Senior Food Technologist

Senior Food Technologist

Position Purpose: To assist in or lead the successful completion of food product and process
development projects undertaken by the Riddet Institute Food Innovation team
in line with the University’s overall strategies.

Department: Riddet Institute

Location: Palmerston North

Reports to: Food Innovation Manager

Responsible for: Nil.

Delegations: Nil.

Job Title: Technologist

Key relationships: Internal External
Dr Arup Nag, Food Innovation Industry clients and partners
Manager, Riddet Institute
Dr Alejandra Acevedo-Fani,
Research Officer, Riddet Institute
FoodPilot Team

Massey University: We are a world-leading university in many academic disciplines and fields of
research. Our point of difference is research that is connected to community and
industry. Our researchers are developing expertise and skills to advance human
knowledge and understanding. Working together across disciplines and
locations, we solve national and global problems through fundamental, applied
and interdisciplinary research, while culturally and artistically enriching our
world.

We are deeply committed to being a Te Tiriti-led university, demonstrating
authentic leadership in contemporary Aotearoa New Zealand as we uphold Te
Tiriti o Waitangi, the founding document of our nation, and its principles through
our practice. We embrace this not just as an obligation but as a real opportunity
for the nation and its people.

Our educators are preparing a new generation of global leaders. Our students
are diverse and are attracted to Massey because they want to achieve their
personal goals or make their mark in the world. They experience world-class
learning that recognises their intellectual and cultural strengths, expands their
horizons and prepares them to contribute to a rapidly transforming world with
skills, critical and creative thinking and leadership.

We will be renowned for our passion and caring attitude. All Massey campuses
will be innovation ecosystems, acting as magnets for smart enterprises.
Wherever we are, we will operate in partnerships founded on respect, trust and
mutual benefit. Massey is not only defined by what we do, but by how we do it.

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About this area The Riddet Institute is a Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE) that integrates
partner organisations (Massey University (host), Auckland and Otago
Universities, AgResearch and Plant & Food Research) and disciplines.
Collectively, this leads to a “NZ Inc” approach to food research (and related
disciplines) and generates knowledge and capability that transforms New
Zealand and the New Zealand food industry.

Massey core capabilities

At Massey we are Tiriti-led, upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles through our practice, we:

• Demonstrate awareness of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its contribution to Aotearoa New Zealand society
• Understand the relevance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in relation to the work of the University and the

people we serve.

• Embracing Te Reo in relevant and practical ways in our workplace interactions and engagement with

external stakeholders, giving expression to Tikanga Māori and protocols that demonstrates that we
respect and value Māori conventions in appropriate settings.

At Massey we work together with mutual respect and caring. we:

• Act with integrity and trustworthiness and give credit to others for the work they do.
• Work cooperatively and inter-dependently to foster and promote the One University approach
• Share knowledge and communicate professionally with courtesy and mutual respect.
• Are ethical in all transactions, working within the parameters of our policies and procedures.
• Are direct, truthful and maintain confidentiality.
• Seek to understand and appreciate our differences.
• Are ethical in all transactions, working within the parameters of our policies and procedures.
• Are direct, truthful and maintain confidentiality.
• Seek to understand and appreciate our differences
• Keep ourselves and others safe; work together to embrace with the University's health, safety and

wellbeing policies, procedures and programmes; display commitment by actively supporting all safety
and wellbeing initiatives: and by actively engaging in health and safety improvement opportunities.

At Massey we are future-focused, results- oriented and strive for excellence. we:

• Take ownership and responsibility for delivering results to support achievement of University

objectives.

• Provide the best quality services to our customers (internal and external) ensuring our students/

stakeholders are at the heart of everything we do.

• Deliver or support world-class research, teaching and learning and citizenship.
• Take personal responsibility for our performance, take pride in doing our job well, and commit to

ongoing personal and professional development

• Are motivated and create a positive working environment where our values are reinforced.
• Anticipate and respond with agility and resilience to the changing needs of the University and the

communities we serve.

