At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead daily quality and ripening activities, monitor ripening programmes, and make stock decisions.
- Company: Join a leading Fresh Produce business based in Dartford, Kent, known for its operational excellence.
- Benefits: Opportunity to develop your career within a fast-paced Fresh Produce environment.
- Other info: Experience with ERP systems like D365 is advantageous.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on quality and ripening operations while advancing your career.
- Qualifications: Minimum 4 years' experience in Fresh Produce Quality, Technical or Ripening roles required.
Fresh People are currently recruiting for an Assistant Ripening & Quality Manager on behalf of a leading Fresh Produce business based in Dartford, Kent. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Quality, Technical or Ripening professional looking to take the next step in their career within a fast-paced Fresh Produce environment. The successful candidate will play a key role in leading daily quality and ripening activities, supporting operational performance, and driving continuous improvement across the site.
Working closely with the Quality & Ripening Manager, you will be responsible for:
- Managing day-to-day quality and ripening activities across intake and operational areas.
- Monitoring and executing ripening programmes, ensuring plans are followed and any deviations are escalated appropriately.
- Making informed decisions regarding stock rotation, product utilisation and waste reduction.
- Capturing and analysing quality performance data, identifying trends and areas for improvement.
- Leading, supporting and developing the Ripening team, ensuring daily priorities are understood and completed.
- Allocating resources effectively to meet operational and technical requirements.
- Acting as the first point of escalation for quality-related shopfloor issues.
- Supporting technical and ripening trials, ensuring accurate execution and data collection.
- Monitoring shelf-life performance and supporting benchmarking activities.
- Working closely with Production, Technical and Quality teams to ensure alignment between planning and execution.
- Leading daily KPI reviews and communicating performance expectations clearly across the team.
- Supporting continuous improvement initiatives across quality and ripening operations.
The Person
- Minimum 4 years' experience within a Fresh Produce Quality, Technical or Ripening role.
- Experience making quality decisions relating to stock utilisation, rotation and waste management.
- Strong understanding of Fresh Produce quality standards and product assessment.
- Previous experience leading, supervising or mentoring operational teams.
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills with the ability to analyse and interpret data.
- Experience working with ERP systems; exposure to D365 would be advantageous.
- Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
- Able to work effectively in a fast-paced operational environment.
- Excellent communication and organisational skills.
- Self-motivated with a hands-on approach and strong attention to detail.
This is a fantastic opportunity to join a growing Fresh Produce business where you can make a real impact within quality and ripening operations while developing your career further within the sector.
Assistant Quality & Ripening Manager in Kent employer: Fresh People Ltd
This Fresh Produce business in Dartford, Kent offers a dynamic work environment and opportunities for career growth. Employees benefit from a focus on continuous improvement and are encouraged to lead initiatives that enhance product quality. The team values strong communication and collaboration across departments.
