Job Description
Principle Responsibilities:
- Modify, create and enforce the new product/project development protocol, i.e. set up stage-gate process to progress projects; set up criteria for advancing or rejecting projects; set up register and priorities for research projects; ensure commercial and technical justification of projects meet the requirements of the business and liaise with all Depts to coordinate and maintain the development of new products and projects.
- Set up and maintain necessary infrastructure, resource base and skillsets to service current and future needs of the business; manage existing personnel and their upskilling and identify and motivate for changes to personnel, equipment and infrastructure to meet the needs of the business; nurture an environment conducive for research and excellence in product development, idea generation and evaluation, formulation development and analytical skills.
- Maintain and implement compliance systems – participation in all audits done for ISO9001, ISO14001, OSHAS 18001, organic certification, external audits pertaining to research activities. Evaluate need for and implementation of accreditation platforms for the Research Dept including GLP. Ensure all documentation is compiled and kept up to date for abovementioned accreditations w.r.t. quality function. Arrange for organic audit annually and provide necessary documentation. Review SOP’s and WI’s when changes are suggested. Draw up new product specs and raw material specs for new products. Load BOM onto the system. Ensure analytical method is written up and incorporated into ISO9001 system.
- Customer complaints investigation – Investigate complaints on in-house products w.r.t. quality or efficacy, etc; analyse and advise on the rework of finished products returned; investigate and determine process to reformulate product that has been manufactured incorrectly by Production and advise Production of the process to be followed.
- Development of new products – Develop and maintain a pipeline of new products to grow the business. Oversee the research on suitable actives for solutions to certain problems in agriculture that have been identified by the Technical, Marketing and Sales Depts. Source identified actives, liaise with suppliers for samples and participate in supply agreements with suppliers; sourcing of inerts for formulations as identified by the Formulation Chemist. Check expiry date of patents and patent contents of new actives. Investigate patentability of new formulation. Understand and develop the knowledge of in-house products and their working to better market and support the products in the field.
- Research activities for registration – Ensure that formulation and stability testing for submission is complete according to submission plan. Request samples from suppliers for stability testing and trial samples as well as the request and review of 5 batch analysis reports from suppliers to ensure compliance with FAO specs. Review and explain any formulation changes on old products for submission. Request samples of 5 batch analysis that has to be conducted locally. Outsource stability testing of samples. Assist in planning submission of new products, new sources and changed formulations. Assist with analytical method development for new products.
- Research possibilities from institutions – Meet with research institutions to enquire about research activities and possible market opportunities for developments. Liaise w.r.t. agreements/contracts with such institutions and track progress of projects.
- Registration of new sources of active ingredients – Review registered sources and determine need for additional sources. Source suppliers for active ingredients of which another source is required. Liaise with supplier on 5 batch analysis reports and letters of supply. Ensure stability tests are done on new sources and plan submission with relevant parties.
- Research and Innovation – Build the knowledge base and IP unique to the business through research activities and trials. Identify new avenues for research that would place the business in a strong position in current markets or open up new markets. Develop a primary research capability for the business. Set up regular research meetings within the business to evaluate progress on research topics or explore ideas across various divisions within the business. Create a platform for idea sharing and management of innovation.
Qualifications & Experience
- Grade 12 with post matric qualification of an BSc in a field relevant to the business including Chemistry, Agronomy, Microbiology, Plant Physiology.
- 10 years post-graduate experience in a laboratory or research environment.
- 5 years’ experience in product development and registration
- 5 years’ experience in laboratory and research management.
- Knowledge of instrumentation used in the laboratory, i.e. HPLC, GC, FTIR, etc.
- ISO9001, organic certification
- SHEQ Management Systems standards/requirements knowledge.
- Knowledge of production processes and equipment.
- Knowledge of general agricultural formulations in existence, e.g. EC, SC, SL, WP, TB, OD, ME, WDG, etc.
- Knowledge of registration requirements of Act 36 of 1947
- Knowledge of FAO specifications for actives and formulations
- Ability to review chemical data for registration purposes
- Working knowledge of Syspro
- Working knowledge of statistics and other regulatory guidelines, i.e. OECD, etc.
- Excellent formulation expertise
- Proficiency in MS Office (Word/Excel/PowerPoint)
- Ability to operate in a multi-disciplinary environment
Must be in possession of a valid driver’s license, have own reliable transport and be medically fit to drive.
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