Grabouw: Technical Manager – Post Harvest (Pome) posted by Helderberg Personnel

About the Role

Helderberg Personnel is seeking an experienced Technical Manager – Post Harvest (Pome) to join our team in Grabouw. The ideal candidate will be responsible for ensuring the quality and marketability of packed apples and pears, impacting commercial value throughout the fruit value chain.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage post-harvest systems and protocol assuring quality and marketability of packed product for customers
• Collaborate with relevant stakeholders to build and implement technical fruit quality and compliance systems
• Align these systems to ensure product quality and compliance according to different customer specifications
• Manage and interpret data on all technical aspects of fruit throughout the system in such a way that allocation of fruit into ideal protocols and regimes are possible
• Assess, develop and adapt these protocols and regimes of post-harvest fruit handling to protecting commercial value fruit throughout the season by maximizing packout and reducing waste
• Put in place systems maximising the quality of packed fresh fruit while reducing quality defects and claims in the market
• Ensure effective, regular communication regarding product requirements, availability, quality and other product information and seasonal trends with all stakeholders and departments
• Assist growers to manage harvest for optimal quality
• Assist with the building of variety optimisation strategies
• Assist with the implementation of the fruit variety seasonal plan.
• Ensure market entry through compliance to relevant food safety and quality standards, as well as special market registrations
• Liaise with technical consultants when necessary to obtain specialist information for decision-making purposes, analysis of claims to determine fault and act accordingly as well as giving regular feedback thereon
• Daily management of Quality assurance and Quality control teams and employees, monitoring of fruit samples and reporting on deviations found from samples taken

Requirements

• A BSc-Degree in Horticulture / Food Science (Post-Harvest) or Similar Tertiary Qualifications
• Relevant Training and Experience in Food Safety and Compliance Systems
• At least 5-8 years experience within the fruit & packhouse industry
• Intermediate MS Office skills with advanced Excel
• Data Analytics
• Relevant Training and Experience in Quality and Food Safety Systems
• Good data analytic, problem solving and reporting skils
• Strong understanding of all fruit specifications within the various client/customer markets
• Ability to influence, delegate, apply good judgement and have sound decision making risk-taking skills
• Resourcefull and innovative in approach
• Strong attention to detail

Salary & Benefits

Not specified