Product Development Manager

At I&J, part of AVI, we combine close to 115 years of excellence with a forward-thinking approach to the fishing industry. As a leader in premium seafood, including Cape Hake and farmed Cape Abalone, we are committed to sustainability, innovation, and empowering local communities. Our latest innovation, Air-Fri'kn Amazing, brings bold flavours and crispy perfection to your air fryer, showcasing our passion for quality and customer centric excellence.

Why Join I&J?

• Industry Leader: Work with a renowned brand known for premium Cape Hake and farmed Abalone.
• Sustainability Focused: Contribute to responsible fishing practices with MSC accreditation.
• Community Impact: Be part of a company that empowers and invests in local communities.

Shape the Future with Us!

A rewarding opportunity awaits a skilled Product Development Manager at I&J Head Office in Woodstock, Cape Town. Your role will be to support the Senior Research and Development Manager by providing structured project governance, delivery discipline and cross functional coordination across the R&D portfolio. The role ensures projects progress according to agreed timelines, priorities and governance requirements, enabling innovation delivery, speed to market and effective utilisation of existing systems and processes.

Reporting Structure

• Reports to: Senior Research and Development Manager
• Direct Reports: 3

Key Areas of Impact Product Portfolio Delivery

• Deliver on prioritized product development portfolio aligned to business strategy, achieve on time execution against agreed milestones.
• Increase portfolio visibility and decision making through structured prioritization frameworks.

Cross Functional Alignment

• Drive cross functional collaboration to ensure readiness for trials, first production and successful product launched.
• Eliminate silos, accelerate project timelines and reduce handover delays.

Trial and Pre Production Excellence

• Execute concept and factory trials with optimised planning, reducing rework and minimising delays.
• Ensure seamless transition from trials to pre production readiness.

Quality and Systems Optimization

• Enhance adoption and utilisation of quality systems, improving process efficiency and compliance.
• Streamline templates and documentation frameworks to standardise ways of working.

Stakeholder Communication and Governance

• Deliver clear, data driven reporting on progress, risks and key decisions to senior stakeholders.
• Strength governance through structured dashboards and action tracking.

Regulatory Compliance and Risk Management

• Ensure full alignment with food regulatory requirements across all projects.
• Proactively identify, escalates and mitigates risks to protect delivery timelines.

Documentation and Process Excellence

• Maintain fully compliant, audit ready documentation across all workflows.
• Improve workflow efficiency through standardised systems and up to date process management.

What It Takes to Succeed: Experience that set you up for success

• 3-5 years within an R&D department in FMCG or Food manufacturing environment
• A robust understanding of the technical aspects of product development, different processing lines, coating and ingredients knowledge would be advantageous.

Qualifications & Certifications that will contribute to your success

• Completed Grade 12 / Matric
• A Degree/Diploma in Food Technology or Food Science is required.

Additional Requirements that will enhance your impact for success

• Affiliation with SAAFoST will be advantageous
• Hands on involvement on Processing Lines.

Take the Next Step with I&J

Join us to shape the future of South African seafood while making a meaningful impact on communities and the environment and be part of a team committed to excellence and making a positive impact.