Food Scientist

• PositionFood Scientist
• CompanyStartHub Africa
• LocationBukoto, Kampala, Uganda
• Job TypeContract
• CategoryAgriculture, Operations, NGO Jobs in Uganda
• IndustryFood processing and entrepreneurship support
• DepartmentNot stated in the advert.
• DeadlineFriday, 13 November 2026

StartHub Africa says its mission is to empower African entrepreneurs to shape the continent’s future. It describes itself as a hybrid social venture that brings together an NGO and SHA Consulting Group.

Its website highlights support for local manufacturing, entrepreneurship programmes and consulting work across East Africa. Under its Agenda 2033, StartHub Africa aims to support more than 100 businesses, each reaching annual revenue of US$200,000.

The Food Scientist leads StartHub Africa’s small-scale in-house production and product development while providing practical technical support to MSMEs. The work ranges from operating and maintaining processing equipment and coaching Makerspace entrepreneurs to planning production, supervising casual workers, enforcing hygiene and HACCP-based procedures, and checking incoming, in-process and finished products. Batch coding, traceability, yield tracking and accurate Odoo records connect daily production to quality and stock control.

The role also takes new and existing products through formulation, trials, sensory evaluation and shelf-life studies, while considering cost, packaging and processing requirements. Certification work includes UNBS documentation, samples, laboratory follow-up and preparation for inspections, alongside support for Uganda and East African standards. The post combines manufacturing and R&D with SME capacity building: the officer records support outcomes, trains entrepreneurs in GMP and food safety, and reports on production and SME work. The advert particularly emphasises confidentiality around MSME recipes and transparent access to shared facilities.

• Provide technical guidance to MSMEs in StartHub’s community and programmes on product formulation, processing, packaging, shelf life and food safety.
• Operate machinery at the StartHub Makerspace (e.g. bakery and dehydration lines) and coach entrepreneurs to produce safely and independently.
• Guide MSMEs through UNBS certification, including gap assessments, SOPs, documentation and sample preparation.
• Support the set-up of Makerspace production lines, including equipment commissioning, layout and SOPs.
• Deliver practical trainings on GMP, hygiene and food safety for entrepreneurs.
• Plan and manage day-to-day small-scale in-house production (e.g. quick-cook/dehydrated beans, roasted nuts, porridge flours) to agreed volumes, quality standards and timelines.
• Operate, clean and carry out basic maintenance of processing and packaging equipment; flag repair needs early to avoid downtime.
• Supervise and train casual workers for production runs, ensuring they follow hygiene and safety rules.
• Implement and enforce Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), hygiene and food safety SOPs based on HACCP principles, including cleaning schedules, personal hygiene and pest control.
• Inspect incoming raw materials and carry out in-process and finished-product quality checks (e.g. moisture, foreign matter, net weight, sealing, labelling).
• Apply batch coding and maintain full traceability from raw material to finished product.
• Track yields, losses and input usage, and keep production and stock records up to date in the ERP system (Odoo).
• Research, develop and test new recipes and formulations (e.g. bakery products, tomato paste, dehydrated products, instant and fortified porridges), taking them from concept to market-ready product.
• Improve existing products, including taste, texture, cooking time, consistency, and shelf life.
• Support management in costing each formulation by providing accurate ingredient quantities, yields, packaging and processing requirements.
• Run sensory evaluations, consumer tasting trials and shelf-life studies.
• Ensure products meet relevant Uganda and East African Standards, including fortification and labelling requirements.
• Prepare and manage UNBS certification for new products: documentation, sample submission, follow-up on laboratory analysis and preparation for inspections.
• Identify and evaluate ingredients, packaging materials and suppliers.
• Maintain an up-to-date database of all MSMEs supported, including the type of support given, results and certification status.
• Keep accurate batch records, quality check records and cleaning logs for all production.
• Document all product development trials, formulations, costings and results.
• Maintain the food safety manual and SOPs so they are always ready for UNBS inspections and audits.
• Submit a monthly report on production, R&D progress and SME support, and keep timesheets showing time spent on in-house production and R&D versus SME support.
• Keep MSMEs’ recipes, formulations and business information strictly confidential and never use them in in-house product development. MSMEs retain full ownership of their own formulations.
• Where in-house production and MSMEs share equipment or facilities, allocate time fairly and transparently according to the agreed booking schedule.
• Declare any actual or potential conflict of interest promptly to your supervisor.
• Comply with StartHub Africa’s safeguarding policy, communicate reporting channels to entrepreneurs and Makerspace users, and escalate concerns promptly.

