Packaging Technologist (Fixed Term Contract)

RCL FOODS is a leading African food producer in South Africa with a market capitalisation of R13 billion and employing more than 20 000 people in operations across South and Southern Africa. We manufacture a wide range of branded and private label food products which we distribute through our own route-to-market supply chain specialist, Vector Logistics. In line with our Passion to provide more food to more people, more often, we have acquired a number of businesses with deep South African roots and strong brands, which have enabled us to diversify our offering and enhance our reach. Included in our portfolio are well-known South African brands such as Selati sugar, Supreme flour, Rainbow and Farmer Brown chicken, Pieman's pies, Mageu Number 1 beverages, Sunbake bread, Nola mayonnaise, Yum Yum peanut butter, Ouma rusks, Bobtail and Catmor pet food products, and Epol and Molatek animal feed. In line with our strategy, we have recently transformed from four separate businesses (TSB Sugar, Rainbow Chicken, Foodcorp and Vector) into "ONE RCL FOODS", an integrated company made up of three divisions supported by common Group functions. We have the opportunity within our Packaging R&D function for a 12-month Fixed Term Contract R&D Packaging Technologist: Milling & Baking. The key purpose of this role is to elevate the pivotal role that packaging plays specifically within our Milling & Baking and Pies Food business. More specifically, this role is responsible for the delivery of the R&D Packaging program and ensure execution of Milling & Baking and Pies Food Innovation and Renovation program for both the retail and QSR business. Develop and implement roadmaps on Responsible Packaging as a key part of waste reduction in the RCL Sustainability Strategy. Identification and execution of saving projects delivering to the Value Engineering Program. Execute the resilience program on alternative packaging materials in partnership with the Sourcing and Procurement functions. Provide support to Supply Chain within the business units ensuring high-quality packaging design and execution e.g. quality and/or factory efficiency projects. This role carries the responsibility of business partner to the Business units providing operational stewardship to deliver to the business agenda. This role has operational responsibility in the Business Unit and within the Packaging Forum. This requires working collaboratively within R&D and cross functionally with Marketing, Customer Development, Consumer Insight, Supply Chain including Quality, Sourcing, Commercial and with Business Unit teams. Externally, the role has a significant business partnering requirement with packaging suppliers. Minimum Requirements BSc or Diploma in Sciences. Packaging Diploma and NQF 5 in Project Management. A minimum of 3 years' experience within R&D. Working knowledge of MS Office - Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint. Proven track record within the Packaging Industry. Duties & Responsibilities Deliver the Milling & Baking Packaging Innovation and Technology Program: Working in collaboration with Marketing, Consumer insight and customer teams as well as the group R&D team, deliver the Milling and Pies Food Packaging program. Build strategic partnerships with relevant packaging suppliers, academia government and innovation agencies to input into the R&D packaging technology program. Be a subject matter expert on category specific packaging materials, formats, equipment and processes. This includes Milling, Baking formats and technologies. Strong business acumen. Operationally astute. Systems thinker. Entrepreneurial mindset is key (proactive, calculated risk propensity and innovative). Packaging agenda custodian in the business. Sound modelling systems knowledge within packaging such as Cape Pack. Design for recycling principles implementation per need. Ability to engage externally and drive the business agenda. Ability to take decisions under uncertainty, think out of the box and drive performance culture whilst ensuring rigour in process. Ability to multitask and delegate and manage under pressure. Strong stakeholder management and people development skills. An understanding of multiple business key performance indicators, inter-relationship and bottom-line sensitivity. Commercially astute with very good understanding of business cases. Analytical skills and attention to detail. Packaging Systems, Governance and Capability: Develop, author, maintain and continuously improve packaging specifications, standard operating procedures, colour standards and related technical documentation. Create and manage packaging workflows and project documentation across innovation, renovation, resilience, value engineering and responsible packaging projects. Maintain document control and traceability in partnership with Quality and relevant business stakeholders. Support packaging quality system improvements through investigations, root-cause analysis, corrective actions and packaging audits where applicable. Identify opportunities to reduce packaging waste and improve packaging performance at site level. Build packaging capability through supplier engagement, supplier upskilling, training and knowledge transfer to Quality, Packaging Analysts and other cross-functional stakeholders. Work with Quality and Sourcing to streamline priority projects, ensure fit-for-purpose specifications are in place and strengthen capability to resolve non-complex packaging-related challenges. Ensure packaging governance and documentation requirements are maintained in line with applicable business and quality standards. Innovation Delivery: Short, Medium and Long Term: Deliver the key valuable Innovation and Renovation program for Milling & Baking in partnership with Marketing and Customer teams. Collaborate with OUs to deliver best in class packaging practices. Bias for action and deliver packaging workstreams of projects on time and in full. Delivery the R&D Packaging Value Engineering Program (VEP): Leads the Identifying and implementation of cost reduction opportunities within Packaging based on the outcome of a spend analysis by key packaging type/technology for Milling & Baking. Develops and implements innovative packaging strategies and programs that result in continuous cost/price reductions in partnership with Sourcing and SC. Execute the resilience program as articulated in partnership with Sourcing and Procurement. Update and report on the Best-in-Class program at the Business Units. Deadline:18th October,2026