Head of Technical

Position

Head of Technical

Reporting to

Managing Executive

Location

Across Rialto, 19 Bolt Avenue, Cape Town, and Ambassador, 11 Theo Kleynhans Street, White River

About Select Products:

The Select Products Cluster forms part of Libstar’s Ambient Products Category, with business sites in Cape Town, Vredenburg and Nelspruit. We are a dynamic, forward-thinking business committed to innovation, sustainable and profitable growth, strong customer partnerships and an inclusive workplace. Our ambition is to grow our food brands and category solutions while helping Libstar remain a leading South African producer and distributor of high-quality products and brands.

Role Purpose:

The Head of Technical will set and lead the Cluster’s food safety, quality and technical agenda across its chilled, ambient and frozen operations. The role is accountable for technical compliance, ethical and responsible sourcing, sustainability, product governance and continuous improvement—from concept and sourcing through launch and ongoing supply.

As a commercially aware and influential leader, the incumbent will build a high-performing technical function, protect brand trust, enable innovation and strengthen relationships with customers, suppliers, manufacturers, service providers and industry bodies.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy and Leadership

• Develop and implement the long-term technical, food safety, ethical sourcing and sustainability strategy, aligned with business growth, innovation and customer priorities.
• Lead, coach and develop technical business unit heads and their teams, creating a culture of accountability, collaboration, enablement and high performance.
• Ensure technical capability, skills and resources remain aligned with current and future business needs.
• Spearhead the technical transformation agenda across the Cluster and promote knowledge sharing, consistent standards and best practice.

Governance, Compliance and Risk

• Set future-fit, scalable quality and technical policies, standards and procedures aligned with legislation, industry requirements, customer standards and retailer audits.
• Act as the Cluster authority on technical legislation, due diligence, audit compliance, food safety governance and emerging risk.
• Define and monitor meaningful KPIs across food safety, quality, health and safety, sustainability and ethical trade.
• Serve as the senior point of contact for food safety incidents, product withdrawals, recalls and crisis management.
• Stay abreast of regulatory change, emerging risks and technological advances, translating these into timely action.

Product and supply-chain assurance

• Own robust technical approval and gatekeeping processes for all products, from sourcing and development through launch and ongoing maintenance.
• Drive due diligence and continuous improvement across the local and international supply base.
• Translate sustainability, environmental and responsible-sourcing commitments into measurable targets and practical programmes.
• Champion a strong quality and food safety culture across all operations.

Customers, Innovation and Industry

• Build strategic partnerships across retail and food-service channels, suppliers, manufacturers, third-party service providers, customers, experts and industry bodies.
• Act as the senior technical interface, influencing policy, responding constructively to challenge and strengthening the One Libstar brand.
• Enable cross-functional product development, pioneering innovation, new product categories and entry into new markets.
• Represent the business at industry level and provide thought leadership that reinforces Select Products’ position as a category leader.

Knowledge and Experience Required

• A relevant degree in Food Technology, Food Science, Microbiology or a related discipline.
• At least 10 years’ senior-level experience in food safety, technical, quality assurance or product development.
• Strong experience across food manufacturing, retail and food service.
• In-depth knowledge of quality and food safety management systems, including HACCP, QMS, FSSC 22000 and ISO; exposure to international or GFSI-recognised standards is advantageous.
• Experience in branded, retailer own-brand, premium or high-growth food categories.
• Sound knowledge of regulatory frameworks, ethical sourcing, sustainability and environmental requirements.
• A strong record of building and leading high-performing technical teams.
• Proven stakeholder-management and influencing capability at all levels.
• Flexibility to travel locally and internationally when required.

Leadership Profile:

• Strategic and commercially minded, with the ability to balance customer, risk, quality and business priorities.
• Analytical and evidence-led, with the ability to interpret data, trends and risk and convert insight into action.
• Innovative, pragmatic and able to anticipate challenges and develop effective mitigation plans.
• Collaborative and influential, with excellent relationship-building skills.
• Self-driven, resilient and effective under pressure, with strong planning, time-management and multitasking skills.
• Results-oriented, passionate about food and sustainability, and committed to making a positive impact.

Our Values in Action:

• Accountability: Own outcomes, uphold standards and follow through on commitments.
• Collaboration: Build trusted relationships and work across functions, sites and partners.
• Innovation: Challenge convention and enable responsible, commercially relevant solutions.
• Integrity: Act ethically, transparently and consistently, especially when managing risk.
• Excellence: Pursue continuous improvement and protect quality from concept to consumer.

Application deadline: 26 October 2026

If you have not received a response within two weeks of the closing date, kindly consider your application unsuccessful.

Preference will be given to EE candidates in line with the Company’s employment equity plan and BBBEE strategy.

To consider an application for employment, the Company must process personal information lawfully and transparently in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act, 4 of 2013 (POPIA). Further information is contained in the HR Processing Notice available at https://www.libstar.co.za/legal/.