Lakeville, MA, USA
6 days ago
Agricultural Quality Specialist
Ocean Spray is hiring for a(n) Agricultural Quality Specialist! We’re a team of farmers, thinkers, creators, and doers. Whatever your title, whatever your role — it always comes back to this: we’re a farmer-owned co-op where everyone rolls up their sleeves to get the job done. Three maverick farmers started it all — and we’ve been making our own way ever since. 

As an Ocean Spray Cranberries Agricultural Quality Specialist, you will ensure the quality and safety of the cranberry supply throughout the supply chain. You will implement quality control processes and standards for receiving operations to meet regulatory requirements and customer expectations. You will collaborate with various cross-functional teams to drive value for our grower-owners, identify opportunities for procedure improvement, and support broader food safety and quality measures for the Cooperative.

Position Location: We're all about flexibility! This will be a hybrid role based out of our corporate headquarters in Lakeville, MA location with Mondays & Fridays remote.

A Day in the Life...

Implement procedures for monitoring, sampling, measuring, and recording the quality of Ocean Spray’s cranberry supply​.​​Ensure that all procedure and result documentation related to fruit sampling and quality is properly maintained.Develop and provide training and support for quality staff and production employees in the areas of GMP’s, analytical testing, sampling, lab practices, auditing, problem solving, and statistical analysis and ensure successful and timely execution.Identify opportunities for improvement of current processes and procedure and support efforts to implement network-wide improvement.​Support food safety and quality efforts of the Ocean Spray receiving station team and contract suppliers.  Help ensure that the activities of the regional team align with Cooperative goals and deliver value for Growers-Owners.​​Ensure quality certifications and compliance requirements for Ocean Spray’s cranberry fruit are successfully achieved.  This includes Organic Certification, Global GAP, Sustainability, and Customer Requirements.Develop and implement support materials, outreach events, and audit/survey support for the receiving stations, contract suppliers, and our Grower-Owners in relation to certifications and compliance.Support the Ag. Sciences Team on activities related to research, outreach, food safety, fruit quality, and ag. sustainability​.Help establish and foster positive Grower-Owner relations and support ongoing cooperative communications programs to meet Grower-Owner needs.​

What We Are Looking For:

Required

Bachelor’s or Associate Degree in Plant Sciences, Agriculture, Biology, Food Sciences, Sustainability, or related disciplinesExperience with laboratory procedures and equipmentExperience with agricultural production systems or desire to learnKnowledge of FSQA requirements and proceduresAbility to train, supervise, and evaluate temporary ​workers​​Proficient in data, documentation, and project management ​​​Excellent written and verbal communication skillsAbility to learn and achieve accreditations and training certifications

Preferred

Master’s degree in the above-mentioned disciplinesExperience with fruit or vegetable processing and/or harvestingExperience with FSQA and Certification/Compliance managementCurrently held accreditations and certifications in FSQA-related areas

Education:

Associates Degree - Agriculture (Required)

Work Experience:

At least 1 Year of Experience

Benefits:

Complete insurance package on Day-1 that includes a plethora of health and wellness programsHealth, Dental, and Vision insuranceHealth savings accountFlexible spending accountLife and accident insuranceEmployee assistance programTelehealth servicesFertility benefitsTransgender benefits1:1 health coaching and more401(k) with up to 6% Company matching; additional potential discretionary match at year-endShort-Term Incentive/Performance bonusesFlexible scheduling optionsVacation pay, up to three weeks of time (pro-rated for your first year of employment)Holiday pay for 12 holidaysCareer development and growth opportunitiesTuition/Education assistance programsAccess to LinkedIn LearningScholarship programs for children of employeesParental leaveBright Horizons Family Solutions – Back-up care, tutoring, etc.Adoption assistanceBereavement leaveUp to $300 fitness reimbursementUp to $300 massage reimbursementEmployee appreciation eventsEmployee discountsCharitable giving

Who We Are:

You might have our iconic cranberry juice in your fridge or have gotten into heated holiday debate about what’s better - canned or fresh cranberry sauce. But did you know that the hardworking people growing the superfruit in our products are 700 family farmers that own our cooperative? They entrust us with what is most precious to them to create new and innovative products that will delight consumers and grow this beloved brand today and into the future.

Team members, farmers, consumers and communities alike--we value what makes us unique and strive to connect our farms to families for a better life by living our values:

Grower Mindset – We embrace our grower-owners innovative spirit and heritage through confidence, learning and focus on the future.Sustainable Results – Guided by purpose, we are focused on delivering results for our grower-owners.Integrity Above All – We are ethical, doing the right thing for our grower-owners, customers, consumers and each otherInclusive Teamwork – We build diverse and inclusive teams that strengthen our cooperative.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.

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