Food Technologist / NPD Specialist

A well-established organisation within the health, functional food, and dietary sector is seeking an analytical, hands-on Food Technologist / NPD Specialist to join their Product Development and Quality Assurance department. This role contributes directly to the end-to-end cycle of new product development, from initial laboratory formulation through raw material sourcing and pilot batch scale-up to shelf-life testing and compliance management. The successful candidate will work closely with internal teams to transition concept recipes into commercially viable, high-quality products. Hours of work are standard full-time operational hours, Monday to Friday (e.g. 08:00 – 17:00), subject to operational requirements during trial or scale-up runs. Key Responsibilities: Product Formulation & Benchtop Development: Weigh, blend, and formulate functional foods, dry/powder mixes, and flavour profiles for sensory review and client evaluations. Modify current recipes to improve taste, nutritional balance, cost efficiency, and processing yield. Shelf-Life & Stability Management: Plan, execute, and document stability protocols over set timeframes. Perform routine physical and chemical testing, including pH, density, moisture, sensory evaluation, and compatibility checks. Raw Material Validation: Identify, test, and approve incoming functional ingredients, top-notes, and raw materials. Review supplier technical documentation and Certificates of Analysis (COAs). Quality Assurance & Regulatory Compliance: Enforce adherence to food safety standards, including HACCP, FSSC 22000, and Good Laboratory Practice (GLP). Produce technical documentation such as product specs, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), packaging labels, and nutritional tables. Cross-Functional Support: Collaborate with Production, Quality Control, Sales, and Operations to scale formulations from benchtop trials to commercial production lines. Provide technical support, sensory evaluation samples, and application testing for account management teams. Requirements Bachelor’s Degree or National Diploma in Food Technology, Food Science, Biotechnology, Food Chemistry, or a closely related scientific discipline. 3+ years of experience in product development, food technology, or quality assurance within an FMCG or food manufacturing setting. Valid drivers' license and own reliable vehicle. Hands-on experience with benchtop formulation, recipe adjustment, or ingredient blending. High numerical and analytical precision, systematic data recording, solid problem-solving capability, and strong cross-functional communication skills. Preferred Qualifications: Professional registration as a Candidate Natural Scientist (e.g. SACNASP). Required Software Skills: Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems such as SYSPRO or SAP. Proficiency with analytical laboratory equipment (e.g. pH meters, HPLC, moisture balances, density meters). Benefits Opportunity to work on innovative products within a growing health and wellness sector. Exposure to end-to-end product lifecycles and cross-functional technical teams.