Required Education

• Diploma or degree in Food Science and Technology, Food Process Engineering or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Work Experience

• At least 2 years’ hands-on experience in food product development and/or production in a food processing environment.
• Experience operating different small-scale industrial food processing machines.

Additional Requirements

• Working knowledge of GMP, HACCP and food safety, and familiarity with UNBS certification requirements.
• Commercial awareness: understanding how formulation choices affect product cost.
• Comfort with Excel or Google Sheets and willingness to learn an ERP system (Odoo).
• Ability to work independently, juggle competing priorities and stay flexible in a fast-paced, fast-changing environment.
• Experience working at a shared production facility, Makerspace or incubator is an added advantage.
• Entrepreneurial experience developing and bringing your own product to market is an added advantage.
• Experience supporting or training SMEs is an added advantage.
• Experience taking a product through UNBS certification is an added advantage.
• Experience with food fortification, bakery or dehydration is an added advantage.
• Food safety training or certification (e.g. HACCP, ISO 22000) is an added advantage.

Technical Skills

• Food product formulation and development: Research, test and improve recipes and formulations, including product taste, texture, cooking time, consistency and shelf life.
• Food production and equipment: Operate, clean and carry out basic maintenance on small-scale processing and packaging equipment, and manage production to agreed volumes and standards.
• GMP, HACCP and food safety: Apply Good Manufacturing Practice, HACCP-based procedures, hygiene, cleaning schedules and pest control.
• Quality, traceability and standards: Inspect raw materials and finished products, maintain batch traceability, and support Uganda and East African standards and UNBS certification.
• Costing and product trials: Track ingredient quantities, yields, packaging and processing requirements; run sensory evaluations and shelf-life studies.
• Documentation and ERP: Maintain batch, quality and production records; use Excel or Google Sheets and be willing to learn Odoo.

Soft Skills

• Creativity and curiosity: The advert calls for creativity and curiosity in developing new food products and formulations.
• Organisation and attention to detail: Maintain strong documentation habits and accurate production, quality, trial and certification records.
• Independent and flexible working: Work independently, manage competing priorities and stay flexible in a fast-paced, fast-changing environment.
• Commercial awareness: Consider how formulation choices affect product costs while developing food products.
• Coaching and training: Guide entrepreneurs and train casual workers to follow safe production and food-handling practices.

Benefits are not stated in the advert.

• Lead both in-house food production and product development at StartHub Africa.
• Take products from formulation and testing through costing and market-ready development.
• Support MSMEs with processing, packaging, shelf life, food safety and certification.
• Work hands-on with the StartHub Makerspace’s production lines and equipment.
• Develop practical experience with UNBS certification and Uganda and East African standards.
• Combine production work with SME coaching, training and programme support.
• Help build traceable production systems through batch coding, quality records and Odoo stock tracking.

Open the StartHub Africa Food Scientist vacancy page and use its Apply Here button to submit your application by Friday, 13 November 2026.

• Checked on 10 November 2026 against StartHub Africa's official advert.
• Closing date confirmed as 13 November 2026. NextRoleHub closes the listing at 23:59 Kampala time that day.
• The application link goes to the employer's own page or email. Applying is free; report anyone who asks for money.
• Before you apply, read our guide: Agriculture jobs in Uganda: careers and salaries. Work out your pay with the take-home pay calculator.