R&D Specialist (Water, Refined Soya Oil, Crude & Refined Palm Kernel Oil, Animal Feeds) at Johnvents Foods Limited

Job Summary

• The R&D Specialist is responsible for supporting research, product development, process improvement, and technical innovation activities across the company's portfolio of:
  • Packaged Drinking Water
  • Refined Soya Oil
  • Crude Palm Kernel Oil (CPKO)
  • Refined Palm Kernel Oil (RPKO)
  • Animal Feed Products
• The role focuses on developing and improving products, optimizing manufacturing processes, evaluating raw materials, conducting trials, and ensuring compliance with quality, food safety, and regulatory requirements.

Key Responsibilities
Product Development and Improvement:

• Develop new products and formulations in line with business objectives and market requirements.
• Improve existing products to enhance quality, functionality, nutritional value, and cost-effectiveness.
• Conduct laboratory and plant-scale trials for new product development projects.
• Support commercialization activities and successful product launches.
• Prepare technical reports and product development documentation.

Water Product Development:

• Support the development and improvement of bottled water products.
• Conduct studies on water treatment processes including:
  • Filtration
  • Reverse Osmosis (RO)
  • UV Treatment
  • Ozonation
• Monitor water quality parameters and regulatory compliance.
• Participate in shelf-life and packaging validation studies.

Edible Oils Development:

• Support process optimization for:
  • Crude Palm Kernel Oil (CPKO)
  • Refined Palm Kernel Oil (RPKO)
  • Refined Soya Oil
• Evaluate refining efficiency and oil quality improvement initiatives.
• Monitor critical quality parameters including:
  • Free Fatty Acid (FFA)
  • Moisture Content
  • Peroxide Value
  • Iodine Value
  • Color
• Conduct trials on yield improvement and process optimization.

Animal Feed Research and Development:

• Assist in feed formulation and optimization activities.
• Evaluate alternative and cost-effective raw material sources.
• Conduct feed performance and nutritional assessment studies.
• Monitor feed quality, digestibility, and production performance indicators.

Process Improvement:

• Identify opportunities to improve product quality and manufacturing efficiency.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives.
• Analyze production data and recommend corrective actions.
• Investigate product and process deviations and propose solutions.
• Support waste reduction and yield improvement projects.

Laboratory and Technical Support:

• Conduct laboratory testing and validation studies.
• Analyze raw materials, in-process samples, and finished products.
• Maintain accurate records of trials, research findings, and technical data.
• Prepare technical specifications and test methods.

Raw Material and Supplier Evaluation:

• Evaluate new raw materials and alternative ingredients.
• Conduct supplier qualification and technical assessments.
• Develop raw material specifications.
• Support procurement through technical evaluations and recommendations.

Quality, Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance:

• Support internal and external audits.
• Assist in corrective and preventive action (CAPA) implementation.
• Participate in root cause investigations related to quality issues.

Requirements
Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Food Science and Technology, Chemical Engineering, Food Engineering, Biochemistry, Industrial Chemistry

Experience:

• 3–7 years of relevant experience in:
  • Food Manufacturing
  • Edible Oil Processing
  • Water Treatment Operations
  • Animal Feed Manufacturing
  • Research & Development
• Experience in laboratory analysis, product formulation, and process optimization is highly desirable.

Technical Competencies:
Industry Knowledge:

• Water Treatment Technology
• Edible Oil Refining Processes
• Palm Kernel Oil Processing
• Soya Oil Processing
• Animal Feed Formulation
• Food Safety Systems

Technical Skills:

• Product Formulation
• Data Analysis and Interpretation
• Laboratory Testing Techniques
• Statistical Process Control (SPC)
• Root Cause Analysis
• HACCP and GMP
• Shelf-life Studies
• Technical Report Writing
• Project Management Fundamentals
• Planning and Organization.