Technical Manager - Pretoria at RCL Foods

Job Description    
To direct the reseach, planning, coordination and execution of:

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

Minimum Requirements    

• A Diploma in Food Technology or similar
• Degree in Food Science or BTech in food technology would be advantageous
• Valid drivers licence
• 7 years’ experience in a Food-related FMCG environment with preferably 5 years in a R&D/similar managerial role.
• Required to travel and occationally work irregular hours
• Required to work in different environments – factory and office
• Participation in required taste sessions
• General business and R&D principles
• Foodsafety and quality management
• Production and process management
• National Food legislation - GMP, HACCP, CPA, R146 compliance requirements,
• Relevant industry standards, SANS
• Industry and associated local and international trends

Duties & Responsibilities 

Strategy Into Action

• Provides input to Business unit meetings by keeping up to date with latest market trends, competitor activity, operational knowledge and processess
• Provides input related to technical and quality requirements of products to deliver sustainable and profitable growth
• Provides input to support integrated supply chain delivery thorugh interactions with cross functional team

New Product Development:

• Directly influlence the Scoping of the product briefs, i.e technology, raw materials, suppliers, process.
• Direct the technical development activities/approach required and unblock obstacles preventing project progress
• Interpret and communicate the impact that the current and/or new materials, machine requirements, process flows, labour compliments, throughputs etc have on costs to the business.

Product quality and Cost saving:

• Present opportunities for product quality improvement and cost saving realisation through process simiplication, new technology, ingredients and raw materials.
• Scope and brief technologist on approved product quality improvements and cost saving initiatives.
• Interpret and communicate the impact that the current and/or new materials, machine requirements, process flows, labour compliments, throughputs etc have on costs to the business.

Team coordination and self management:

• Drive active participation of subordance in regular performance appraisals and ensure that targets and goals are relevant, clear and achievable
•  Develop and drive achievement of personal individual development plans. Champions training and development of self and technical team thorugh utilizing
• available training opportunies or contributing to the develooment of new training solutions
•  Within the business unit, support a culture of excellence and commitment through engagement
• Support and drive the business core values

Techncial Expertise and insight

• Provide expertise in management team meetings and recommend solutions based on technically sound insight and research
• Provide practical expertise and insights to internal and external cliens as part of regular engagement and/or ad hoc requests
• Drive the resolution of quality and technical issues raised by customers and/or consumers
• Customer Relationship Management (internal and external)Technical Executive

Technical Manager

• Drives technical customer service through KPI and efficiency achievement
•  Engage regularly with customers regarding issues and requirements. Effectively address areas where customer needs are not met.
•  Develop a deep understanding of customer technical and quality assurance needs

Operations management

• Drive the implementation of simplify production processes to increase operational effectiveness and efficiencies
•  Drive optimal plant line efficiencies through all new developments and cost saving projects
•  Drive the implementation of reduction of plant wastages
• Drive the implementation of effecitve time and motion studies
•  Keep up to date with raw material utilization and excesses to ensure effective use of raw material into recipe formulations

Complaince Management

• Guides the technical team to ensure that all legislative and industry standards are implemented in new product development
•  Drives the adherence to all legislative and industry standards
•  Drives action where required to ensure that there are no areas of non compliance
•  Analyse technical reports from processing plants to confirm technical compliance

Leadership

• Leads technical team towards meeting strategy and tarkets
• Conducts regular performnance appreaisals with subordinates and ensure that KPI’s and targets are met
•  Manages technical employee relations
•  Facilitate interventions using multi-disciplinary teams, where necessary, to address any non complaince