Workplace Experience Student

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WES Day Laboratory Job Description Summary

The Work Experience Student (WES) – Day Laboratory role supports the Quality Department in executing laboratory, food safety, sensory, governance, and quality assurance activities across the site. The role provides practical exposure to quality management systems, laboratory operations, sensory evaluation, retention management, and continuous improvement programmes within a manufacturing environment.

The WES is responsible for supporting water testing activities, retention sample management, shelf-life and flavour stability evaluations, incoming raw and packaging material inspections, and sensory tasting programmes. The role also supports governance routines through GEMBA walkabouts, PRP/GMP audits, Planned Job Observations (PJOs), food safety risk identification, CAPA follow-ups, and participation in internal and external audits.

In addition, the WES assists with documentation control, KPI and trend reporting, data integrity, inventory and consumables management, MECP support activities, and maintaining safety and 5S standards within the laboratory environment. The role further focuses on personal development through training, coaching, cross-functional exposure, and development planning to build competence in food safety, quality systems, laboratory governance, and operational excellence.

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.