Food technologist overview in New Zealand: -Occupation outlook -About the job -How to enter the job -Job opportunities -Pay

1. Food
Technologist
Occupation Outlook
Tashan Moodley

2. Food Technologist
Occupation Outlook in New Zealand: Good
Food technologists research, develop and improve food and drink products. They may also be involved in the processing,
packaging, storage and safety of food to meet government and industry standards.

3. About the Job
What you will do:
Food technologists may do some or all of the
following:
• Develop new or improve current food and drinks
• Make test samples of food products and conduct
trials
• Source and select ingredients for food products
• Manage or supervise development and production
of food and drinks
• Improve efficiency of manufacturing processes
• Develop new or improve current food packaging
• Ensure food products meet specifications and
standards (quality assurance)
• Investigate the nutritional properties of foods.
Food technologists need to have knowledge
of:
• Food and drink products
• Food processing and production methods
• Food hygiene and quality standards
• How to analyse and interpret research results
• How to perform experiments and operate scientific equipment
• How to write reports
• Maths and computer skills.
Working conditions:
• Usually work regular business hours, but may need to run factory trials at
night or on weekends
• Usually work in laboratories, offices or factories
• May travel overseas to clients' companies or factories, and attend local or
international conferences and trade shows.
Source: https://www.careers.govt.nz/

4. How to enter the job
Personal
requirements
Food technologists need to
be:
• Accurate
• Patient and persistent
• Able to work well under
pressure
• Good at problem solving
• Good at planning and
organising.
Entry requirements
• To become a food technologist most employers require you to have
a Bachelor's degree in food technology, food science or food engineering. A
Master's degree is preferred.
• Food technologists often complete on-the-job training programmes for
specific products and processes.
Useful experience:
Useful experience for food technologists includes:
• Food processing or production
• Laboratory work
• Quality assurance
• Business management or marketing.
Source: https://www.careers.govt.nz/

5. Job Opportunities
Shortage of skilled food technologists:
• Demand for food technologists is expected to continue as the number of positions will grow 3% a year until 2026, according to the
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Demand is strongest for qualified food technologists with three to seven years'
experience.
• However, the number of skilled, qualified food technologists is insufficient to meet demand.As a result, food technologist appears on
Immigration New Zealand’s long-term skill shortage list. This means the Government is actively encouraging skilled food technologists
from overseas to work in New Zealand.
Types of employers varied
Most food technologists work for:
• food manufacturing companies such as dairy processing
companies, breweries, food and vegetable processing
companies, cereal manufacturers and commercial bakeries
• private food research institutes such as Fonterra Research and
Development Centre
• Crown research institutes such as AgResearch and Plant &
Food Research
• universities.
They may progress to jobs in
areas such as:
• Marketing and sales
• Food safety authority
• University lecturers
Source: https://www.careers.govt.nz/
Food technologists may
specialise in:
• Packaging
• Product development
• Production
• Quality assurance
• Policy and standards
• Technical sales
• Research and development
Progression and specialisations

6. Pay
Pay for food technologists varies depending on skills and experience.
• Graduate food technologists usually earn $50,000 to $60,000 a year.
• Food technologists with two to four years' experience usually earn $60,000 to $75,000.
• Senior food technologists with five or more years' experience can earn $75,000 to $100,000.
Source: New Zealand Institute of Food Science Technology, 2019; and Lawson Williams Consulting Group, 2019.

7. Alternative titles for Food
Technologist
• Food Scientist
• Packaging Technologist
• Product Development Technologist
• Research and Development Technologist
• Research Scientist
• Food Engineer