Banana Ripener

GENERAL DESCRIPTION / PRIMARY PURPOSE:

Monitor the handling and ripening banana processes, conducting quality inspections, reviewing ripening cycles, actual ripening and post ripening handling, in order to comply with customers’ expectations.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS/DUTIES OF THE POSITION:

·         Conduct daily required quality inspections related to the ripening process, such as assessing ventilation, humidity, temperature, etc., and communicate reports daily, to ensure the compliance with customer ripening requirements and expectations.

·         Conduct daily required inbound inspections to ensure Dole fruit meets specific customer criteria, advise disposition of fruit accordingly prior to ripening process.

·         Coordinate labor regarding conditioning inbound fruit and loading ripening rooms, according to the established procedures, to maintain an adequate inventory and comply with ripening schedules.

·         Perform two daily inspections for ripened fruit, document ripening progress, and use judgment towards accurate ripening room adjustments based on inspections.

·         Perform daily inspections for outbound fruit to meet customer specifications and communicate daily to internal business units.

·         Coordinate labor for outbound fruit, ensure that fruit is outturned in a timely manner for order assembly.

·         Responsible for the quality of the ripening in accordance with customer requirements for color and temperature. Has some sales and customer support functions.

·         Coordinate with Quality Assurance, Sales, Product Management and Port Operations to facilitate customers’ requirements and to prevent customer quality issues.

·         Generate and maintain all Bill of Lading and Invoice documentations related to each customers’ programs.

·         Perform daily inventory management and reconcile as needed.

·         Communicate with forward warehouse regarding delivery and inventory management.

·         Maintain a documented sanitation and preventative maintenance program, to ensure ripening rooms are running efficiently and complying with the established quality standards.

·         Conduct weekly retail survey calls or visits, maintain a documented file.

CORE COMPETENCIES:

·         Functional Expertise – has developed skills in a range of processes or procedures to carry out assigned tasks.

·         Business Acumen – ability to understand how the assigned duties relate to others in the team and how the team integrates with others, including colleagues and customers.

·         Problem Solving – ability to analyze information, recognize and solve typical problems that can occur in own work area with supervisory approval.

·         Leadership – has ability to take responsibility and lead in absence of the manager.

·         Impact – ability to impact the quality of own work; meeting deadlines and taking action.

·         Interpersonal Skills/Influence/Teamwork – ability to use communication skills to exchange information.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

·         Ability to lift and move 50 lbs., sometimes overhead.

·         Ability to stand long periods of time.

·         Stopping, bending, twisting, lifting, pulling, pushing, and reaching may be required in completion of job duties.

·         Ability to work safety in a warehouse setting or field location, including working around heavy equipment, such as forklifts.

• Ability to work in cold environments. Occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid locations.
• Noise level is often loud.
• Exposure to food grade chemicals.
• Ability to work in high places and climb ladders.

·         Perform two daily inspections for ripened fruit, document ripening progress, and use judgment towards accurate ripening room adjustments based on inspections.

·         Perform daily inspections for outbound fruit to meet customer specifications and communicate daily to internal business units.

·         Coordinate labor for outbound fruit, ensure that fruit is outturned in a timely manner for order assembly.

·         Responsible for the quality of the ripening in accordance with customer requirements for color and temperature. Has some sales and customer support functions.

·         Coordinate with Quality Assurance, Sales, Product Management and Port Operations to facilitate customers’ requirements and to prevent customer quality issues.

·         Generate and maintain all Bill of Lading and Invoice documentations related to each customers’ programs.

·         Perform daily inventory management and reconcile as needed.

·         Communicate with forward warehouse regarding delivery and inventory management.

·         Maintain a documented sanitation and preventative maintenance program, to ensure ripening rooms are running efficiently and complying with the established quality standards.

·         Conduct weekly retail survey calls or visits, maintain a documented file.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

·         Perform work outside of normal business hours as needed and required; perform other projects as needed and assigned by the Ripening Manager.

·         Provide banana ripening training to internal Dole employees and external customers.

·         Occasionally participate in product, packaging or quality trials at the Port, Warehouse or Retail level as needed to support Dole’s supply chain and quality initiatives.

·         Assist in Quality Assurance at Dole facilities when necessary to support existing QA staff.

·         Travel to support other Dole facilities/operations as needed.

EXPERIENCE:

Experience in banana ripening/conditioning, product quality standards, and ethylene producing products. Experience in Container and Warehouse Operations. 

·         Fresh produce handling at retail or warehouse level. Understanding of customers’ needs in produce industry.

·         Microsoft D365

·         Transportation Management System experience.

·         Electrical or mechanical experience.

·         Analysis, spreadsheet modeling, and compilation of large data sets. Advanced Excel.

·         Bilingual Spanish is a plus.

Ability to operate a forklift.

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATION:

High school diploma or GED. And/or at least 2 years’ experience performing the above functions including, banana ripening/conditioning, product quality standards, and ethylene producing products.

OTHER ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTICS:

·         Perform work outside of normal business hours as needed and required. Ability to work overtime.

·         Must be available to regularly work nights, weekends, and holidays.

·         Minimal travel required.

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EEO STATEMENT:  We are an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or on the basis of disability.