Senior Ripener - Fresh Produce

DivalentineCalver Recruitment LTD

Tonbridge

On-site

GBP 32,000 - 39,000

Full time

12 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Salary £35k–£40k depending on exper.

6 weeks holiday incl BH

Pension scheme

Share scheme

Learning and development opportunities

Free onsite parking

Employee Assistance Programme

Enhanced parental pay

Life Assurance

Season Ticket Loans

Imagination library

Eye Tests/Glasses

Cycle to Work scheme

Medicash Plan

Job summary

DivalentineCalver Recruitment LTD is seeking a Senior Ripener to support daily ripening operations at a Ripening Centre of Excellence near Tonbridge. You will manage rooms, assess maturity, and use data to ensure quality, quantity and service targets for avocados across UK customers.

You will lead Ripeners, mentor the team, and collaborate with QA, Procurement and Production to maintain safety, hygiene, and traceability standards while driving efficiency.

Qualifications

Experience in fresh produce, ripening or food production.
Ability to assess fruit maturity and adjust ripening cycles.
Strong data handling and decision making.

Responsibilities

Prioritise ripening activity, stock checks and room movements.
Manage rooms to meet customer specs and stock targets.
Maintain audit-ready records and comply with safety standards.

Skills

Fresh produce knowledge

Data analysis

Team leadership

Job description

Our client are looking for the perfect candidate to support their established and ambitious UK Fresh Produce business, based at a newly invested Ripening Centre of Excellence near Tonbridge. With grower partners in key locations around the world, we ensure a seamless 52-week supply of the best quality avocados to customers in retail, wholesale and foodservice both in the UK and further afield.

This is an opportunity for you to join the team as a Senior Ripener, you would be responsible for supporting daily ripening operations, using technical knowledge, planning judgement and accurate data to deliver fruit to customer quality, quantity and service requirements. The role manages stock flow, makes informed decisions, supports Ripeners and maintains safe, compliant and efficient operations.

Key responsibilities

Team support & communication

Prioritise daily ripening activity, stock checks, room movements and operational tasks.
Update Production, Technical, Commercial and Procurement on performance, availability, quality risks and actions.
Guide Ripeners, act as a senior contact and escalated issues to the Head of Product & Ripening.

Ripening, quality & stock control

Plan and manage rooms to meet customer specifications, service requirements and stock targets.
Assess condition and maturity using pressure, dry matter, grading, sugar-level and visual checks; adjust cycles for origin, variety, season, stock age and customer need.
Balance availability, shelf life, yield and waste while controlling stock rotation, room use and product flow.
Support QA with in-loading checks, supplier compliance, quality risks and waste reporting.

Equipment, process & compliance

Monitor and calibrate equipment; escalated room or plant issues and recommend action.
Use data and trials to improve yield, room utilisation, consistency and loss reduction.
Keep audit-ready ripening, quality and traceability records in line with BRC, hygiene, 5S and company procedures.

Our perfect candidate

You will have practical experience in fresh produce, ripening or food production and strong knowledge of fruit behaviour across origins, varieties, seasons and stock profiles. You can assess condition accurately, make sound decisions and adapt plans to deliver specification, maximise shelf life and control waste.

Organised and confident with data, you manage rooms and plan stock through the ripening cycle. You communicate clearly, mentor Ripeners, lead by example, improve performance and uphold food safety, hygiene, traceability and health and safety standards.

Employment Terms and Benefits