Chiquita is a leading global company with 20,000 employees across 30 countries. We are passionate about our nutritious, high-quality, energy-rich and value-added bananas.

Chiquita's products are sold in nearly 70 countries around the world. Chiquita Brands International grows, procures, markets and sells bananas and other fresh fruits under the Chiquita brand and other names.

The Lead-Ripener is responsible for the operations at a facility where fruit is received, inventoried, (re-) packed, processed and ripened, including fruit ordering and delivery. The Lead-Ripener plans based on coordination with sales for fruit requirements and inventory.

The Lead-Ripener is final responsible for maintaining ripening schedules, room monitoring and the quality of the ripening in accordance with customer expectations for color and temperature, including following all Quality Standards as recorded in the procedure of the company and in reference with the Food Inspection of the EU/local laws.

The Lead-Ripener supervises and oversees the full operations in the warehouse, i.e. the Ripener, Team Leader Packing and Packer. The Lead-Ripener is also responsible with his full team to keep the facility organized, hygienically and clean.

This position requires 24 hours, 7 days a week on call availibility due to continuous nature of the ripening process and the costs associated with loss of fruit or inabillity to service customers due to breakdowns.

The Lead-Ripener reports to the DC Manager.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES :

• Daily supervision of the whole operational process.
• Controling the main tasks of his entired team
• Motivating his team and keeping a high-level working atmosphere
• Final control of inventory on a daily basis.
• Keeping inventory of packing materials such as cartons, bags, labels etc... and orders when needed.
• Looking for best package materials at various suppliers to negotiate the best prices together with the DC Manager.
• Detect non-conformances and discuss with Ripener and/or DC Manager.
• Ensure compliance with Corporate Food Safety Guidelines, including training and knowledge of HACCP/Food Safety Guidelines and the application of theses guidlines in day-to-day activities.
• Communicate to the sales team regarding FCA (collect) carriers if needed
• Communicate with the Representative Logistics for/about self-organized transport when needed

• Associates degree or equivalent experience required.
• 3-6 Years in produce operations/handling preferred. Understanding how to produce/fruit behaves under different conditions, the effects of temperature, etc.
• Specific experience on processing/ripening bananas is highly preferred as experiences in inventory control and quality assurance.
• Strong integrity and work ethic.
• Ability to colloborate and work as a team across functions.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to interact at all levelsof the organization, both of the customer and Chiquita.

Languages: English and Italian. Other European languages will be considered a plus.

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