Senior Ripener & Quality Lead - Fresh Produce

Drnewitt; Tonbridge; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Modern facility

Career development

Job summary

Drnewitt, a leading fresh produce supplier near Tonbridge, is seeking a Senior Ripener to lead daily ripening operations and manage stock flow to meet retail and foodservice standards. You will optimise ripening rooms, assess fruit condition with metrics, coach junior staff, and coordinate with Production, Technical, Commercial and Procurement teams to align on quality and delivery.

This full-time role offers a competitive £35,000 salary, modern facilities, and long-term career development in a

Qualifications

• Experience in fresh produce ripening or food manufacturing.
• Knowledge of food-safety standards such as BRC/HACCP.

Responsibilities

• Ripening & Stock Management: Plan, manage, and optimise ripening rooms to meet customer volume, spec, and timing requirements.
• Quality Control: Assess fruit condition and maturity using metrics and visual checks; adjust cycles as needed.
• Team Guidance: Mentor junior Ripeners and escalate issues to senior management.
• Cross-Departmental Communication: Collaborate daily with Production, Technical, Commercial, and Procurement teams.
• Process & Compliance: Monitor equipment, maintain audit-ready records, and support continuous improvement/yield trials.

Skills

Ripening expertise

Stock management

Quality control

Leadership

Data analysis

Job description

Drnewitt, a leading fresh produce supplier near Tonbridge, is seeking a Senior Ripener to lead daily ripening operations and manage stock flow to meet retail and foodservice standards. You will optimise ripening rooms, assess fruit condition with metrics, coach junior staff, and coordinate with Production, Technical, Commercial and Procurement teams to align on quality and delivery.

This full-time role offers a competitive £35,000 salary, modern facilities, and long-term career development in a