Research & Development Technologist at RCL Foods

• We’re looking for a Research & Development Technologist to join our Milling Division. The R&D Technologist will be responsible for developing products according to brief, lead all laboratory and factory trials, and manage delivery of R&D projects from concept to launch. This includes technical support in flour applications, coatings, and breading solutions to improve product quality and meet customer needs.
• The role will be based at Pretoria West and will report into the Technical Manager.

Minimum Requirements    

• BSc or BSc (Hons) in Food Science or National Diploma or BTech in Food Technology or equivalent qualification.
• Minimum of 2 years R&D experience with in-store baking and/or plant baking experience required.
• Basic knowledge of flour, it’s quality specifications and associated applications, namely coatings and breading.
• Computer literate.

Duties & Responsibilities    
Innovation:

• Conduct regular trade reviews and identify gaps in the market for potential innovations.
• Assist in customer presentations and conduct proactive product development.
• Identify opportunities in current product recipes and processes for recipe and cost optimisation.

Product Development:

• Develop products according to project brief or customer specification.
• Conduct the necessary laboratory and factory trials for the launch of new products.
• Develop make-up recipe and cooking instructions, for premixes/maize/coatings, respectively.
• Liaise with suppliers for the sourcing of new ingredients.
• Keep abreast with new ingredient technologies for recipe and cost optimisation.
• Screening of all raw materials to ensure they are suitable for the application and/or manufacturing plant.
• Conduct sensory evaluation/tasting sessions for products that are in development.
• Develop product specifications.
• Conduct product shelf-life tests and reports.
• Train the production teams on how to manufacture the new product while conducting factory trials in conjunction with them.
• Liaise with commercial teams to complete product costings.

Project Management:

• Provide input towards the development of project timelines for all projects in the R&D pipeline.
• Manage project delivery against project timelines.

Quality Assessments:

• Conduct quality assessments such as softness, texture, volume, water activity studies, sensory analysis where required.
• Interpretation of data collected from the quality assessment instruments.

 Administration & Reporting:

• Recording of all laboratory trial data.
• Ensuring all relevant QC & Food Safety documents are completed for all new ingredients.
• Completing and archiving of all laboratory trial data.
• Compiling of all factory trial reports.
• Drafting of project specifications.
• Completing shelf-life test reports.

Deadline:30th March,2026