Requisition ID: 56609 
Position Type: FT Permanent 
Workplace Arrangement:   

About Kerry Kerry is the world's leading taste and nutrition company for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. Every day we partner with customers to create healthier, tastier and more sustainable products that are consumed by billions of people across the world. Our vision is to be our customers' most valued partner, creating a world of sustainable nutrition. A career with Kerry offers you an opportunity to shape the future of food while providing you opportunities to explore and grow in a truly global environment.About the role

Lead the proactive development of integrated solutions that drive sustainable growth and profitability for Kerry's Dairy and Beverage in South Africa and Africa
Serve as the primary expert on customer needs related to finished dairy and beverage products and processes, providing specialised knowledge in the application of Kerry technologies to enhance customer offerings.  
Collaborate closely with the Commercial team to support key business initiatives, translating Kerry's technological capabilities into tangible sales growth for priority dairy and beverage accounts. 
This role involves conducting research, developing new recipes, improving existing products, and ensuring compliance with food safety regulations, technical customer support for factory trials and new product initiations.
 

Key responsibilities

Product Development:  

Lead the formulation and development of dairy products, including Milk, Flavoured Milks, Lactose Free     Milks, Fermented products (Yoghurts, Drinking Yoghurts, Dairy Snacks, Mageu), Multigrain Dairy Blends, Better, Spreads and Margarines, Cheeses, Processed Cheese. Dairy Alternates (Plant based), functional and nutritional dairy, Powder Drinks (Hot chocolate, Frappe, 3 in one Tea/Coffee) Support with Beverage Products when required (CSD, Juices, Dairy Juice Blends, Energy Drinks, Boaba Type Drinks, Beverage Powder Drinks, Cereal Based Drinks) Strong technical knowledge across a variety of dairy processes (Homogenization, Pasteurisation, UHT, Hot Filling, Retort, Aseptic) Strong Technical Knowledge on raw materials (enzymes, emulsifiers, texture systems, natural and chemical preservatives, Taste Modulators for Sugar Reduction) Sensory Analysis, Nutritional Fortification (Vitamin and Mineral, NRV calculations), Labelling Requirements as per R146,  Demonstrated ability to use Beverage and Dairy processing machinery.    Experienced in the upscaling of laboratory experiments to assist in industrial production at customer’s premises.  Research and Innovation: Conduct research on new ingredients, Apply new Kerry Technologies for dairy and beverage products.

Quality Assurance: 

Test food samples for quality, safety, and compliance with regulatory standards. Conduct shelf-life studies and sensory evaluations & maintain Good Laboratory Practices.  Collaboration: Work closely with cross-functional teams, including marketing, production, and sales, to implement new product launches and promotional strategies.  Documentation: Develop and maintain detailed product specifications, standards, and project timelines.  Consumer Insights: Keep up to date with current consumer trends and preferences to guide product development efforts.  Troubleshooting: Troubleshoot technical challenges with cross-functional technology leads and able to     perform consistently in a fast-paced environment by trouble shooting and problem solving  Qualifications and skills

Bachelor’s degree in food science, Food Technology, or a related field. 
Master’s degree would be an added advantage.
Minimum of 5 years of experience in food product development, must have dairy and beverage experience. 

Skills

Strong knowledge of dairy & Beverage product development and processing, food chemistry, and nutritional principles. Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills. Proficiency in using     food science software and laboratory equipment.  Effective communication and teamwork skills to collaborate with various departments and stakeholders.  Work well in an ambiguous setting; self-motivated; proactive; leadership attitude  Analytical with a strong attention to detail  Good presentation and project management skills  Ability to work under pressure to ensure deadlines met.  Ability to perform consistently in a fast-paced environment by trouble shooting and problem solving.  Desire and willingness for continuous learning 
 

Beware of scams online or from individuals claiming to represent us. A Kerry employee will not solicit candidates through a non-Kerry email address or phone number. In addition, Kerry does not currently utilise video chat rooms (e.g., Google Hangouts) to conduct interviews. Refuse any request that asks you to provide payment to participate in the hiring process (e.g., purchasing a “starter kit,” investing in training, or something similar). Kerry will not ask you to pay any money at any point in the hiring process with the exception of reimbursable travel expenses. In addition, any payments made by Kerry will be from official firm accounts bearing the Kerry name.

Recruiter: #LI-NB1 
Posting Type: LI