Purpose:

An agricultural organisation is seeking a Food Safety Understudy who is responsible for supporting food safety initiatives, monitoring local and international regulatory developments, assisting with stakeholder engagement, and ensuring compliance with national and international food safety requirements, particularly relating to plant protection products and active substance Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs). The role also provides research and administrative support across food safety and sustainability initiatives

Key Job Outputs:

• Assist in monitoring and reporting food safety updates, including MRL changes in key export markets
• Support tracking of EU regulatory developments (for example: EFSA publications, Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Foods and Feeds meeting minutes, tracking policies like the EU Food and Feed Omnibus)
• Help research and track changes for updates to the CGA/CRI Recommended Usage Restrictions (RUR) of Plant Protection Products
• Contribute to Citrus Sustainability Forum activities (for example: agenda preparation, minute keeping, stakeholder feedback, presenting).
• Collaborate with Citrus Research International (CRI) to maintain Crop Protection Needs records and highlight gaps for research and development
• Provide administrative and research support in engagements with Agricultural Chemistry companies, policymakers, and food safety government officials
• Assist in communication to and addressing food safety related queries from stakeholders, including growers, retailers and exporters
• Participate in investigations of MRL exceedances and support reporting processes
• Engage in industry forums, working groups, and collaborative initiatives (e.g., FruitSA, Southern Hemisphere Fruit Alliance, Agbiz, Joint Grower Association meetings)
• Partake in audit reference/technical working groups where on-farm audit standards are discussed and developed
• Contribute to content creation promoting consumer health benefits of citrus
• Support with ad hoc administration as needed

Core Competencies:

• Food Safety
• Regulatory Compliance
• Research and Analysis
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Report Writing
• Communication Skills
• Presentation Skills
• Attention to Detail
• Problem Solving
• Planning and Organisation
• Time Management
• Team Collaboration
• Administration
• Continuous Learning
• Ability to Work Independently

Qualifications:

• Relevant tertiary qualification in Agriculture, Agricultural Science, Food Science, Environmental Science or a related field
• MSc Degree advantageous but not essential

Experience:

• Previous exposure to regulatory, compliance or sustainability work advantageous but not essential
• Demonstrated interest in food safety, sustainability and agricultural exports
• Willingness to travel and engage with multiple stakeholder
• Ability to work independently while supporting senior specialists
• English communication skills essential
• Afrikaans communication skills beneficial

Salary: Market related

Should you not hear from us within 2 weeks, kindly consider your application as unsuccessful.

All personal information received will be processed in accordance with The Protection of Personal Information Act No. 4 OF 2013