Job Purpose:     

The Food Technologist, under the direction of the Senior Director- Social Services/Home Economics required to apply scientific and engineering principles in research and development, production technology, processing, quality control and packaging in converting primary agricultural produce into value added products.

Key Responsibility Areas:

Management/Administrative Responsibilities

• Managing a Laboratory at Twickenham Park;
• Preparing Annual Work Plans and Budgets for Approval by the Senior Director SS/HE;
• Preparing monthly progress reports on the implementation of the Annual Work Plan;
• Managing the finances of the Laboratory at Twickenham Park;
• Liaising with SS/HE Officers in the Parishes to ascertain their research requirements and providing technical assistance with the testing and appraisal of products prepared by their Home Economics Working Groups;
• Attending conferences, seminars on behalf of the Food Technology Section of the Authority.

Technical /Professional Responsibilities

• Experiment with primary agricultural produce in developing new products with accompanying business profiles;
• Identify lab equipment and other inputs for the setting up of a Laboratory for the development and testing of specific processing methods, shelf life and micro-biological analysis;
• Design processes and machinery for making products, with the consistent flavour, colour and texture  in commercial quantities;
• Working with existing enterprises to improve physical plan layout, quality control procedures, developing new products and modifying existing products and processes, where necessary;
• Working with existing enterprises  in developing a set of procedures  for selecting raw materials, production processes, quality control, packaging, maintenance of equipment, pest control, cleaning and sanitation, personal hygiene, waste management use of chemicals, packaging  record keeping, marketing and consumer feedback;
• Preparing costings for all products based on raw material and manufacturing costs  to ensure profitable products;
• Training social services /home economics officers in basic principles of food processing, micro-biology , quality control , good manufacturing practices and other food safety and quality systems e.g. HACCP and ISO;
• Planning and conducting short training courses  in specific areas  of food processing , targeting special interest groups;
• Researching current consumer markets and latest technologies  to develop new product concepts;
• Liaising with technical and commercial entities  in procurement, sales, technical services  and marketing and distribution;
• Identifying markets, local and overseas for products  with commercial potentials;
• Working with Social Services /Home Economics Officers in the Parishes in assisting rural women to develop sustainable cottage industries and micro enterprises in agro processing.
• Developing economic production profiles for various categories of process foods e.g. Chips, Jams and Jellies, juices and flours.

Minimum Required Education and Experience

• BSc. in Chemistry or Food Technology;
• Post Graduate qualification in Food Science;
• Minimum of  5 years experience of scientific research /laboratory work;

Specify licensing or certification necessary for the

• Full Driving Licence
• Food Handling Permit