Grain Researcher

**Responsibilities**:
**To guide best cost procurement and product supply to our customers by**:

- Arranging collection and receiving samples of all existing grains as well as those in the procurement supply chain.
- Collating and testing grain samples and recording results.
- Analysing and comparing how the grains perform.
- Reporting findings to the milling technical and grain procurement teams.

**To increase milling profitability and margins by informing the business of strategic grain procurement**:

- Utilizing existing data base to perform predictions and identify opportunities to amend procurement, based on the modelling.
- Predict whether product characteristics will meet customer requirements and conform to our milling specifications.
- Guide improvement of milling specifications in collaboration with the milling technical team.
- Research emerging suppliers’ grains and compare with Premier customer requirements and milling specifications.

**To conduct fact finding process required for the prediction of problematic grains by**:

- Conducting occasional field research.
- Analysing grain samples.
- Comparing current sample with historical data from the same supplier source.
- Reporting findings and recommendations.

**Research and Development of products using innovative methodology**:

- Need open, innovative ability to develop existing and new products.
- Use scientific methodologies to support recommendations to the team.

**To meet customer requirements by predicting flour performance through**:

- Performing test baking under controlled circumstances.
- Determining and comparing the baking quality of the grains.
- Experimenting with blends to meet customer specifications.
- Report findings to the milling technical team.
- Maintain and develop data base of all tests performed.

**Qualification Requirements**:

- Bachelor’s degree in food science.

**Experience Requirements**:

- More than 5 years in Food / Agricultural laboratory in FMCG industry.

**Key Outputs**:
**Knowledge Requirements**:

- Quality control principles.
- Laboratory Equipment Maintenance and calibration requirements.
- Data analytics/ Visualization and management of data.
- HIRA requirements and recordkeeping relevant to Lab.
- Milling and Baking process.

**Skill Requirements**
- MS Office.
- Data analytics and visualization skills.
- Report writing and presentation.
- Laboratory control processes.
- Sample control and retention processes.

Route cause and trend analysis