QA Technologist - Fresh Foods

The Shoprite Group of Companies, comprising several iconic brands, is the largest retailer in Africa. It started out as a group of eight grocery stores in 1979, and has grown into a technologically-advanced, continent-wide business selling items from food, liquor and medicine, to concert tickets and furniture. Today the Group is at the forefront of retail innovation. It operates thousands of stores in 14 countries, has a network of high-tech automated distribution centres, and employs more than 140,000 people. About the role The Fresh Foods QA Technologist is responsible for ensuring that fresh food products meet defined quality, food safety and specification standards across suppliers, factories and stores. The role focuses on hands-on quality control, factory validation and in-market verification, ensuring that products are produced consistently, meet required standards and align with approved specifications. What you'll do Quality Control and Product Assessment Conduct ongoing taste tests and quality assessments to ensure consistency and adherence to standards. Evaluate product quality, freshness, flavour and presentation across suppliers and stores. Monitor alignment to approved recipes, specifications and quality expectations. Supplier and Factory Quality Oversight Conduct supplier visits to assess production processes and quality control practices. Perform recipe audits to verify compliance with specifications and standards. Participate in factory trials to evaluate product consistency and production feasibility. In-Store Quality Verification Conduct store visits to assess the quality and presentation of fresh food products. Identify and address any quality deviations or inconsistencies in-store. Issue Resolution and Continuous Improvement Support the investigation and resolution of product quality or production issues. Work with suppliers and internal stakeholders to implement corrective actions. Provide practical feedback to improve product consistency and production outcomes. Documentation and Compliance Maintain accurate records of quality assessments, audits and corrective actions. Ensure traceability and alignment with food safety and quality standards. Support compliance with GMP, HACCP, ISO and internal QA requirements. Stakeholder Collaboration Work closely with Product Development, QA, Procurement and Operations teams. Build and maintain effective relationships with suppliers and production teams. Act as a key quality control link between suppliers, production and stores. What you bring Relevant tertiary qualification in Food Science, Food Technology, Consumer Science or a related field Strong understanding of food safety standards, quality control practices and regulatory requirements. 3 - 4 years' experience in food quality control or quality assurance, preferably within FMCG, fresh foods or food manufacturing environments. Proven exposure to factory environments and supplier operations. Experience conducting audits, quality assessments or factory trials. (advantageous) Closing Date 2026/08/28