• Seek ways to improve our services to deliver in an efficient and effective way.
• Embrace technology and apply this innovatively to better meet the needs of those we serve.
• Challenge ourselves to reach our potential and help bring out the best in others.
• Understand how what we do contributes to the objectives of the University.

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Accountabilities

Project Management • Respond to enquiries from prospective internal and external clients
effectively and efficiently and convert these into thorough and accurate
project proposals.

• Coordinate and execute projects from enquiry stage through to completion

in an accurate, professional and timely manner, ensuring the final outputs
are on time and meet all requirements (including agreed client
requirements, Health and Safety and necessary MPI compliance regulations,
as relevant).

• Develop practical, logical, science and technology-based solutions to deliver

complex research projects and new intellectual property.

• Design thorough experimental plans, based on science and technology, to

develop new products and characterise them using laboratory-based
analytical methods.

• Prepare well-written proposals and costings in response to project briefs as

well as comprehensive project reports on their completion.

• Manage, when appropriate, technologists/technicians to execute projects in

scope and on time.

• Record and maintain accurate project information ensuring project history is

easy to track.

Leadership • Deputise for the Food Innovation Manager ensuring the day-to-day activities
of the Food Innovation Team and client communications are upheld at all

times.

• Deputise for the Food Innovation Manager with activities involving the

University, the Institute and/or industry partners ensuring day-to-day and
strategic activities are upheld at all times.

• Proactively resolve day-to-day issues affecting any projects and keep the

Food Innovation Manager informed of any significant changes or problems
that may arise which will affect goals or that will affect Massey University’s
reputation.

• Where required, deputise/cover for team colleagues, covering

meetings/communication, projects and trials to ensure that the day-today
activities are preserved.

• Contribute to and participate in communication processes with peer group

and/or management to ensure that the Institute and/or Food Innovation
Team (all stakeholders) has a clear understanding of any development
opportunities and/or challenges facing the team.

• Supervise and mentor summer students, overseas interns and postgraduate

students on product development methodology, research protocols,
including experimental methods and the use of laboratory and processing
equipment.

• Support relevant academic activities (such as postgraduate teaching or

project support) within the Institute and/or University.

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General • Contribute to continuous improvement such as ways of working, systems,
and streamlining of processes.

• Abide by Health & Safety and Food Safety policies at all times.
• Maintain standards of food quality, food safety, hygiene and housekeeping

consistent with those set by the University across the different departments
as relevant to your work.

• Uphold professional conduct and timely communication with all

stakeholders.

• Cultivate and maintain relationships across industry (suppliers,

manufacturers, clients) to establish both a support network and ensure
Massey University’s reputation as a key industry partner.

• Support research projects undertaken by Massey or our collaborators,

where required and agreed by the Food Innovation Manager.

• Uphold Massey University’s reputation through professional conduct at all

times.

• Work in a manner that actively seeks to reduce any negative environmental

impact in relation to the processes and procedures operating within their
area and across the University eg waste reduction, recycling, etc.

• Maintain a pro-active and positive attitude towards, and contribute to,

change and continuous improvement ideas in all areas that would benefit
the team and the University.

Qualifications and Experience

Qualifications: Tertiary qualification in food technology or similar; ideally post-graduate
qualification in food science, technology or similar.

Experience: • Ideally 3-5 years’ experience in a commercially based food science,
technology and/or product development role with evidence of projects
managed independently.

• Have a solid knowledge on a broad range of aspects of food science and

technology including food material science, product and process
development, shelf life and sensory.

• Proven experience in working in a multi-disciplinary team on complex

projects.

• Proven skills and experience using the Microsoft Office suite of products.

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Capabilities - Behaviour
Communication • Written and oral communications that produces clear and complete

Essential communication for stakeholders

• Recognises which communications need to be formalised to provide clarity,

including when escalation is required.

• Conducts discussions in a respectful manner, that are sincere and

professional.

• Adapts listening and facilitation styles to others' communication styles.

Continuous • Implements new systems, procedures and tools efficiently when changes
Transformation occur in the work environment.

Essential • Works with agility, adjusting current working processes or adopting new
approaches in response to changes in the organisation environment.

