QC Grower

Charlie's Produce • San Juan Bautista, CA

4d • $20 - $22

About The Position

The QC Grower Technician ensures daily delivered products meet company quality standards and communicates issues and concerns to growers and the sales department. The role inspects and reports on product inventory in the warehouse cooler in accordance with food safety standards, works with the Grower Liaison team and Sales to establish produce quality standards based on market needs, assists with internal audits, and works with the Grower Supply Assistant Manager to further quality processes.

The position involves inspecting incoming products, documenting and reporting quality, monitoring product and cooler temperatures, reviewing inventory and shelf life, identifying and managing products that do not meet standards, and coordinating with growers and internal departments to resolve quality and inventory issues. It is safety-sensitive and requires work in refrigerated conditions and outdoors.

Requirements

• Self-starter who is a strategic and independent thinker with good business acumen.
• Excellent time management and ability to meet work schedule deadlines.
• Adaptability and flexibility, including the ability to respond quickly to changing internal and external requirements while maintaining communication with involved parties.
• Strong planning and organizational skills, with high attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong, well-organized written and verbal communication skills.
• Personable and comfortable following up with growers about quality issues.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds occasionally.
• Ability to work in a refrigerated environment at 36–40 degrees and in outside weather conditions.
• Ability to maintain a safe working environment by following safety practices and food safety procedures.

Nice To Haves

• Produce, grocery, or food industry experience.
• Bilingual Spanish/English.

Responsibilities

• Notify the appropriate manager, supervisor, or key personnel of any observed food safety or food quality compromise.
• Meet with the sales team at the start of each shift to review daily products, expectations, and market needs.
• Meet growers as products are delivered and inspect incoming products according to the inspection process.
• Provide real-time quality feedback to growers in person, by phone, or by email, including group text updates as needed.
• Inspect inbound truck commodities during winter and for buy/sell goods; assess product temperatures and shipping methods.
• Photograph delivered products to document all aspects of quality.
• Document product quality in the internal reporting log and upload photographs to the department shared drive.
• Submit a daily end-of-day QA/QC report to the appropriate departments.
• Walk through the cooler at the start of the shift to assess product storage and review previously held products.
• Identify products that do not meet quality standards, label or tag them immediately, and follow the food safety reporting process.
• Review and verify cooler and product temperatures daily against safe food storage standards.
• Ensure applicable products are hydrocooled or pressure cooled as needed.
• Report product aging to Sales daily, weekly, or as applicable.
• Conduct shelf-life reports twice a week.
• Use warehouse equipment, including a utility cart, to move and place products in appropriate slots as needed.
• Operate equipment safely and follow company SOPs and SSOPs.
• Monitor and review the inventory dashboard daily for on-hold and sold items, shelf-life products, and consistency between cooler inventory and physical products.
• Understand commodity-specific defects and QC issues, harvest schedules, inventory, and grower information.
• Work with multiple departments to investigate inventory discrepancies, make corrections, and follow through to completion.
• Assist with internal audits and quality process improvements.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage beginning on the first of the month following hire.
• ESOP (profit sharing) and 401(k).
• Paid vacations and paid holidays.
• Coverage under State Sick Leave.
• 100% prepaid college tuition for employees and their dependents.
• Employee assistance program (EAP).
• Potential performance-based raise after 90 days.
• Yearly review with the possibility of an increase based on performance and tenure.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: No Education Listed