Bakeries Specialist

It's fun to work in a company where people truly BELIEVE in what they're doing!

The Bakery Specialist is a senior technical specialist within Research & Development responsible for providing expert bakery science and manufacturing support across the Albany bakery network. The role serves as the critical link between product development, third-party technical partners, suppliers, and bakery manufacturing operations to ensure products, processes, and innovations are scalable, cost-effective, and capable of delivering consistent manufacturing performance.
The position requires advanced technical expertise, significant independent problem-solving capability, and influence across multiple functions and business units

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

Bakery Technical Leadership

• Provide specialised baking science expertise to support manufacturing, process optimisation, quality improvement, and innovation initiatives.
• Serve as the technical authority for bakery formulations, ingredient functionality, process controls, and recipe governance.
• Support bakeries in resolving complex product and process challenges through structured troubleshooting and root cause analysis.

Product Development & Commercialisation

• Assess technical feasibility of innovation and renovation opportunities.
• Develop and optimise bakery products in line with project briefs and consumer requirements.
• Lead the transition of products from development through commercial implementation.
• Validate successful manufacturing implementation to ensure quality, consistency, and consumer satisfaction.

Continuous Improvement & Cost Optimisation

• Drive formulation and process improvements that improve quality, efficiency, and competitiveness.
• Lead value analysis initiatives to reduce costs while maintaining product performance and customer experience.
• Identify and evaluate emerging bakery technologies and industry trends.

Knowledge Requirements

Requires:

• High-level expertise across multiple specialised bakery disciplines.
• Advanced understanding of bakery manufacturing, ingredient functionality, formulation science, and industrial baking processes.
• Ability to interpret complex scientific, technical, operational, and regulatory information.

People Leadership

Although the role has no direct reports, it:

• Allocates work to project participants and technical resources.
• Coordinates activities across functions.
• Provides leadership through technical expertise and influence.

Communication Requirements

The Bakery Specialist must be capable of understanding and interpreting:

• Complex scientific research.
• Technical reports and project briefs.
• Industry legislation and regulatory requirements.

WHAT YOU WILL BRING TO THE TABLE:

Qualifications

Essential

• Bachelor's Degree, National Diploma, or equivalent qualification in Food Science, Food Technology, Cereal Science, Bakery Science, or a related discipline.

Experience

Essential

• Minimum 5 years' industrial bakery experience.
• Proven experience in commercial bakery manufacturing environments.
• Demonstrated expertise in bakery process optimisation and troubleshooting.

Preferred

• Up to 10 years' experience in bakery manufacturing, product development, or technical specialist roles.

#LI-KM3

In accordance with the employment equity plan of Tiger Brands and its employment equity goals and targets, preference may be given, but is not limited, to candidates from under-represented designated groups.