Technologist: Core Produce Department at Woolworths

Main Purpose

A dynamic team player is required to join our Produce department in Gauteng, to provide the competitive edge through the delivery of products that are safe, innovative and consistently meet our customer’s quality and availability expectations.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure Brand integrity and product safety by identifying and effectively managing Food Safety risks.
• Continually maintain and improve the safety, quality and availability of products by applying and implementing agricultural best practice principles.
• Provide input into strategies and implement technical and agricultural science aspects thereof.
• Use scientific principles to drive innovation of products and production processes.
• Apply, devise, and update technical policy in accordance with legal requirements and current established WW policies and guidelines.
• Ensure suppliers provide high quality products consistently and in accordance with WW requirements.
• Formulation of specifications and processes that comply with legal requirements and build customer trust by ensuring food safety, quality, and consistency of products.
• Collaborate successfully with suppliers and matrix team to implement business sustainability and agricultural strategies.
• Packaging development, with respect to legislation, functionality, business objectives and shelf life
• Manage, monitor, and report on relevant technical KPIs to deliver departmental operating plan.
• Educate, inform, and share knowledge / information with category team members, suppliers and the organisation appropriately.

Key Competencies

• B.Sc. degree in Agriculture with 3 years’ experience in agronomy and crop production.
• Understanding of the fresh produce industry.
• Good understanding of risk assessment and management of food safety in the context of crop production and postharvest handling.
• High level understanding of scientific principles of best agronomic practices including but not limited to the management of soil health, irrigation, and integrated pest management.
• Knowledge of packaging functionality and application to maintain product quality.
• Ability to set and continuously improve quality standards and drive value optimisation within supplier base.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, pressurised environment.
• Understanding of environmental management and sustainable crop production practices.
• Team player with ability to collaborate effectively with a diverse group of people within a matrix team structure and supplier base.
• Flexible with ability and willingness to travel.