Strategic Director, Post-Harvest Tech & Storage Ops

Fruit Growers Supply Company; Exeter (CA); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision insurance

401K retirement savings plan, Match+

Paid holiday and vacation benefits

Internal and external training

Educational assistance

Job summary

Fruit Growers Supply Company in Exeter, CA seeks a Director of Post-harvest Technology & Operations to lead strategy, programs, and operations that protect fruit quality and storage performance. You will oversee CA programs, treatment protocols, and multi-facility alignment while building a high-performing team.

The role requires 10+ years in post-harvest or related fields, a relevant degree, and strong leadership with budgeting and customer relations.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive experience in post-harvest operations, agriculture, or food production.
• Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Horticulture, Plant Science, Food Science, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Pest Control Adviser License AND/OR Pesticide Regulation QAL License strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated leadership managing teams, budgets, and cross-functional initiatives.
• Deep expertise in post-harvest biology, storage systems, and CA technology.
• Strong business acumen and financial understanding.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the enterprise post-harvest strategy aligned with quality, yield, and profitability goals.
• Lead long-term planning for storage systems, treatment technologies, and CA programs.
• Own departmental budgets, cost control, and ROI analysis.
• Lead and support high-quality relationships with customers.
• Support annual planning, forecasting, and executive-level performance objectives.
• Drive innovation through evaluation and adoption of emerging post-harvest technologies.
• Oversee storage plans and regimes for conventional and organic fruit.
• Direct CA storage programs and ensure optimal conditions across varieties.
• Ensure consistent execution of post-harvest processes from receiving through packing.
• Evaluate treatment protocols and adjust strategies based on performance.
• Standardize best practices and ensure alignment across all facilities.
• Lead and develop a multi-level team of managers, supervisors, and technical staff.
• Set clear expectations, accountability measures, and development plans.
• Build organizational capability in post-harvest science and quality systems.
• Foster a culture of safety, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
• Establish fruit quality monitoring systems, KPIs, and reporting standards.
• Lead sampling programs to assess fruit condition throughout storage.
• Analyze data trends and provide actionable insights to improve outcomes.
• Serve as an internal expert on post-harvest technology and storage science.
• Partner with Operations, Sales, and Supply Chain to align storage strategies with customer and market needs.
• Communicate timely, accurate post-harvest performance data to stakeholders.
• Collaborate with external partners, vendors, and research organizations.
• Ensure effective recordkeeping, reporting, and data integrity.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, regulatory, and company standards.
• Promote and enforce workplace safety programs.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency and reduce waste.

Skills

Post-harvest operations

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Data-driven decision making

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture/Horticulture/Plant Science or related field

Pest Control Adviser License OR Pesticide Regulation QAL License

Job description

Fruit Growers Supply Company in Exeter, CA seeks a Director of Post-harvest Technology & Operations to lead strategy, programs, and operations that protect fruit quality and storage performance. You will oversee CA programs, treatment protocols, and multi-facility alignment while building a high-performing team.

The role requires 10+ years in post-harvest or related fields, a relevant degree, and strong leadership with budgeting and customer relations.