• Seeks challenging opportunities or assignments to grow and develop one's

own knowledge, skills and abilities.

• Communicates and analyses assumptions about a particular issue with

colleagues to gain new perspectives or more effective solutions.

Working together • Establishes and maintains productive working relationships with key

Essential stakeholders internally and externally.

• Contributes as a member with multiple teams that span function, issue and

location.

• Establishes and maintains credibility and appropriate confidentiality with

stakeholders

• Proactively identifies and addresses potential issues with stakeholders.
• Leverages partnerships to improve the performance of programme or

portfolios, and works to resolves conflict and other obstacles to team
performance.

• Able to coach and influence internal and external stakeholders, building

constructive working relationships

Delivering results • Maintains focus on critical work and expectations.

Essential • Able to track and complete agreed work in planned timeframes.

• Takes responsibility for escalating issues that impact on planned work and

outcomes.

• Documents how results were obtained to support knowledge transfer and

best practices.

• Supports self during change by remaining flexible, focusing on the positives,

and proactively seeking out opportunities to get involved

Service Centric • Acts with the internal/external stakeholder or customer in mind, seeks to

Essential understand and deliver on customer perceptions and expectations.

• Able to respond to common stakeholder queries and problems or escalate if

required.

• Responds to unexpected stakeholder requests with a sense of urgency and

positive action.

• Provides a level of customer centric service excellence that contributes to

the department’s objectives.

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Capabilities - Technical
Accuracy and • Processes large amounts of detailed information with good accuracy.
Attention to Detail • Utilises specific approaches and tools for checking and cross-checking

Essential outputs.

• Develops and uses checklists to ensure that information goes out

error-free.

• Accurately gauges the impact and cost of errors, omissions, and

oversights.

• Learns from mistakes and applies lessons learned.

Priority Setting • Demonstrates an expectation that there will be ongoing shifts in

Essential demands and priorities.

• Clarifies and handles multiple concurrent and diverse activities.
• Addresses potential conflicts that impact current delivery

commitments.

• Works with or leads others to re-prioritise work and reschedule

commitments as necessary.

• Responds to shifting priorities while maintaining progress of

regularly scheduled work.

Problem Solving • Uses varying problem-solving approaches and techniques as

Essential appropriate.

• Develops alternative resolutions / successful resolutions to critical or

wide-impact problems.

• Contributes to standard practices for problem-solving approaches,

tools, and processes.

• Ensures capture of lessons to be learned from a problem-solving.

Technical • Engages appropriate subject matter resources to effectively resolve
Management technical issues.

Desirable • Advises others on the assessment and provision of all technical
solutions.

• Assumes accountability for personal technical performance and holds

others responsible for theirs.

• Coaches others in promoting, defining, analysing, and providing

superior technical solutions to organisation problems.

• Mentors others to enhance their technical competence and its

application to achieve more effective technical solutions.

Customer Service • Ensures identification of customer needs and priorities.
Management • Able to advise of issue escalation process for unresolved issues

Desirable • Facilitates the resolution of customer queries, issues, or concerns.

• Updates appropriate database with information required to provide best

ongoing service

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General Computer • Ability to learn and use core Massey University systems
Proficiency – • Proficient in the use of Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and
Technology/Digital PowerPoint
Literacy • Developing proficiency in the use of SharePoint (Create new, open, edit,

Essential save)

• Performs file management tasks such as folder management and

controlled document administration.

Laboratory and • Operational knowledge of both Pilot Plant and laboratory practices to
Pilot Plant Practice recognise potential issues and apply appropriate method to identify cause

Essential and manage solutions.

• Ability to prepare laboratory and Pilot Plant equipment for tasks / activities

as required.

• Ensures laboratory and Pilot Plant supplies/equipment are stored and used

appropriately in line with safety and quality standards.

• Provides thorough analysis and interpretation of data generated for

projects. Identifies potential issues and solutions.

Pre-employment checks

Pre-employment checks: • Requirement to pass a Qualifications Validation Check.

Essential • Requirement to pass a Criminal and Traffic convictions (Security) check.

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