Produce Quality Specialist

Gold Star Foods; Ontario; On-site; CAD 85,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Gold Star Foods seeks a Produce Quality Specialist to oversee produce handling and ensure quality and safety standards. This role involves training staff, conducting inspections, and collaborating with various departments to optimize outcomes and enhance customer satisfaction. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in produce quality control and leadership capabilities.

Qualifications

• 5 years of experience in produce handling, quality control, or foodservice distribution.
• At least 2 years in a supervisory role.
• In-depth knowledge of produce processes.

Responsibilities

• Train and develop a team of quality control staff.
• Monitor daily inspections of over 200 produce items.
• Ensure compliance with food safety regulations.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem-Solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in food science, agriculture, business, or related field

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

Microsoft Office

Inventory/Quality Tracking Software

Job description

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This range is provided by Gold Star Foods. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

$85,000.00/yr - $95,000.00/yr

TITLE: Produce Quality Specialist

DIVISION/DEPARTMENT: Purchasing

REPORTS TO: Director of Produce

FLSA CLASSIFICATION: Exempt / Salary

Gold Star Foods is the leading food distributor to K-12 schools in the United States. We are a company devoted to providing our customers with incredible customer service. We know that it is our teammates who make the difference! Join our team and find out what it is like to work somewhere where you enjoy getting up for work every day!

Position Overview

The Produce Quality Specialist is responsible for overseeing all aspects of produce handling from receiving, storage, and final delivery, ensuring adherence to the highest standards of quality, safety, and customer satisfaction. This role involves training and developing a team of quality control personnel, performing routine inspections, and collaborating with internal departments such as procurement, logistics, and sales. The specialist also maintains strong relationships with suppliers and customers, using expert knowledge of fresh produce to make informed decisions, solve problems, and continuously improve operational processes. This position requires a high degree of independent judgment and leadership to drive quality initiatives and elevate team performance.

Principle Responsibilities

• Train and develop a team of quality control staff, ensuring consistent adherence to quality standards and safety protocols.
• Oversee daily inspections of 200+ produce items, evaluating quality, rotation, and inventory levels in a refrigerated environment.
• Monitor in-bound deliveries and pick-slot products, documenting conditions and resolving issues with suppliers or carriers.
• Ensure produce meets quality and safety standards before shipment, addressing discrepancies with merchandisers and purchasing teams.
• Manage federal inspections, product discrepancy notices, and photographic documentation processes.
• Collaborate with Purchasing, Category Management, and Replenishment teams to resolve quality issues and optimize customer outcomes.
• Monitor returned products, sort marginal produce, and discard substandard items to maintain inventory integrity.
• Stay informed on regional growing conditions to anticipate and manage produce quality variations.
• Represent the department in customer meetings, sales seminars, and showcase events to promote quality standards.
• Develop and implement quality control procedures, ensuring compliance with food safety regulations (e.g., FSMA, HACCP).
• Analyze quality data and provide reports to senior management to support operational improvements.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
  
  

Required Skills

• In-depth knowledge of produce receiving, storage, and delivery processes.
• Strong leadership skills with proven ability to train, motivate, and manage a team.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for internal collaboration and customer interactions.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and inventory/quality tracking software; basic mathematical skills for data analysis.
• Ability to work in a refrigerated environment and manage fast-paced, high-urgency tasks.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to prioritize and delegate effectively.
• Familiarity with food safety standards (e.g., FSMA, HACCP) preferred.
  
  

Education/Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in food science, agriculture, business, or related field preferred; High School Diploma or GED required.
• 5 years of experience in produce handling, quality control, or foodservice distribution, with at least 2 years in a supervisory role.
  
  

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Working Conditions And Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Individuals may need to sit or stand as needed. May require walking primarily on a level surface for periods throughout the day. Reaching above shoulder heights, below the waist, or lifting as required to file documents or store materials throughout the workday. Proper lifting techniques are required. May include lifting to 25 pounds on occasion.

EOE M/W/Vet/Disabled

The above duties and responsibilities are essential job functions subject to reasonable accommodation. All job requirements listed indicate the minimum level of knowledge, skills and/or ability deemed necessary to perform the job proficiently. This job description is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements as the employee may be required to perform any other duties as assigned. In the event of an absence where the teammate cannot perform these duties, the Manager will determine who shall perform these duties.

Affirmative Action Statement

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer, and consider qualified applicants without regard to race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected factor under federal, state, or local law.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Quality Assurance

• Industries

  Transportation, Logistics, Supply Chain and Storage

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