develop the R&D team using structured stage-gate project management
• Align R&D, Commercial, Procurement, and Operations to deliver projects on time and within budget

Education:

• BSc in Food Science or Consumer Science essential
• Post-graduate NPD or formulation training advantageous

Experience:

• Proven food product development and commercialization experience, ideally in fresh or high-care categories
• Working knowledge of manufacturing processes, quality systems, and factory scale-up
• Experience with food labelling laws, accreditation standards, packaging, and customer liaison
• R&D team management experience with HSE knowledge; high-risk food exposure
• Strong knowledge of food chemistry, ingredient functionality, acidification, and shelf-life validation
• Sound understanding of local and export food legislation, labeling requirements, and certification standards
• Ability to translate formulations into scalable manufacturing processes
• Competence in stage-gate project management, cost modeling, margin management, and data-driven decision-making
• Strong cross-functional leadership, customer-facing communication ability, problem-solving skills, and team development capability

Behavioural Competencies:

• Commercially Minded & Results Driven
• Ownership & Accountability
• Collaborative & Influential
• Innovative & Solution Oriented
• Resilient & Detail Focused