Postharvest Technical Specialist

Wonderful Citrus is North America’s leading integrated grower, shipper and packer of fresh citrus, including clementines/mandarins, navel and Valencia oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits, and other citrus varieties. Wonderful Citrus farms more than 74,000 acres of fresh citrus and has supplier relationships around the world to ensure a year-round supply. Our citrus can be found in all channels of distribution, with our consumer brands most visible in the produce department of grocery stores across the globe under our flagship consumer brands, Wonderful Halos Mandarins, Wonderful Seedless Lemons, and Wonderful Sweet Scarletts Texas Red Grapefruit.

Overview:

Assess and evaluate processes and projects related to postharvest decay management and fungicide treatments in packinghouses across WC (CA, TX, MX).

Here's what you'll do:

• Conduct or facilitating auditing of Post Harvest treatments and operations impacting decay control
• Data collection: 
• Sampling of fruit and solution samples
• Measuring treatment exposure time
• Wax metering
• Chlorine, Ozone and PAA quantification
• pH measurement where applicable
• Measure dump rate and brush speed
• Staffing of grading tables
• Fruit quality assessment including but not limited to the following: long stems, Puncture and other wounds, Firmness, Decay
• Mechanical assessment
• Communication and interaction with treatment service company
• Reporting
• Coordinate communication and weekly update meetings with all divisions (CA, TX, MX)
• Build and maintain systems to improve communication between operations, reliability, sanitation and JBT
• Coordinate and manage projects that related to treatment optimization
• Keep asset numbers and labeling updated
• Assist in trouble shooting malfunctioning treatment equipment or systems
• Adhere to departmental budget as closely as possible
• Assist with Postharvest R&D projects
• Other duties as assigned

Pay Range: $70,000 - $75,000 a year and may include a discretionary bonus. Final compensation will be dependent upon skills & experience.

Here's what you'll bring to the table:

• Degree in related field or 3 years experience in postharvest treatments
• Strong analytical skills
• Computer literate
• Bilingual in English and Spanish
• Typical supervisor will have five years of related experience. High school diploma or equivalent required. Advanced education desired but not required
• Must be able to communicate verbally and in writing in English. Is highly desired but not required
• Must be able to perform basic arithmetic and algebraic functions. Knowledge of statistics desired but not required
• Must be able to troubleshoot equipment/process problems and propose solutions. Problem-solving skills are essential to this position
• Experience with SAP/Oracle preferred
• HACCP preferred
• Develop, execute, and evaluate training of other team members in all areas
• Be consciences and ethical during execution of functions
• Mixing and monitoring of coatings and postharvest pesticides
• Documentation of all tank levels, mixes, daily standard work and data entry
• Installation and maintenance of application equipment, small motors and pumps
• Troubleshooting and calibrations of pumps and application equipment
• Postharvest lab sampling and R&D projects
• Maintaining a safe work environment by following pesticide regulations, food safety regulations and plant safety regulations
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.
• Bilingual, English and Spanish a plus, but not required
• Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as statistical mean, averages, cycle times, inventory turnover, discounts, interest, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, volume and basic chemistry mathematics.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• The employee is occasionally required to sit, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Performs supervisory activities for direct reports, including but not limited to administering wage information and allocations, completing annual performance appraisals, developing and coaching staff as necessary, making staffing decisions, and representing staff interests to department management. Available to work holidays, weekends and overtime as the business requires. Minimal travel to Texas and Mexico facilities
• Performs supervisory activities for processes and projects related the Postharvest Department, including but not limited to administrating budgetary allocations, developing and implementing laboratory and trial techniques, training and transferring of knowledge and skills to other counterparts in pack house operations, making limited recommendations to operations related to postharvest decay control in ordinance with Postharvest Plant Pathologist
• 18 years of age or older

Wonderful's dedication to you:

• Competitive benefits package including Medical, Vision, Dental, 401k
• Continued training and generous Education Reimbursement Program
• Paid sick, vacation and holiday time
• Wonderful Giving (www.wonderfulgiving.com) -- allowing you to donate company money to a cause of your choice

Why Choose Wonderful?

Wonderful Citrus is part of The Wonderful Company, a privately held $6 billion global company dedicated to harvesting health and happiness around the world. Its iconic brands include FIJI Water, POM Wonderful, Wonderful Pistachios, Wonderful Halos, Wonderful Seedless Lemons, Teleflora, and JUSTIN and Lewis Cellars wines. The Wonderful Company’s connection to consumers has health at its heart and giving back in its DNA. 

To learn more about The Wonderful Company, its products, and its core values, please visit wonderful.com, or follow The Wonderful Company on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. To learn more about the company’s corporate social responsibility impact, visit csr.wonderful.com. 

Wonderful Citrus and The Wonderful Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer and with opportunities for advancement. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories.

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