FOOD PROCESS SPECIALIST - RETORT & THERMAL PROCESSING

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

Plan and conduct retort trials with product development and production teams.
Operate and monitor retort equipment, including temperature, pressure and processing time, according to approved procedures.
Maintain trial reports, batch records and equipment logs.
Identify processing deviations, troubleshoot issues, implement approved corrective procedures and coordinate maintenance and calibration.
Check packaging and seal integrity and assess product quality.
Coordinate with external technical partners on trials, testing and process validation.
Develop SOPs and train production staff.
Ensure compliance with food safety, hygiene and workplace safety requirements.

Requirements

Minimum 2 years of hands-on experience operating retort equipment in food manufacturing.
Knowledge of thermal processing, commercial sterilization and critical process controls.
Experience handling retort pouches, trays, cans or other compatible packaging.
Able to operate equipment independently under approved procedures, maintain accurate records and troubleshoot routine issues.
Familiar with HACCP and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
Good planning, communication and coordination skills.
NITEC, Diploma or relevant qualification in Food Science, Food Technology, Engineering or related discipline preferred.
Experience in ready-to-eat meals, shelf-life studies or production scale-up.
Experience in thermal processing studies and validation under technical guidance.

An Advantage

Experience in ready-to-eat meals, shelf-life studies or commercial production scale-up.
Experience in heat penetration studies and thermal process validation under qualified technical guidance.