Laboratory Assistant (Fixed-Term Contract) at Ackermans

About the Job

Our Product Technology Team is looking for a Laboratory Assistant to provide general assistance to the Textiles and Colour Technology team to deliver on the company’s seasonal product strategy. This position will be a fixed term contract ending 30 November 2024.

Key Responsibilities:

• To accurately laminate, cut, header and label all the fabric, substrate and colour swatches for the colour & fabric libraries.
• To ensure that all the fabric, colour and substrate swatches created are delivered on time and to specification. 
• To check the stock levels of all the swatches in the colour library and inform the Colour Development Technician of which colours need to be replenished. Additionally, to ensure the library is orderly and to update the colour library index accordingly.
• To ensure that the fabric & substrate library is neat, orderly, clean and arranged correctly. 
• To ensure that all the fabric & substrate swatches have all the correct information and are in the correct season.
• To assist the Colour Development Technician to keep track of the colour laboratory equipment maintenance schedule by accurately updating and arranging the equipment maintenance with external service providers.
• To ensure all invoicing activities across the colour and physical testing laboratories are completed accurately and on time.
• Fabric and colour related projects, seasonal fabric & substrate swatch creations, centric data, team administrative tasks and general assistance required by the team.

Skills required:

• A technical knowledge of different types of textiles
• The ability to:
• Accurately create fabric, substrate and colour swatches
• Accurately capture data and create swatch header cards
• Work independently, as well as be a team player
• Communicate effectively (both verbal and written)
• Follow verbal and written instructions
• Time Management skills
• Planning & Organizing Skills
• Interpersonal and relationship-building skills
• Strong Administrative Skills
• A high energy level to cope with the constant deadlines
• A service-orientation
• A strong detail-orientation
• A sense of urgency
• The ability to be flexible
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to perform tasks with precision and accuracy
• Working experience in the latest Microsoft applications (Outlook, Word & Excel)

Essential:

• Previous experience working in a textile or colour laboratory environment
• Exposure to textile manufacturing, dyeing, printing and finishing processes
• Exposure to and/or experience in product and/or textile quality control
• Understanding of fibers and textiles

Qualifications:

• A Grade 12 Certificate/Matric is a minimum requirement
• Bachelor's degree in Science, Textiles or a related fieldDiploma in Textile Technology, preferably with the following subjects:
• Colour theory
• Colour measurement
• Dyeing process and principles
• Textiles (Fibres & Yarns)
• Certificate in Fibres and Fabric
• Relevant SADFA Certificate (dyeing, printing & finishing)