Technical Quality Manager (Agriculture)

Exceed HR and Recruitment; Bellville; On-site; ZAR 750 000 - 900 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading agricultural firm in Bellville is seeking a Technical Quality Manager. The role involves developing quality assurance systems, ensuring compliance with food safety regulations, and managing product inspections. Candidates should have a tertiary qualification in Agriculture and a minimum of 8 years' experience in the fruit industry. Strong analytical and people management skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years’ experience in the fruit industry and farming.
• Fresh product knowledge including table grape, citrus, and more.
• Understanding of fruit production, packaging, supply chain, and marketing.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain robust quality assurance systems.
• Ensure compliance with food safety regulations.
• Oversee product inspections, packaging standards, and quality data management.

Skills

Quality assurance systems

Compliance with food safety regulations

Data analysis

Packaging management

People management

Education

Tertiary qualification in Agriculture (Degree or Diploma)

Tools

Paltrack

Dipar

QX system

Job description

Technical Quality Manager (Agriculture) required in Bellville.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop, implement, and maintain robust quality assurance systems across all produce lines;
• Ensure compliance with all relevant food safety regulations, certifications (e.g., Global G.A.P., BRC, HACCP), and customer specific standards;
• Oversee and manage all product inspections, customer-specific standards, cold chain integrity, packaging standards including labelling, and post-harvest handling protocols;
• Ensure Packhouses have the correct packaging and labels;
• Lead customer audits and visits, managing non-conformances and corrective actions proactively;
• Oversee customer audits requirements and renewal of specifications and MRL Levels/Legislation;
• Monitor the timing of supplier residue analysis and analyse results to fall within requirement of target market weekly;
• Weekly analysis of customer quality data and compilation of grower annual review report;
• Full quality data management on customer reports:
  • Analysis and evaluation
  • Distribution and good record keeping of information
  • Follow-up communication
  • Assistance with claim evaluations and quantification
  • Temperature download analysis
  • Continuous populating of weekly arrival reports for communication to growers
• Analyse all relevant data such as:
  • Farms (quantity and quality)
  • Varieties
  • The cold chain
  • Packaging
  • Transit time
  • Arrival quality
  • Pullout quantities
  • Packing and resorting quantities;
  • Quality and management (controlables) related claims.
• Collection of historical data from producer;
• Ensure alignment of marketing plans, preparation, and farm quality with standards, covering:
  • Pruning practices
  • Canopy management
  • Harvest control
  • Color treatment
  • Harvest preparation & process
  • Post-harvest treatment
• Identify and explore new opportunities, varieties, and trials
• Conduct research and recommend new block/variety establishment
• Assess farm blocks to identify challenges and opportunities
• Classify blocks based on quality—identifying those with issues for specific markets and those with premium potential for high-value markets.
• Packaging Management
• People Management
• Customer & Supplier Interface
• Strategic & Operational Responsibilities
• Internal Audits

Requirements:

• Tertiary qualification in Agriculture (Degree or Diploma)
• Minimum 8 years’ experience in fruit industry and farming
• Fresh product knowledge (Included but not limited: Table grape, citrus, blueberry , tomatoes, peppers and onion)
• Understanding the dynamics and interaction of fruit production, packaging, supply chain and marketing
• Knowledge of Paltrack, Dipar or QX system will be advantageous.