Senior Food Technologist

To manage and deliver the assigned components of the technical business plan and strategy including:

• Ensuring consistent product quality and conformance to agreed product specifications, accept / reject criteria andstandards of quality and safety for suppliers and customers
• Close liaison with customer category management and clear and timeous briefing on technical changes to policy, procedures and standards.
• Support the delivery of all product development within the category.
• According to technical specifications agreed with Woolworths
• Within the agreed critical path
• With the necessary communication to category team members
• With full participation and support of the category team and the category team management process
• With full involvement in and where required arrangement of forums for product review, product design and PIR’s with the customer

Leadership, coaching and mentorship:

• Play a coaching and mentorship role in order to advise and support the food technologists with the achievement of their day to day activities
• Ensure the team is aligned to the Technical objectives and working efficiently
• Assist with the daily monitoring and management of the Technologist portfolios
• Promote living the values within the team

Supplier relationships including:

• Maintain good open relationships
• Supplier audit management with follow up and corrective action on deviations
• Monitoring product quality and taking proactive corrective action
• Monitoring and proactively responding to customer complaints

Maintaining and enhancing technical knowledge including:

• Remaining up to date with technical changes in the manufacturing industry
• Using technical food knowledge to ensure safe products manufactured to standard
• Using knowledge of food product and packaging law to ensure legal compliance
• To develop and maintain a personal development plan and supporting behaviour which reflects the companies values.

Key Skills:

• Able to translate technical knowledge into constructive professional decisions, advice and sound judgments
• Making key decisions based on expertise and experience in fast paced environment
• Able to manage relationships with customers and suppliers
• Able to communicate clearly and confidently and make presentations
• Able to manage information systems and processes
• Able to lead and motivate a team
• Displays a concern for business values and ethical standards
• Strong attention to detail
• Passion for product and achieving excellence
• Sets high personal standards, is focused and self-motivated
• Willing to accept occasional international travel and additional working hours
• Valid driver’s license

Essential requirements:

• Minimum 5+ years Industry experience in Long-life manufacturing
• Experience working in private label
• Experience with leading and driving technical projects
• Contribution towards and implementation of a technical strategy
• Technical Food science degree qualification or equivalent
• Knowledge of technical processes and procedures
• Knowledge of food safety and labelling and relevant local legislation (R.146, Trade Metrology, Codex Standards, NRCS, DALRRD)
• Experience in thermal processing

Desirable requirements:

• Knowledge of the technical role in the product development process
• Knowledge of the technical requirements of Long-life food manufacturing processes
• Knowledge of quality assurance and quality control systems and processes
• Knowledge of project management
• Knowledge of category management in a matrix structure
• Knowledge of technical food safety auditing