Fungi Culture Preparation and Inoculation Operator
BASF
People & HR
Durban, South Africa
WELCOME TO BASF
We are BASF in agriculture and everything we do, we do for the love of farming. Connecting seeds and traits, crop protection products, digital tools and sustainability approaches, to help deliver the best possible outcomes for farmers, growers and our other stakeholders along the value chain. We do everything in our power to build a sustainable future for agriculture by connecting innovation, customers and society.
#ForTheLoveOfFarming #TheBiggestJobOnEarth
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
The Fungi Culture Preparation and Inoculation Operator is responsible for preparing and maintaining high-quality, contamination-free biological cultures to support production processes. The role ensures consistent quality standards, supports production activities, and maintains strict compliance with operational, quality, and safety requirements within the Fungi Plant.
Duties will include the following:
- Prepare contamination-free bacterial and fungal cultures in line with production schedules
- Clean, wash, and sterilize culture vessels and equipment to ensure readiness for production
- Inoculate sterile substrate batches with fungal cultures under controlled conditions
- Perform quality checks on cultures and report results, including any deviations or non-conformances
- Monitor environmental conditions in process areas to ensure compliance with microbial standards
- Maintain high housekeeping standards, including adherence to cleaning and disinfection schedules
- Accurately complete batch documentation and ensure timely reporting of production data
- Monitor consumable stock levels and coordinate replenishment as required
- Communicate production progress, quality status, and escalate issues to the Team Leader or Production Manager
- Ensure full compliance with internal procedures, regulatory requirements, and EHS standards
WHAT YOU OFFER
- National Diploma / NQF6 in Biotechnology, Microbiology, or related field
- Minimum 1–2 years’ experience in a similar production or laboratory environment
- Good numerical literacy and attention to detail
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
- Strong sense of responsibility, integrity, and punctuality
- Physically fit and able to perform operational tasks in a production environment
ABOUT US
As a reliable partner of the agricultural sector, BASF Agricultural Solutions offers innovative solutions in the area of crop protection and pest control to improve agricultural production, increase the profitability of agricultural companies and thereby improve the living standards of a growing population. Our strength lies in supporting farmers in the face of the challenges presented by an increasingly complex agricultural sector and in working with them to secure basic human necessities, such as food, nutrition and energy.
Learn more about BASF Agricultural Solutions at https://www.agro.basf.co.za/en/
Diversity is our greatest strength!
Become a part of our winning formula for success and develop the future with us - in a global team that embraces inclusion and equal opportunities irrespective of gender, age, origin, sexual orientation, disability or belief.

