Location: Roodekop
Closing Date: 05 June 2026
Work Experience Student (WES) – Day Laboratory Roles and Responsibilities
The Work Experience Students (WES) within the Day Laboratory play a critical support role in ensuring effective laboratory operations, governance, compliance, and continuous improvement within the Quality Department. The role is designed to provide practical exposure and hands-on experience across quality, food safety, sensory, microbiological, and governance systems while supporting operational excellence on site.
Core Areas of Responsibility
- Management of the water testing bench
- Management of the sample retention store and shelf-life evaluation programme
- Support incoming raw material and packaging material testing
- Raising food safety risks, observations, and non-conformances
- Supporting PRP/GMP audits and governance activities
- Participation in sensory evaluation and investigative activities
- Support food safety, quality, hygiene, and MECP programmes
Daily Activities (Approximate Time Allocation)
Water Testing Bench Management
- Conduct routine water sampling and testing as per the site sampling schedule: 1 hour
- Ensure adherence to daily, weekly, monthly, and annual water sampling plans: 30 minutes
- Record, interpret, trend, and communicate water testing results and deviations: 45 minutes
- Escalate out-of-specification results and support investigations: 30 minutes
Retention Store and Shelf-Life Management
- Verify that previous day production samples are accounted for against carousel reports and warehouse receipts: 45 minutes
- Organize and maintain retention samples for ease of traceability and retrieval: 30 minutes
- Conduct shelf-life evaluations including packaging integrity (PPQA), labelling verification, visual inspections, and flavour stability assessments: 1 hour
- Trend retention sample quality and identify emerging concerns or deterioration patterns: 30 minutes
- Report and escalate shelf-life or retention-related deviations timeously: 30 minutes
Incoming Material Support
- Support raw and packaging material inspections and testing activities: 1 hour
- Assist with sample collection, preparation, and documentation: 30 minutes
Food Safety, Quality and Governance
- Participate in GEMBA walkabouts and governance routines: 30 minutes
- Raise food safety, quality, environmental, and safety observations and risks: 15 minutes
- Conduct Planned Job Observations (PJOs): 30 minutes
- Participate in daily food safety, quality, and safety meetings/activities: 30 minutes
- Maintain housekeeping and 5S standards within assigned work areas: 15 minutes
Sensory and Tasting Activities
- Participate in daily, weekly, and ADHOC tasting sessions including warehouse release, profiling, flavour stability, and investigative tastings: 1 hour
- Support sensory investigations including triangular tests, paired comparisons, and retention sample evaluations: 45 minutes
Weekly Activities
- Review and trend water, shelf-life, and sensory data and communicate concerns: 1 hour
- Participate in PRP/GMP audits and hygiene inspections: 1 hour
- Support internal laboratory, plant, and 3PM audit preparation activities: 1 hour
- Assist in updating SOPs, checklists, forms, and One-Point Lessons (OPLs): 1 hour
- Participate in root cause investigations and problem-solving sessions: 1 hour
- Participate in MECP activities and assigned pillar support activities: 1 hour
Monthly Activities
- Participate in internal and external audit preparation and execution: 2–3 hours
- Conduct monthly retention sample reviews and trend analysis: 2 hours
- Review effectiveness of sampling plans and recommend improvements: 1 hour
- Participate in food safety and quality culture initiatives: 1 hour
- Participate in training sessions and practical development interventions: 2 hours
Personal Development Responsibilities
- Drive personal development and execution of Individual Development Plans (IDPs/PDPs)
- Manage academic obligations responsibly and communicate support requirements proactively
- Participate actively in all assigned training and coaching opportunities
- Build competence in laboratory systems, sensory evaluation, food safety, and governance processes
MECP Responsibilities
- Support assigned MECP pillar activities and deliverables
- Support assigned Quality pillar blocks and governance routines
- Participate in continuous improvement initiatives and loss reduction activities
Safety and 5S Responsibilities
- Raise and close SROs where applicable (Safety, Environmental, Food Safety, and Quality observations)
- Maintain good housekeeping and cleanliness standards within allocated areas
- Champion 5S practices and compliance within the laboratory environment
- Ensure compliance with PPE, hygiene, and laboratory safety requirements at all times
Qualification Required
Diploma/Advanced diploma/Degree in Biotechnology, Analytical Chemistry/Microbiology/Biochemistry
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.
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