Assistant Product Development Manager

• New product development.
• Product quality improvements.
• Cost saving initiatives.
• Product and technical support from concept brief to product launch.

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science or BTech in Food Technology, or a related scientific discipline, is essential to ensure foundational expertise in food systems, formulation science, and regulatory frameworks.
• A National Diploma in Food Technology or an equivalent qualification will be considered, provided it is complemented by substantial industry experience and demonstrated technical proficiency.
• Computer literacy – Excel, Word, Powerpoint.
• 3-7 years’ experience in a Food-related FMCG environment with preferably 3 years in a R&D role.
• Required to travel and occasionally work irregular hours.
• Required to work in different environments – factory and office.
• Participation in required taste sessions.

• R&D principles.
• Food safety and quality management.
• Production and process management.
• National Food legislation - GMP, HACCP, CPA, R146 compliance requirements.
• Industry and associated local and international trends.

• Proactively monitor and interpret emerging market dynamics, consumer behaviour shifts, and competitive intelligence to inform strategic direction and innovation pipelines.
• Cultivate deep operational and technical knowledge across product categories, with a focus on recipe architecture, formulation science, and process optimization.
• Lead consumer immersion initiatives, trade audits, and strategic supplier engagements to uncover latent needs, validate hypotheses, and translate insights into actionable innovation opportunities.

• Spearhead the design and development of differentiated future-forward products.
• Translate strategic intent into robust project briefs, collaborating cross-functionally with commercial, technical, and marketing teams to ensure clarity of scope, deliverables, and timelines.
• Drive end-to-end execution of product development initiatives, including prototype trials at pilot scale, product sensory evaluations, specification drafting, and analytical assessments.
• Facilitate seamless coordination across internal and external stakeholders.

• Exhibit a strong entrepreneurial mindset by identifying whitespace opportunities and translating them into structured project charters aligned with business strategy.
• Lead cross-functional project execution across innovation and renovation phases, ensuring disciplined gate reviews, milestone tracking, and delivery of outcomes that are on scope, on time, within budget, and aligned to safety and quality standards.
• Serve as a project steward, driving accountability, risk mitigation, and stakeholder alignment throughout the development lifecycle.

• Champion initiatives aimed at enhancing product quality and unlocking cost efficiencies across materials, processes, and formulations.
• Conduct feasibility assessments for proposed improvements, leveraging data-driven analysis and cross-functional collaboration to validate impact and scalability.
• Systematically collect, analyse, and interpret data related to raw materials, equipment capabilities, and process flows to inform decision-making and continuous improvement.

• Demonstrate ownership and accountability in all assigned tasks, consistently delivering with precision and purpose.
• Exhibit self-leadership through proactive goal setting, time management, and performance tracking, ensuring alignment with business objectives.

• Provide expert technical product input in project forums, offering solutions grounded in sound scientific principles and industry best practices.
• Act as a trusted advisor to internal stakeholders, delivering actionable insights and recommendations through regular engagements and ad hoc consultations.
• Stay abreast of emerging technologies, ingredient innovations, and process advancements to inform strategic decision-making and maintain competitive edge.

• Ensure optimal utilization of raw materials within recipe formulations, balancing cost, quality, and functionality to meet product performance targets.
• Collaborate with operations and supply chain teams to align formulation strategies with manufacturing capabilities and efficiency goals.

RCL Foods