Junior Product Technologist
AVI Limited
Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
Contract
Posted 01 March 2024 –
Closing Date 14 March 2024
Job Details
Minimum experience : Associate
Company primary industry : Food and Beverages
Job functional area : Purchasing
Contract term : 6 months
Job Description
AVI Ltd. is known for its leading household brands across many categories including: hot beverages, sweet and savoury biscuits and snacks, frozen convenience foods, personal care products, cosmetics, shoes, accessories, and fashion apparel.
NATIONAL BRANDS LIMITED operates 5 manufacturing sites, offering world class manufacturing facilities in Isando (Johannesburg), Rosslyn (Pretoria), Westmead and Durban (KZN). It is home to some of the best-known South African tea, coffee and creamer brands, including our delicious range of much-loved savoury and sweet biscuits, and our melt-in-your-mouth snack range.
An exciting opportunity exists for a Junior Product Technologist (Fixed Term Contract) at NATIONAL BRANDS LIMITED Durban Tea.
An enthusiastic and emergent person with a food technology or related qualification to take on the responsibility of handling new product development and administrative-related functions for all raw materials in the Tea category. This role will entail the necessity of tasting of all raw materials and working in a factory environment.
Line Manager: Tea Master
Outputs required:
New Product Development
Product development/Concepts – Generate ideas
Project management – leading projects and working in project teams.
Testing – Identifying and liaising with laboratories on Shelf life, Micro and other testing of product
Specification management – maintain specs, COAs and any other relevant documentation for all raw material
Trials – Assist in conducting factory and sensory trails, and ensure that trial reports are completed timeously.
Tea/Administrative
Assist with non-conformance reports (NCR) – Customer Complaints.
Generate requisitions and building of Purchase Orders on SAP
Assisting in handling of queries from Accounts Payable in Head office.
Assist in generating Weekly stock coverage report.
Maintain Excel spreadsheets on cost savings and contracts.
Other departmental work
Logistics/Shipments:
Liaising with suppliers on weekly delivery instructions (Call-up), and following up with deliveries of raws to site.
To assist in handling delivery problems on arrival of teas.
Follow up on shipping documentation and payment delays [pre-work].
Updating of shipping schedules
Competencies:
Technical
Food technology knowledge to analyze Technical data sheets from suppliers and ensure that raw materials purchased conform to all legal and company requirements (would be advantageous).
Project management
The ability to logically think through and follow processes in handling NPD projects from concept to completion. Setting and meeting timelines.
Interfacing with different departments internally and external suppliers.
Sensory
Conduct sensory trials and write up reports.
Sensory analysis – visual, smell and taste. (Successful candidate will be trained in tea tasting)
Administration
Above-average computer skills (Excel/Word/ PowerPoint) and excellent numerical skills.
Other Skills
Communication (verbal and writing) skills
Ability to solve problems and methodical (Logical thinking)
Good interpersonal skills and the ability to work in cross-functional teams
Proactive, initiative, analytical, and leadership skills
Commitments
You would need to work in a multi-functional Department and extend your learning and undertake other job functions from time to time in the Department.
Flexibility and willingness to work outside normal working hours
Qualifications & Experience
Diploma in Food Technology and/or relevant food qualifications
Experience in working in the food/beverage industry
An understanding of the impact of regulatory/Statutory and professional bodies on the new and existing products would be an advantage.
Qualification in project management (advantageous)
Knowledge of sensory evaluation
Project management qualification, working in a research environment would be an advantage.
The incumbent must be able to travel independently within SA and outside SA boarders.