Technologist And Regional Manager: Butchery And Seafood Counters (Based In Gauteng) at Woolworths

Introduction

• To ensure the production and sale of safe, innovative, and high-quality meat and seafood products at competitive price points for Woolworths customers, delivered through Woolworths in-store Butchery and Seafood service counters. To provide effective management and oversight of Woolworths Joint Venture partners operating the Butchery and Seafood service counters, ensuring the delivery of a world-class product offering and exceptional customer service across Woolworths stores within the Gauteng Region. To provide strong leadership and strategic direction to maximise sales performance and minimise operational losses through outstanding customer care, including advanced technical product knowledge, while contributing to the overall performance of Protein Counters and ensuring adherence to Woolworths’ brand standards, operational disciplines, and chain store image within the Gauteng Region.

Job description

• Identify, assess, and effectively manage Food Safety risks within service counters, with primary focus on Gauteng-based counters.
• Evaluate product and process quality to ensure consistent delivery of high-quality products to customers and protect the Woolworths brand reputation.
• Implement business and technical strategies in alignment with organisational objectives.
• Ensure full compliance with Woolworths technical policies across the supply base, in accordance with legislative requirements and best international practices.
• Manage and monitor supplier performance with regard to food safety and quality standards.
• Oversee counter performance to ensure adherence to food safety, quality, cutting standards, and presentation standards.
• Maintain ongoing commitment to continuous professional development.
• Drive effective team integration and operational execution.
• Act as an effective representative of the Protein Technical and Commercial teams within stores.
• Drive sales growth and product availability through collaboration with internal stakeholders and external partners.
• Identify inefficiencies and missed opportunities and implement continuous improvement initiatives.
• Travel as required between Gauteng and Cape Town regions to benchmark protein service counters and improve operational practices with stores and joint venture partners.
• Support and resolve operational challenges experienced by joint venture partners within Butchery and Seafood service departments.
• Coordinate and execute all in-store service counter promotional activities.
• Ensure accurate and timely product distribution to the appropriate stores.
• Collaborate with Prepacked Meat and Seafood departments to plan and implement aligned “like-for-like” promotional activities between service counters and prepacked ranges.
• Lead and manage the assessment & opening of new service counters.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with Store Management to ensure effective integration between Woolworths and joint venture partners.
• Establish and implement operational structure in regional stores for Butchery and Seafood service counters.
• Monitor, analyse, and report on competitor activities, pricing, and product ranges via weekly competitive shopping initiatives.
• Support the management of Service Level Agreements with joint venture partners.
• Update, review, and maintain operational manuals to ensure accuracy and relevance

Minimum requirements

• A tertiary qualification in Food Science (BSc) or Food Technology (BTEC) or an equivalent qualification.
• A minimum of three to five years’ relevant experience, or completion of equivalent development programmes, within a retail, food production, or processing environment.
• Essential practical experience and technical expertise in butchery cutting standards and methodologies and/or seafood processing operations.
• Demonstrated knowledge of meat cuts and/or fish species will be advantageous.
• Knowledge of meat and seafood cooking methods and applications will be advantageous.
• Comprehensive understanding of Meat and Seafood legislation and regulatory requirements.
• Sound knowledge of supply chain principles, supplier management processes, and operational workflows.
• Relevant industry knowledge of retail operations and meat production environments.
• Understanding of store operations, customer demographics, store locations, and competitor landscapes will be advantageous.
• Proven ability to establish, maintain, and continuously improve quality standards across the supply base.
• Demonstrated capability to drive technical compliance and product quality adherence.
• Strong negotiation and communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively across all organisational levels, both verbally and in writing.
• Highly disciplined, self-motivated, and results-driven professional.
• Proven commercial acumen with the ability to interpret and apply financial metrics, including cost optimisation, data analysis, trend identification, and forecasting.
• Strong analytical capability with a structured, process-oriented approach to problem-solving.
• Well-developed problem-solving skills with the ability to address complex operational challenges.
• Solid understanding of food safety risk assessment and mitigation strategies.
• High energy levels and a positive, professional attitude, supported by a genuine passion for food.
• Strong leadership and project management capabilities, with the ability to influence and lead Woolworths Regional Managers, Joint Venture partners, Divisional teams, and store teams to successfully execute strategic objectives.
• Excellent networking and cross-functional integration skills.
• A quality-driven mindset with a strong focus on innovation and continuous improvement initiatives.
• High level of computer literacy, with advanced working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.
• Valid driver’s license and willingness to travel as required.