Intern - Research and Design at RCL Foods

• RCL Foods Beverages Team is on the hunt for a R&D Intern who will be placed on a 12 month fixed contract . The role will be based in Pretoria West and reports to the New Product Development Manager.
• The successful candidate will gain in-depth experience in product development, lab comprehension, factory, and lab equipment knowledge within Beverage business. The R&D Intern will also be encouraged to explore other areas of interest to learn more about fundamentals and the general operations both within and outside of the assigned department that will be supplemental to the learning experience - e.g., Manufacturing and Quality departments.

Minimum Requirements

• S4/completed theory of Food Science or Food technology
• Lab experience will be an added advantage

Skills

• Planning and organisation 
• Computer literacy – Excel, word, PowerPoint.
• Electronic presentations
• Product presentations
• Verbal and written communication 
• Record keeping and data collection (numbers and observations)
• Data processing

Knowledge

• General R&D principles
• Food safety and quality management
• Production and process management
• National Food legislation - GMP, HACCP, R146 compliance requirements,
• Relevant industry standards, SANS

Duties & Responsibilities    
Core Responsibilities

• Assist Seniors in organising factory and lab trials.
• Run lab trials and factory trials.
• Assist in product brief execution according to project scope requirements (Trials, product samples, tastes sessions, product analysis – shelf life/nutritionals etc)
• Assist in coordinating multi-disciplinary teams including relevant internal – pre-trial meetings.
• Collect and record data from trials
• Optimize product quality
• Plan and execute experiments and summarize results
• Support/lead project teams as a technical resource
• Assist in scoping and facilitating business opportunities
• Implement consumer tests in collaboration with consumer tasting panel
• Manage deliverables to achieve R&D timelines as discussed and agreed with NPD Manager
• Create and manage product specifications
• Create and manage ingredient specification
• Maintain technical documentation

Self-Management:

• Take ownership and accountability for tasks and activities
• Demonstrate self-drive and effective self-management
• Present project updates to Seniors on weekly basis

Technical Expertise and Insight 

• Gain practical expertise and insights through active engagement during trials and meetings.
• Actively pursue understanding and answers to problems that arising during in project team meetings through plant engagement and discuss solution at Technical weekly meetings.

Operations Management

• Support the implementation of simplified production processes to increase operational effectiveness and efficiencies
• Support the implementation of optimal plant line efficiencies through all new developments and cost saving projects
• Ensure effective use of raw material into recipe formulations
• Manages actions where required to ensure that there are no areas of non-compliance.

Deadline:14th September,2025