Student Programme - Quality Control / Laboratory

SUMMARY:

Are you a Food Science / Food Technology / Microbiology student who wants real, hands-on experience in a dairy processing environment? Join Cookhouse Creamery’s July 2026 Student Programme and gain practical exposure to quality control, laboratory testing and food safety in a cheese and butter facility.

Programme overview

• Location: Cookhouse Creamery, Cookhouse, Eastern Cape.
• Stream: Quality Control / Laboratory (within the Cookhouse Creamery Student Programme).
• Duration: 12-month structured programme (July 2026 – June 2027) combining on-the-job training, mentoring and formal assessments.
• Learning focus: Dairy product quality, basic lab techniques, HACCP, GMP, and quality management systems

POSITION INFO:

Minimum Requirements

• Completed Grade 12 (NQF Level 4) with Mathematics and Physical Science and/or Life Sciences.
• Currently studying toward or recently completed a Diploma or Degree (NQF Level 5–7) in Food Science, Food Technology, Microbiology, Biotechnology or a related quality / laboratory field.
• South African citizen, between 18 and 25 years of age.
• Basic computer literacy and strong attention to detail in recording and reporting quality data

Preferable / advantageous

• Previous exposure to a food, beverage or dairy processing environment through vacation work, practicals or in-service training.
• Any FoodBev SETA–accredited skills programme/learnership in Dairy Processing, Food Laboratory Practices or Food & Beverage Processing at NQF Level 2–3.
• Tertiary modules or short courses in HACCP, food safety, microbiology or quality management systems (e.g. ISO 22000, FSSC 22000).

Key duties and learning outcomes (under supervision)

• Assist with sampling of raw milk, intermediate products and finished dairy products in line with SOPs and quality plans.
• Perform basic physical, chemical and microbiological tests, capture results accurately and report any out-of-specification findings timeously.
• Support factory-floor quality checks, including hygiene and housekeeping inspections, GMP verification and CCP/CP monitoring in the creamery.
• Maintain good housekeeping and safety standards in the laboratory; apply correct PPE, food-safety and occupational health procedures at all times.
• Participate in internal training, mentoring, assessments and feedback sessions as part of the structured student development process.

If you have not heard from us within 30 days of the closing date, please consider your application unsuccessful