The successful candidate will take on the role of Technical and Quality Manager, leading the technical and quality function across the company's fresh produce portfolio, including grapes, citrus, and vegetables. The candidate will be responsible for ensuring the consistent delivery of world-class quality standards to global retail customers. They will manage the procurement strategy in alignment with overall business goals and oversee all quality and procurement staff, ensuring that regulatory, customer, and internal standards are consistently met and exceeded.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES
RESPONSIBILITY: Technical & Quality Management
- Develop, implement, and maintain robust quality assurance systems across all produce lines;
- Ensure compliance with all relevant food safety regulations, certifications (e.g.GlobalG.A.P., BRC, HACCP), and customer-specific standards;
- Oversee and manage all product inspections, customer-specific standards, cold chain integrity, packaging standards including labelling, and post-harvest handling protocols;
- Ensure Packhouses have the correct packaging and labels;
- Lead customer audits and visits, managing non-conformances and corrective actions proactively;
- Oversee customer audits requirements and renewal of specifications and MRL Levels / Legislation;
- Monitor the timing of supplier residue analysis and analise results to fall within requirement of target market weekly;
- Weekly analysis of customer quality data and compilation of grower annual review report;
- Full quality data management on customer reports:
- Analysis and evaluation;
- Distribution and good record keeping of information;
- Follow-up communication;
- Assistance with claim evaluations and quantification;
- Temperature download analysis;
- Continuous populating of weekly arrival reports for communication to growers.
• Analyse all relevant data such as:
- Farms (quantity and quality);
- Varieties;
- The cold chain;
- Packaging;
- Transit time;
- Arrival quality;
- Pullout quantities;
- Packing and resorting quantities;
- Quality and management (controlables) related claims.
Collection of historical data from producer;
Ensure alignment of marketing plans, preparation, and farm quality with standards, covering:
- Pruning practices
- Canopy management
- Harvest control
- Color treatment
- Harvest preparation & process
- Post-harvest treatment;
Identify and explore new opportunities, varieties, and trials;
- Conduct research and recommend new block/variety establishment;
- Assess farm blocks to identify challenges and opportunities;
- Classify blocks based on quality—identifying those with issues for specific markets and those with premium potential for high-value markets.
RESPONSIBILITY: Procurement Leadership
- Strategically manage sourcing and procurement of fresh produce from;
- Ensure supplier compliance with technical standards and certifications;
- Manage seasonal procurement planning aligned with customer demand and supply
- forecasts.
RESPONSIBILITY: Packaging Management
- Ensure all packhouses have the correct, up-to-date customer-specific packaging specifications;
- Oversee and manage the inventory of packaging on farms to prevent shortages or excess;
- Ensure all product labelling and coding setups are completed accurately and well in advance of the season;
- Liaise with customers, suppliers, and packhouses to ensure packaging compliance and readiness for export.
RESPONSIBILITY: People Management
- Lead, mentor, and develop the technical and procurement teams, including Quality Controllers, Procurement Officers, and Compliance Specialists;
- Create clear KPIs for team performance and manage ongoing performance and development;
- Foster a strong culture of accountability, efficiency, and innovation within the team.
RESPONSIBILITY: Customer & Supplier Interface
- Serve as the primary technical contact for key retail customers globally;
- Align supplier capabilities with customer expectations through clear communication
- and regular engagement.
RESPONSIBILITY: Strategic & Operational Responsibilities
- Develop and implement technical and quality standards and strategies in alignment with company growth and market trends;
- Participate in executive-level decision-making and contribute to company-wide strategy;
- Collaborate with Commercial, Operations, and Logistics teams to ensure seamless delivery of quality produce.
RESPONSIBILITY: Internal Audits
- Arranging audits;
- Implement and coordinate ensuring audit content is updated in real time;
- Audit preparation:
- Addressing non-compliances in the event they occur, within the timelines;
- Pass audit and receive certification.
QUALIFICATIONS
Tertiary qualification in Agriculture (Degree or Diploma).
KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS REQUIRED
- Fully bilingual (English and Afrikaans);
- Strong administrative and time management skills;
- Good computer skills (MS Office, Office 365 Outlook, Excel and pivot tables);
- Strong analytical ability and attention to detail;
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
- Minimum 8 years’ experience in fruit industry and farming;
- Fresh product knowledge (Included but not limited: Table grape, citrus, blueberry ,
- tomatoes, peppers and onion);
- Understanding the dynamics and interaction of fruit production, packaging, supply chain and marketing;
- Knowledge of Paltrack, Dipar or QX system will be advantageous.
EMAIL CV IN WORD FORMAT: cvs@agricruitment.co.za
Please consider your application as unsuccessful if you have not been contacted within 2 weeks.
POPIA: by applying for the position, the applicant gives permission to the company to scrutinise and process personal information shared.