Junior Technologist - Confectionary & Food

Clicks, South Africa's leading Health, Beauty and Wellness Retailer has an opportunity for a Junior Technologist - Confectionary & Food

Introduction

The primary objective of this position is to uphold, safeguard, and elevate the Clicks brand by overseeing the development and sourcing of all food products within the NPD development plan. It is crucial to ensure that these products comply with regulations and meet quality standards before being sold in our stores. Additionally, the role involves a continuous effort to drive profitability and expand market share.

Job description

Manage Quality, Safety & Legislation

• Support the NPD team within their development plans to ensure quality and safety compliance across all PL development by adhering to legislation and NPD approval processes to protect the brand reputation and financial impact on the business.
• Implement the Clicks Technical Standards of Operation (CTSO) into the supplier base whilst maintaining all quality processes and correct paperwork.
• Manage product specifications and RAG process for each product and maintain the RAG database tracker.
• Ensure product specifications conform to the quality standards.
• Ensure Brand USPS are followed throughout product development and product lifecycle.
• Review and communicate TQM results to relevant stakeholders (including customer complaints, quality control results etc.).
• Report and feedback on quality timeously.
• Ensure the China QA office is used for all export requirements and the RAG process is followed.
• Own the DC release process to be implemented for all high risk/new launches.
• Prepare ongoing and timeous sales, quality and corrective action reports (including scorecard, supplier scorecards) for management through drawing, analysing and interpreting accurate data.
• Responsible for customer complaints/queries, red alerts, public product recall and product withdrawals.
• Lead regulatory change – to manage new legislative requirements into the categories, communicate and ensure total compliance of this within product and packaging developments.

Manage NPD & Costs

• Assist with bi-annual competitor quality review report.
• Manage relevant technical information to enable final sign off of projects for product and packaging compliance.
• Provide input at concept stage to inform NPD buyers to make an informed decision at development stage.
• Lead technical product/ingredient/process innovation.
• Adhere to and input to critical project path.
• Export – project framework/plan to retrofit product into international rules and launch timeously.
• Check open book costings and identify opportunities to optimise costs and challenge fixed costs related to technical aspects for products (Value Chain Optimisation) re-engineering of products.
• Tender evaluations – product/packaging and price.

Manage Suppliers & Inventory

• Regular audit scorecard to be obtained from an approved local and international supplier list bi-annually.
• Corrective action plan presented to key stakeholders and implemented.
• Build up good working relationships with suppliers to benefit from key learnings.
• Resolve critical raw materials/sourcing issues.
• Understand the impact of low or no in-fills on the categories and resolve issues of quality/capacity.

Minimum requirements

Education:

• Relevant technical qualification – ie. BSc Food Science, BTech (Food Technology).

Job Related Knowledge:

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience.
• Knowledge of proven technical experience within NPD.
• Knowledge of technical processes, principles and import/export legislation is essential.
• Knowledge of food labelling is essential.
• Strong integrator and communicator – proven ability to work in a matrix and across categories.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving ability.

Competencies:

• Leading and Deciding.
• Supporting and Cooperating.
• Interaction and Presenting.
• Analysing and Interpreting.
• Creating and Conceptualising.
• Organising and Executing.
• Adapting and Coping.
• Critical Path Management.