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.