Agricultural Quality Specialist - Ocean Spray : Job Details

Ocean Spray is hiring for a(n) Agricultural Quality Specialist! We're a team of farmers, thinkers, creators, and doers. Whatever your title, whatever your role - it always comes back to this: we're a farmer-owned co-op where everyone rolls up their sleeves to get the job done. Three maverick farmers started it all - and we've been making our own way ever since.

As an Ocean Spray Cranberries Agricultural Quality Specialist, you will ensure the quality and safety of the cranberry supply throughout the supply chain. You will implement quality control processes and standards for receiving operations to meet regulatory requirements and customer expectations. You will collaborate with various cross-functional teams to drive value for our grower-owners, identify opportunities for procedure improvement, and support broader food safety and quality measures for the Cooperative.

Position Location: We're all about flexibility! This will be based out of our Babcock receiving station location with local travel required with the potential to work from home as duties permit. Overnight travel required twice per year.

A Day in the Life...

* Implement procedures for monitoring, sampling, measuring, and recording the quality of Ocean Spray's cranberry supply.

* Ensure that all procedure and result documentation related to fruit sampling and quality is properly maintained.

* Develop and provide training and support for quality staff and production employees in the areas of GMP's, analytical testing, sampling, lab practices, auditing, problem solving, and statistical analysis and ensure successful and timely execution.

* Identify opportunities for improvement of current processes and procedure and support efforts to implement network-wide improvement.

* Support food safety and quality efforts of the Ocean Spray receiving station team and contract suppliers. Help ensure that the activities of the regional team align with Cooperative goals and deliver value for Growers-Owners.

* Ensure quality certifications and compliance requirements for Ocean Spray's cranberry fruit are successfully achieved. This includes Organic Certification, Global GAP, Sustainability, and Customer Requirements.

* Develop and implement support materials, outreach events, and audit/survey support for the receiving stations, contract suppliers, and our Grower-Owners in relation to certifications and compliance.

* Support the Ag. Sciences Team on activities related to research, outreach, food safety, fruit quality, and ag. sustainability.

* Help establish and foster positive Grower-Owner relations and support ongoing cooperative communications programs to meet Grower-Owner needs.

What We Are Looking For:

Required

* Minimum Associate Degree in Plant Sciences, Agriculture, Biology, Food Sciences, Sustainability, or related disciplines

* Experience with laboratory procedures and equipment

* Experience with agricultural production systems or desire to learn

* Knowledge of FSQA requirements and procedures

* Ability to train, supervise, and evaluate temporary workers

* Proficient in data, documentation, and project management

* Excellent written and verbal communication skills

* Ability to learn and achieve accreditations and training certifications

Preferred

* Master's degree in the above-mentioned disciplines

* Experience with fruit or vegetable processing and/or harvesting

* Experience with FSQA and Certification/Compliance management

* Currently held accreditations and certifications in FSQA-related areas

Education:

Associates Degree - Agriculture (Required)

Work Experience:

At least 1 Year of Experience

Benefits:

* Complete insurance package on Day-1 that includes a plethora of health and wellness programs

* Health, Dental, and Vision insurance

* Health savings account

* Flexible spending account

* Life and accident insurance

* Employee assistance program

* Telehealth services

* Fertility benefits

* Transgender benefits

* 1:1 health coaching and more

* 401(k) with up to 6% Company matching; additional potential discretionary match at year-end

* Short-Term Incentive/Performance bonuses

* Flexible scheduling options

* Vacation pay, up to three weeks of time (pro-rated for your first year of employment)

* Holiday pay for 12 holidays

* Career development and growth opportunities

* Tuition/Education assistance programs

* Access to LinkedIn Learning

* Scholarship programs for children of employees

* Parental leave

* Bright Horizons Family Solutions - Back-up care, tutoring, etc.

* Adoption assistance

* Bereavement leave

* Up to $300 fitness reimbursement

* Up to $300 massage reimbursement

* Employee appreciation events

* Employee discounts

* Charitable giving

Who We Are:

You might have our iconic cranberry juice in your fridge or have gotten into heated holiday debate about what's better - canned or fresh cranberry sauce. But did you know that the hardworking people growing the superfruit in our products are 700 family farmers that own our cooperative? They entrust us with what is most precious to them to create new and innovative products that will delight consumers and grow this beloved brand today and into the future.

Team members, farmers, consumers and communities alike--we value what makes us unique and strive to connect our farms to families for a better life by living our values:

* Grower Mindset - We embrace our grower-owners innovative spirit and heritage through confidence, learning and focus on the future.

* Sustainable Results - Guided by purpose, we are focused on delivering results for our grower-owners.

* Integrity Above All - We are ethical, doing the right thing for our grower-owners, customers, consumers and each other

* Inclusive Teamwork - We build diverse and inclusive teams that strengthen our cooperative.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.