Reporting to: Head of NPD

Location: Montagu, Western Cape

About the Libstar Wet Condiments Category

The Wet Condiments Category is part of the Libstar Ambient Products Category, with business sites located in Montagu, Cape Town, and Johannesburg. We operate within a dynamic, forward-thinking organization dedicated to driving innovation, fostering growth, and creating a supportive, inclusive work environment. As part of the broader Libstar team, our goal is to grow our food brands and category solutions in a sustainable and profitable manner. We prioritize building strong relationships with our customers and aim to be South Africa’s leading producer and distributor of high-quality products and brands. To achieve this, we believe that our people are our greatest asset, and we are committed to investing in their development and well-being.

Purpose of the Role

A position for a R&D Technologist is available at Montagu. The R&D Technologist is responsible for product development and all the roles associated with it. This position is responsible for developing new products and/ or improving existing products. The R&D Technologist will report directly to the Head of NPD.

Key Responsibilities

• New product development: understand the brief supplied by the customer, research recipes and create a recipe that is suited to the factory.
• Costings: Complete BOMs of new products. Research new raw materials and packaging costs.
• Kitchen trials: Cooking of new recipes that are suitable for the factory. Providing samples to the customers as requested
• Legislation: ensure products comply to relevant regulatory, statutory and customer requirements
• Product specifications: Create final product specifications for products being introduced into the factory.
• New materials: Source new raw and packaging materials as may be required for product development. Obtain all necessary information including documentation, pricing and MOQ information.
• Product Handover Forms: Create product handover forms for the creation of batch cards for use in the factory.
• Factory trials: conduct factory trials on new products being introduced into the factory.
• Bill of Materials: Submit BOMS to the cost accountant for loading onto Syspro.
• Shelf life: Provide the samples and check shelf life of products stored at ambient and accelerated shelf life. Populate the template as required.
• Nutritional Analysis: Complete nutri calculations and send product for nutritional analysis as needed.
• Religious applications: Complete religious applications and submit to the relevant body. Supply artwork to the religious body after artwork approval
• Artwork: Complete the artwork brief and provide to the customer as required. Review artwork against relevant regulatory, statutory and customer guidelines to ensure compliance.
• Travel tests: complete travel tests on any new packaged product introduced onto site.
• Cost Saving: Assist in cost saving and process efficiencies projects in production.
• Concept meetings: Arrange for and host the concept meetings.
• Pre-trial meetings: Arrange for and host pre-trial meetings.
• Post-trial meetings: Arrange for and host the post-trial meetings.
• Production: Determine final information for product from production runs.
• Documentation: Ensure all relevant documentation is completed correctly and timeously
• Alternative materials: Provide insight into possible alternative raw materials.
• CCR: Issue change control requests in a timeous manner.
• Innovation: Present innovative products that would keep Montagu Foods ahead of the curb
• Customer Complaints & Queries: Assisting in the investigation into possible customer complaints or queries
• Audits: assist with audits as required.
• Communication: Maintain effective communication throughout the team
• Project work – Ad hoc projects assigned by Head of NPD

Behavioural Competencies

• Innovative – find innovative ideas and “out of the box” thinking when it comes to processes.
• Leadership skills – Influencing others in terms of best practice, improvements and assertive on standards, policy and procedure.
• Thinking and Strategy – problem solving (identify and suggest alternative solutions) Action, focus and innovation – Attention to detail. Ensuring information is accurate
• Relationship Building and Customer Focused – Willingness to always help and to ensure team efficiency
• Emotional Intelligence – Work under pressure and handle stress, having a positive mindset to deal with daily challenges

Qualifications, Skills & Experience

• BSc in Food Science or ND Food Technology.
• Fully computer literate in all Microsoft Office Suites.
• Experience in FSSC 22000.
• Analytical – able to analyse data and statistics and capture it accordingly.
• Problem solving skills – able to assist QC, R&D and production.
• Communicate clearly and efficiently.
• Liaise with suppliers with regards to specifications and other technical issues
• At least 2 years’ experience in a similar role

Additional Information

You may occasionally be required to perform tasks outside your normal responsibilities, depending on operational requirements

Application

Please e-mail your CV to Recruitment.WCCMontagu@libstar.co.za Late applications will not be considered.
Include the position you are applying for in the email subject line.
Application deadline: 18 September 2026
If you have not received a response within two weeks of the closing date for applications, kindly consider your application unsuccessful.

NOTE:
To consider any application for employment, we will have to process your personal information. The Protection of Personal Information Act, 4 of 2013 (POPIA), provides that when one processes another’s personal information, such collection, retention, dissemination and use of that person’s personal information must be done in a lawful and transparent manner.

To give effect to the above, we are required to provide you with information regarding the processing of your personal information. This information is recorded under the HR Processing Notice, which can be accessed and viewed on the Company website at https://www.libstar.co.za/legal/.