Quality Assurance & Inventory Control Specialist

Since 1988, Earl’s Organic Produce has been a local distributor of organic fruits and vegetables, selling to local restaurants and supermarkets.

The Quality Assurance & Inventory Control Specialist is responsible for ensuring that products meet established standards of quality and high levels of inventory accuracy at all times.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Maintain strict adherence to Good Handling practices;
• Coordinate inspection of product- (Incoming and In-House) to ensure high quality standards at all times;
• Review and appropriately respond to email requests and directives from Purchasing and Sales departments –generated instructions for product handling and conditioning;
• Stage inventory to sell time-sensitive product on a first-in-first-out out basis appropriately process;
• Conduct daily inventory inspections of 475+ line items of fresh fruits and vegetables;
• Inspect existing inventory to ensure physical items on-hand match the database software’s items-on-hand;
• Consistently monitor strategic management of product storage;
• Review and address condition and ripeness levels of all commodities;
• Respond to questions from night and morning shift warehouse personnel regarding specific product lot selections for customers’ orders;
• Actively support other Operations Team members;
• Regularly communicate ideas and concerns to the QA-IC supervisor;
• Ensures work is performed safely at all times;
• Wear proper safety equipment at all times;
• Punctuality and regular and reliable attendance.
• Perform other duties as directed, developed, or assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

• Non-applicable.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT:
Education and/or Experience: 

• Minimum High School degree required. 
• HACCP training preferred. 
• ServSafe certification preferred.  
• Minimum three years of hands-on fresh produce experience, retail merchandising, inventory control, sales, or product handling role required.

Language Skills: 

• Excellent Communication skills, including reading, writing, and verbally communicating effectively and professionally with other business departments, customers, and vendors. 
• Ability to diplomatically deal with difficult situations and people while exhibiting a consistent level of professionalism. 

Technical Skills: 

• Good computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite and Warehouse Inventory software.

Reasoning Ability: 

• Ability to think independently and to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of different situations without set guidelines. 
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, report, or schedule form.

Equipment: 

• Operate equipment such as, but not limited to, forklift, stand-up pallet jack, electric pallet jack, computer, calculator, copier, phone.

Other Skills & Abilities: 

• Must be able to work variable hours, days, weekends, & Holidays. Ability to multitask and prioritize in a time-pressured environment.  
• Excellent organizational skills. High accuracy in work with attention to detail.  
• Ability to complete projects in a timely manner. 
• Ability to get along and work cooperatively with others.  
• Positive and professional attitude.  
• Ability to respond positively to constructive feedback.  
• Ability to manage a project from its initiation to completion with minimal supervision.
• Solution-oriented attitude with willingness to proactively solve issues.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Stand and walk or sit alternatively, depending on the specific needs of the day.  Estimate 75% of the time is spent on feet and 25% sitting at the desk.
• Have a constant need to perform the following physical activities: bending/stooping/squatting, climbing stairs, pushing, pulling, twisting, lifting, and reaching above shoulders.
• Have frequent need to perform standing and walking activities.
• Consistent need to perform the following physical activities: writing/typing, grasping/turning, finger dexterity.
• Lifting/carrying up to 50 lbs. frequently and over 50 lbs. occasionally. 
• Vision requirements:  consistent need to complete forms, view the computer screen.  Frequent need to see small details. Frequent need to see things clearly beyond arm's reach.
• Hearing requirements:  consistent need to communicate over the telephone and in person.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
The noise level in the work environment is generally moderate but may be high during certain times of the day due to the business level. This position is exposed to temperatures varying from 34 to over 70 degrees and humidity levels varying from 80 to 95%.