Closing Date: 07 September 2025
Location: Centurion, Gauteng, South Africa
Details
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Reference Number: RCL250828-2
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Company: RCL Foods
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Job Title: New Product Development Manager
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Job Type: Permanent
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Department/Function: R&D
Job Description
RCL Foods is seeking a highly skilled and innovative New Product Development (NPD) Manager to lead the end-to-end development of new and improved food products across its speciality portfolio. The role involves managing product development, quality improvement, cost reduction initiatives, and identifying new commercial opportunities.
Minimum Requirements
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Qualified Chef with tertiary qualification in New Product Development, Food Science, or Culinary Arts
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Minimum 3 years’ experience in NPD and project management within the prepared food industry
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Proven experience working with Woolworths
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Strong knowledge of food ingredients, factory processes, product costing, and mass production techniques
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Valid Code EB Driver’s License
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Proficient in MS Office (Excel, Word) with strong numerical and verbal skills
Duties & Responsibilities
New Product Development
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Lead the full NPD lifecycle for Woolworths, QSR, and foodservice clients—from concept to launch
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Develop innovative, commercially viable products meeting customer and profitability targets
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Ensure products are developed to specification, on time, and within budget
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Oversee product testing, packaging development, and artwork sign-off
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Maintain accurate documentation of NPD critical paths and development processes
Customer & Stakeholder Engagement
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Serve as the key liaison for Woolworths, ensuring alignment with technical, quality, and commercial requirements
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Present product concepts and prototypes to customers and internal stakeholders
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Collaborate with internal teams (technical, commercial, planning, production) for seamless execution
Technical & Quality Oversight
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Resolve technical and quality issues with cross-functional teams
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Conduct post-launch quality reviews and ensure continuous improvement
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Provide expertise on food science, ingredient functionality, and production feasibility
Strategic Innovation & Efficiency
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Identify market trends and initiate category innovation pipelines
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Optimize development processes to improve speed-to-market and cost efficiency
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Support strategic alignment through business updates and innovation planning