Purpose of the role: <\/p>\n
\tThe successful incumbent will lead all research, product development, and technical optimization activities for fresh and processed guacamole products across local and export markets. The role is responsible for delivering commercially viable new products, improving and cost-optimizing existing formulations, and ensuring successful, on-time product launches. Working cross-functionally with Commercial, Operations, Quality, and retail customers, the incumbent ensures products meet regulatory, technical, and customer requirements. As custodian of all product recipes and specifications, the role safeguards formulation integrity, compliance, and competitive advantage.<\/p>\n
Key Responsibilities: Product Innovation & Commercialization (NPD)<\/p>\n
\tLead product development from concept brief to factory launch, including formulation, pilot trials, and scale-up validation
\n\tConduct shelf-life studies (microbiological, sensory, and stability) for local chilled and extended export supply chains
\n\tDeliver commercially viable products that meet customer specifications, margin targets, and operational capability<\/p>\n
Product Optimization & Continuous Improvement (EPD)<\/p>\n
\tReformulate existing SKUs to improve cost efficiency, avocado yield, and raw material utilization
\n\tEnhance product stability (color retention, texture consistency, flavor profile) and reduce complaints
\n\tDrive clean-label improvements, sodium reduction, and retailer-driven product upgrades<\/p>\n
Technical Compliance & Export Governance<\/p>\n
\tSupport customer technical approvals, audits, and regulatory submissions
\n\tMaintain complete product documentation including specifications, allergen declarations, and validation reports
\n\tSupport customer technical approvals, audits, and regulatory submissions<\/p>\n
Process & Technical Excellence<\/p>\n
\tOptimize processing parameters (oxygen control, acidification, HPP\/MAP where applicable) to maximize shelf-life and consistency
\n\tLead factory trials and troubleshoot products or process deviations
\n\tCollaborate with Operations and QA to validate CCPs, shelf-life extensions, and quality improvements<\/p>\n
Customer & Cross-Functional Leadership<\/p>\n
\tAct as primary technical contact for major customers and key accounts
\n\tManage and develop the R&D team using structured stage-gate project management
\n\tAlign R&D, Commercial, Procurement, and Operations to deliver projects on time and within budget<\/p>\n
Education: <\/p>\n
\tBSc in Food Science or Consumer Science essential
\n\tPost-graduate NPD or formulation training advantageous<\/p>\n
Experience: <\/p>\n
\tProven food product development and commercialization experience, ideally in fresh or high-care categories
\n\tWorking knowledge of manufacturing processes, quality systems, and factory scale-up
\n\tExperience with food labelling laws, accreditation standards, packaging, and customer liaison
\n\tR&D team management experience with HSE knowledge; high-risk food exposure
\n\tStrong knowledge of food chemistry, ingredient functionality, acidification, and shelf-life validation
\n\tSound understanding of local and export food legislation, labeling requirements, and certification standards
\n\tAbility to translate formulations into scalable manufacturing processes
\n\tCompetence in stage-gate project management, cost modeling, margin management, and data-driven decision-making
\n\tStrong cross-functional leadership, customer-facing communication ability, problem-solving skills, and team development capability<\/p>\n
Behavioural Competencies: <\/p>\n
\tCommercially Minded & Results Driven
\n\tOwnership & Accountability
\n\tCollaborative & Influential
\n\tInnovative & Solution Oriented
\n\tResilient & Detail Focused<\/p>\n
Apply via company website ( http:\/\/www.westfaliafruit.com ) or<\/p>\n
www.linkedin.com<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"_promoted":"","_job_location":"","_application":"http:\/\/www.linkedin.com","_company_name":"Westfalia Fruit","_company_website":"http:\/\/www.westfaliafruit.com","_company_tagline":"Westfalia Technological Services (WTS) is the research division of Westfalia Fruit and the largest privately-funded subtropical fruit research organisation in the world. The in-house dedicated team of scientists and technicians at WTS focusses on varietal development, innovation and environmental ma... read moretters\u00e2\u20ac\u2039. \u00e2\u20ac\u2039\u00e2\u20ac\u2039We research and develop\u00e2\u20ac\u2039 was founded in the 1980s and still operates on founder Dr Merensky\u2019s principle of 'research, experimentation and demonstration through the correlation of scientific knowledge\u2019. Over the years, WTS has evolved and is now seen as a world leader in applied research dealing with \u00e2\u20ac\u2039subtropical crops, with specific focus on avocados. \u00e2\u20ac\u2039WTS supports and furthers the objectives of the greater Westfalia Group, addressing challenges and enhancing technologies in order to strengthen all links in the value chain, from propagation to consumer service.\u00e2\u20ac\u2039 WTS is involved in the testing and commercialisation of avocado and mango plant material in more than 20 \u00e2\u20ac\u2039countries, in collaboration with various organisations and educational institutions.","_company_twitter":"","_company_video":"","_filled":0,"_featured":0,"_remote_position":0,"_job_salary":"","_job_salary_currency":"","_job_salary_unit":""},"job_listing_region":[11],"job-types":[12],"class_list":["post-36406","job_listing","type-job_listing","status-expired","hentry","job_listing_region-gauteng","job-type-full-time"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jobs.dataaxisnode.com\/southafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/job-listings\/36406","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jobs.dataaxisnode.com\/southafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/job-listings"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jobs.dataaxisnode.com\/southafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/job_listing"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jobs.dataaxisnode.com\/southafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jobs.dataaxisnode.com\/southafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36406"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"job_listing_region","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jobs.dataaxisnode.com\/southafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/job_listing_region?post=36406"},{"taxonomy":"job_listing_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jobs.dataaxisnode.com\/southafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/job-types?post=36406"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}