Job Description:
The Quality Fruit Manager is responsible for consistently consulting with the Sr. Director of Quality to develop process that will produce and supply products that exceed customer and consumer expectations. Directly responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of a staff of 40-50 associates in the Delano Pack Facility. Responsible for conducting audits of the production facility to ensure company standards are maintained and product integrity is preserved. Consistently consult with the Sr. Director to resolve fruit management and quality concerns. Function as an information source to management and various company departments when special and critical quality issues occur.
The ideal candidate will have experience within the agricultural industry, manufacturing operations, and/or hands-on experience managing perishable products. Candidates must be hard-working with a strong work ethic and an unfaltering determination to excel in a fast-paced environment, and a desire to gain tremendous personal and professional growth.
Compensation/Salary:
DOE
Requirements:
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Minimum 5 years of related experience in quality management within a high-volume food manufacturing environment; fruit knowledge or an equivalent combination of education and experience desired
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Experience & expertise in managing external customers (buyers, inspectors, agencies, etc.)
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Field knowledge of Citrus sub-varieties preferred
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Advanced knowledge of food safety practices, food management tracking, and GMPs required
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Certifications in HACCP, PCQL, SQF and/or BRC preferred
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Demonstrated ability to develop cross-functional relationships, manage projects through their full life cycle (idea to implementation), and break down complex problems into simple solutions
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Excellent management skills including supervision, leadership, communication and planning necessary
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Excellent organizational skills, ability to prioritize tasks and meet constant deadlines with strong attention to detail and quality control
Responsibilities & Duties:
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Collaborate with the Sr. Director to develop and implement Quality Control programs for the fresh-packing facility in accordance with directives from local, state and federal agencies
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Coordinate with the Director of Food Safety to ensure the effective implementation of the food safety program by assuring that products are being produced in conformance with Food Safety Practices
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Oversee all quality aspects within the packing facility; from post-harvest through shipping, while deploying correction action processes when non-conformances occur
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Perform daily evaluations of all fruit inventories for quality, proper rotation, and inventory levels while recommending system improvements as needed
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Work in conjunction with established Quality systems that have been established to ensure a hands on approach in implementing systems and processes
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Oversee monitoring, verification, and validation activities to ensure that all products leaving the facility meet quality and food safety standards
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Educate and instruct plant personnel on QC testing, equipment and general sanitation, food safety, as well as good housekeeping practices - ensuring these procedures are continuously maintained
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Works directly with the Sr. Director on better operational procedures to improve overall efficiency and product yields/utilizations
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Coordinates objectives with production procedures in cooperation with other management staff to maximize product consistency while minimizing costs
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Directly supervise workers engaged in inspection criteria and procedures
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Leads facility with management of de-greening processes, and works closely with operations to schedule fruit rollout and production times.
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Responsible for achieving, sustaining, and continuously improving product quality & quality systems, personnel safety, food safety, personnel development, and financial results
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Develops policies and procedures to ensure optimization and compliance with established standards and regulations
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Works directly with the Sr. Director of Quality and Food Safety Director to coordinate all internal, customer, and third-party audit preparations and corrective actions
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Fosters a safe and healthy work environment and provides a high level of safety awareness through continual communication, education and enforcement of safe work practices
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Willing to work cross functionally in both Packing facilities to implement best practices and the sharing of resources
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Industrial Engineering, Business or related field
Qualifications:
- Detail-oriented, highly organized, and committed to delivering superior results
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Proven experience in managing compliance to the Quality Plan, food safety programs (HACCP), regulatory requirements, and plant quality procedures
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Ability to work in a team environment where honest communication, a positive attitude, engagement, and personal accountability is expected
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Operational knowledge of food safety standards, regulations and compliance, OSHA, technical certifications and training, along with food manufacturing experience
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Proven ability to perform financial analyses, and review and analyze existing cost data
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Ability to empower the workforce and build strong teams through hiring, developing, evaluating, training, coaching and succession planning
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Proven ability to define performance measures directly related to the business and competence to hold people accountable to such
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Effective written and verbal communication; as well as interpersonal skills, to work in a collaborative team environment that includes shared responsibilities, establishing and maintaining good working relationships with others to support team and company objectives, and a willingness to work in all areas of the facility
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Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists
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Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, and/or governmental regulations
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Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, Wonderful Citrus Executive team members, clients, customers, and the general public
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Excellent customer service focus and results oriented
