Food Safety Technician - Upington Dried Fruit Plant

Overview

About PepsiCo

PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $79 billion in net revenue in 2021, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lays, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with PepsiCo Positive (pep+). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that puts sustainability and human capital at the center of how we will create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for planet and people.

In South Africa (SA), you will find our products across the region at breakfast, lunch, or dinner. At the gym or on the field. In the office or on the go. We refresh, restore, and rejuvenate our consumers all day, every day with our key brands including Simba, Lay's, Liqui Fruit and Bokomo range of cereals. PepsiCo SA employs more than 13, 000 people across our three business divisions: Bakeries, Grains, Foods, Fruit, Snacks, Juice & Beverages. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com.

Responsibilities

What we're looking for: We're looking for a Food Safety Technician based at our Upington Dried Fruit Plant. We're looking for an To maintain the Food Safety Programme to AIB , FSSC 22 000 standards and HACCP legislation and align and implement the employees to the same specifications.

Accountabilities:

Food Safety System Management

• Ensure the Food Safety Management System (FSMS) is effectively implemented, maintained, and reviewed.
• Sustain and continuously improve compliance with BRC, AIB, GMP, HACCP, and other relevant certifications.

Documentation & Compliance

• Manage document control systems for accuracy and regulatory compliance.
• Oversee Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) system, ensuring timely resolution of non-conformances.
• Coordinate and conduct internal audits (including monthly AIB audits) and ensure timely closure of findings.

Food Safety Leadership

• Champion the Food Safety agenda and promote a culture of continuous improvement.
• Lead implementation and maintenance of food safety programs, including staff training and awareness.

Critical Control Points (CCP) Oversight

• Coordinate and validate CCPs to ensure hazard control and HACCP compliance.

Site Hygiene & GMP Compliance

• Maintain facility cleanliness and hygiene per GMP standards.
• Conduct internal hygiene and AIB audits
• Monitor and enforce GMP best practices across all staff.

Training & Development

• Facilitate food safety training and inductions.
• Support ongoing education and competency development in food safety and hygiene.
• Succession building - Prepare potential candidates for future roles by involving them in audits, projects, and FS culture initiatives.

Health & Safety Integration

• Align food safety practices with health and safety regulations and company policies.
• Actively participate in prevention and identification of safety risks.

Project & Change Management Support

• Collaborate with project teams to assess food safety risks in facility or process changes.

Quality & NPD Support

• Assist Quality Control Manager with special projects and support New Product Development activities.

Performance Metrics & Reporting (non exhaustive list)

• Completion of Customer questionnaires.
• Completion of NCR and CPAR.
• Corrective actions for audit findings implemented on time.
• Internal audits and hygiene inspections completed as scheduled.
• AIB findings closed out within defined timelines
• FSQ food safety culture audit - improve on previous year.
• Trending of repeat findings/NCR.

Food Safety Culture & Engagement

• FSQ Culture living
• Quarterly FS Culture meetings and review of plan.

Qualifications

• Educational Qualification: Relevant three-year tertiary qualification in Food Technology, Microbiology, or a related field.
• Industry Experience: Minimum of 2 years experience in Manufacturing Management, preferably within the food industry.
• Technical Expertise:
• Strong microbiological knowledge applicable to food safety and hygiene.
• In-depth understanding of GMP, AIB, and FSSC 22000 standards and their practical application.

Systems & Software Proficiency:

• SAP knowledge (advantageous);
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and MS Office Suite for reporting, presentations, and documentation.
• Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills: Ability to identify risks, analyze root causes, and implement effective corrective and preventive actions.
• Communication & Training: Capable of facilitating training sessions and communicating food safety requirements across all levels of staff.

PepsiCo is an Equal Opportunity Employer in line with the Employment Equity Act"