Calavo Growers, Inc. is a global avocado-industry leader. The company also procures and markets diversified fresh produce items, ranging from tomatoes to tropical produce. An expanding provider of value-added fresh food, the company's Calavo Foods business segment manufactures and distributes guacamole, guacamole hummus and salsa under the respected Calavo brand name. Calavo's wholly owned subsidiary, Renaissance Food Group, LLC, creates, markets and distributes a portfolio of healthy, high-quality lifestyle products for consumers through fast-growing brands that include Garden Highway and Chef Essentials. Founded in 1924, Calavo serves food distributors, produce wholesalers, supermarket retailers and restaurant chains worldwide.
We are offering a tremendous opportunity for a Sr. Regional Manager South Fields Operations to join our team in Temecula, CA.
As the Senior Regional Manager, you will plan, organize, and direct field operations within assigned geographic area(s), communicating with growers, farm managers, transportation and harvest operations. Prepares crop estimates for planning purposes, and revised estimates as a result of changes in harvest, climate, and related factors. Responsible for harvest management within assigned area(s). Recruitment of avocados from other handlers. Responsible for all field related aspects of the Temecula Packing House and employees.
To accomplish this the work schedule of Monday thru Friday, Saturdays as needed. Hours are 7am to 4pm; a maximum of 3 hours per day in the office; majority of work hours must be in the field.
Essential Job Functions: The essential functions of the job include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Responsible for annual estimate of assigned district, with primary emphasis on random sample groves, monthly projections, monthly projections, four-week harvest plan and three-day schedule.
- Reviews and updates random and/or big sample grove estimates on a quarterly basis.
- Responsible fore implementing harvest management program in conjunction with crop harvesting plan, including advanced scheduling system with growers. Oversees overall logistical requirements necessary to ensure efficient production deliveries of grower harvesting and initiates harvest program allocation action as needed.
- Responsible for consistent grower contact, developing a priority system so that contact with growers with over 50% of his volume is maintained monthly.
- Reviews growers pack-out information daily and initiates appropriate communication when necessary.
- Conducts timely and appropriate varietal maturity testing, reporting results to growers and marketing. Cooperates with marketing in response to sales requirements for increases or decreases in harvesting.
- Maintains up-to-date grower records (e.g., name changes, tree counts, etc.). Includes resigning all member grove sales and other membership acreage with ownership transfer.
- Reviews haul receipts and tallies for accuracy.
- Attends local grower meetings within assigned district.
- Monitors labor contractors and approves billing charges.
- Reviews pool payments and charges for accuracy.
- Responsible for communicating market information, harvest plan and strategy, and other salient facts to growers and farm managers.
- Communicates information regarding bin status, drop requirements and pickups to appropriate haulers.
- Communicates relevant information to district board members.
- Responsible for obtaining and transmitting competitive information, and reporting same to Director, Packinghouse Operations, keeping same informed of all pertinent conditions and information important to Calavo’s operations.
- Communicates regional weather factors which will adversely affect crop flow.
- Day to day management of the southern field office personnel, southern field transportation and southern district field managers.
- Reporting on the monthly crop estimate, weekly crop strategy and daily monitoring.
- Increase volume and acreage growth in the south for the districts you manage as well as the districts of those who report to you by facilitating the contract signing of new producers.
- Other duties and projects as assigned or required.
Required Skills and Qualifications:
- Ability to perform the essential functions of the position.
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in agriculture, business or related field or equivalent years of education and experience.
- Ten+ years in field operations within the produce industry.
- Possess problem analysis and resolution.
- Strong customer service orientation.
- Excellent communication skills both verbal and written; bilingual English/Spanish is preferred.
- PC proficiency; experience using inventory specific software highly desired.
- Commitment to the company’s values and ethics.
Conditions:
The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Similarly, the work environment characteristics described are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to walk and stand, use hands to manipulate tools or controls, reach with hands and arms, and stoop, kneel, or crouch and to talk and hear. The employee is occasionally required to sit. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus.
Work Environment: The noise level in the work environment is moderate.
