Job Description:
The Mexico Operations Manager position is located in the Uruapan, Michoacán Mexico area and is responsible for operations management of Mexico fruit sourcing and product orders, negotiations with suppliers, and market trends analysis. This position represents Index Fresh in a leadership capacity at industry events and in grower relations.
Compensation/Salary:
DOE
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in agriculture, business, supply chain or other related field or equivalent work experience or equivalent experience.
- Ten or more years of produce sourcing experience.
- Five or more years in a leadership/management role.
- Expertise in strategic negotiation and grower relations.
- Ability to prioritize tasks, handle multiple projects simultaneously and delegate assignments to others.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to quickly assimilate information from different sources and come up with sound strategic solutions.
- Relationship building and interpersonal skills.
- Strong leadership and influencing ability.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office suite.
- Ability to speak, read and write in English and Spanish.
- This position requires up to 50% travel. Most travel is outside the local area and overnight. Some of the travel is international.
Work Environment:
This job operates 50% of the time in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. A significant amount of time is spent traveling, outdoors in orchards, or other non-office settings.
Responsibilities & Duties:
- Develop and execute strategic plans for building programs for organic, fair trade, and export.
- Remain current on market trends with competitors, suppliers, and maintains sourcing pipelines open.
- Provide market trend analysis to senior management for use in business planning.
- Develop innovative relationships with co-packers to fulfill mutually established goals with Index Fresh.
- Develop relationships with key growers in the region to secure additional volume.
- Work effectively with senior management of co-packer to improve sourcing strategies.
- Explore export opportunities with quality suppliers from non-traditional areas, such as Nayarit, Puebla, Veracruz and Mexico State.
- Build, train and manage the quality control and food safety compliance team to effectively maintain certifications of co-packers and fulfill rigorous market demands.
- Establish operational policies and procedures for Mexico operations.
- Strategic development of department annual and quarterly goals and metrics.
- Develop database for tracking Global Gap certified acreage.
- Work with the Index Fresh compliance team to obtain APEAM Certification.
- Work with Index Fresh senior management to incorporate Index Fresh in Mexico.
- Interfaces with buyers and sales to ensure sourcing requirements and customer deadlines are met.
