Senior Ripener / Ripening Specialist

D R Newitt & Associates; Tonbridge and Malling; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Modern facility

Long-term career development

Job summary

D R Newitt & Associates is seeking a Senior Ripener to join our fresh produce operation near Tonbridge, Kent. You will lead daily ripening operations, manage stock flow, and apply technical expertise to ensure fruit meets precise retail, wholesale, and foodservice specifications.

You will drive stock planning, monitor room utilisation, and work cross-functionally with Production, Technical, Commercial, and Procurement teams to minimise waste and maximise shelf life.

Qualifications

• Experience in fresh produce, fruit ripening, or food manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of fruit behaviour across origins, seasons and varieties.
• Confident using data to plan stock flow and minimise waste while maximising shelf life.
• Clear communicator capable of mentoring staff and upholding food safety standards (BRC, H&S).

Responsibilities

• Ripening & Stock Management: Plan, manage, and optimise ripening rooms to meet volume, spec, and timing.
• Quality Control: Assess fruit condition and maturity; adjust cycles by variety, origin, season, and stock age.
• Team Guidance: Mentor junior Ripeners and escalate issues to senior management.
• Cross-Departmental Communication: Liaise daily with Production, Technical, Commercial and Procurement teams on stock, quality risks and priorities.
• Process & Compliance: Calibrate equipment; maintain audit-ready records for hygiene and traceability; support yield improvement.

Skills

Fresh produce experience

Data-driven decision making

Leadership & mentoring

Food safety & BRC/H&S

Job description

Senior Ripener / Ripening Specialist - Fresh Produce

Near Tonbridge, Kent

£35,000 per annum

Full-time, Permanent

This role is perfect for someone who is from Fresh Produce and has a background as a QA, QC, Production Line Leader, Shift leader or similar.

About the Role

A leading fresh produce supplier based near Tonbridge is seeking an experienced Senior Ripener to join their state-of-the-art facility.

Working with high-volume, global produce lines year-round, you will lead daily ripening operations, manage stock flow, and use technical expertise to ensure fruit meets exact retail, wholesale, and foodservice quality specifications. This is a key position where your technical decision-making directly impacts quality, yield, and waste reduction.

Key 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 pressure, dry matter, grading, sugar levels, and visual checks. Adjust cycles according to variety, origin, season, and stock age.
• Team Guidance: Act as a senior technical contact on site, guiding and mentoring junior Ripeners, and escalating issues to senior management when necessary.
• Cross-Departmental Communication: Collaborate daily with Production, Technical, Commercial, and Procurement teams regarding stock availability, quality risks, and operational priorities.
• Process & Compliance: Monitor and calibrate equipment, maintain audit-ready BRC, hygiene, and traceability records, and support continuous improvement/yield trials.

Your Skills & Experience

• Industry Experience: Proven practical experience within fresh produce, commercial fruit ripening, or food manufacturing.
• Technical Knowledge: Strong understanding of fruit behaviour across different origins, seasons, and varieties.
• Data & Decision-Making: Confident using data to plan stock flow, manage room utilisation, and minimise waste while maximising shelf life.
• Leadership & Standards: Clear communicator capable of mentoring staff and upholding strict food safety, BRC, and H&S standards.

Benefits

• Competitive salary of £35,000
• Opportunity to work in a newly invested, modern facility
• Long-term career development within a stable, growing industry sector