Fruit Ripening Program Supervisor - Full-time

Summary/Objective
The Ripening Program Supervisor oversees the ripening program based on coordination with Production and Sales.  Responsible for the quality of ripening in accordance with customer expectations for color and ripening stage, and monitors fruit inventory required to fulfill orders. 

Essential Functions

• Based on forecasted needs, plan, execute and monitor the ripening process. 
• Establish and maintain ripening schedules, room monitoring and adjustments.
• Identify customer orders that require fruit to be pre-conditioned.
• Ensure quality of ripening in terms of customer preferences for color and ripening stage.
• Move fruit in and out of ripening rooms and program the ripening rooms.  
• Monitor the progress for the ripening process daily and make the necessary adjustment to the schedule.
• Conducts fruit testing and maintains accurate records.
• Monitor inventory on a daily basis.
• Develop and document best practices for fruit ripening and adjust as needed for natural variations in fruit and variations from season to season.
• Assist in servicing and providing technical support to new and existing customers.
• Ensure quality evaluations of incoming and outgoing fruit are carried out and recorded according to requirements.
• Report on unusual fruit, packaging, etc.
• Continually assess the ripening program to drive improvements.
• Provide technical expertise and support to team members and to customers as related to post-harvest handling and ripening.
• Train and advise team members regarding post harvest handling and ripening practices.
• Conduct informational seminars for internal company divisions and Index Fresh customers.
• Performs other related duties as required or assigned.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position directly supervises employees involved in the ripening function. 

Position Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Specific experience ripening avocados highly preferred
• Solid understanding of how produce/fruit behaves under different conditions.
• Experience providing technical support to customers.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines
• Detail oriented and organized.
• Proficient in MS Office
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills
• Willing and able to work with changing deadlines and shifting priorities

Work Environment

The work environment described here is representative of those an employee encounters while performing the functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This job operates in a warehouse environment with constant movement and traffic flow of motorized equipment.  The employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts.  The noise level in the work environment is moderate to loud.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job the employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; regularly required to walk and sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; and is frequently required to stand and talk or hear. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

This is an exempt full time position. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., off-season and Monday through Saturdays with extended varied work times, during the harvest seasons. Some Sundays may also be required during the harvest seasons.

Travel

This position requires up to 10% overnight travel.