Specialist Ripening

Category/Area of Expertise: Food Quality Assurance & Safety
Job Requisition: 550280
Address: USA-MA-Quincy-1385 Hancock Street
Store Code: Quality Assurance (5157496)
Ahold Delhaize USA, a division of global food retailer Ahold Delhaize, is part of the U.S. family of brands, which includes five leading omnichannel grocery brands - Food Lion, Giant Food, The GIANT Company, Hannaford and Stop & Shop. Our associates support the brands with a wide range of services, including Finance, Legal, Sustainability, Commercial, Digital and E-commerce, Technology and more.
The purpose of the position is to conduct detailed product safety and quality inspections of perishable food products delivered to our distribution centers. The primary purpose of this position is to assure that only fresh wholesome products which meet our food safety & quality standards are received into the distribution center and maintained through distribution to retail supporting our mission to provide our customers with wholesome, fresh and high quality products. In addition, this position supports regulatory compliance requirements specific to Seafood HACCP and FDA's Food Safety Modernization Act.
Our flexible/ hybrid work schedule includes 3 in-person days at one of our core locations and 2 remote days. Our core office locations include Salisbury, NC , Chicago, IL, Quincy, MA, Carlisle, PA, Scarborough, ME, Hyattsville, MD and Mauldin, SC.
Duties and Responsibilities:

• Perform hands-on and detailed inspections of inbound deliveries of multiple commodities delivered to ensure compliance with federal, state, local and company requirements for quality, condition, wholesomeness, package integrity, temperature, expiration or pack dates, proper counts, weights, and sizes.
• Maintain up to date knowledge of procurement specifications, FDA Food Code, FDA, USDA, state and local regulations.
• Conduct detailed produce quality evaluations on key focus items verifying the grade, brix, firmness, color, condition and eating quality and report results to commodity buyers and merchandisers.
• Conduct Seafood HACCP inspections and accurately complete all required records in accordance with the Seafood HACCP Plan.
• Conduct ripening of bananas to assure quality fruit is shipped to the stores. Ensure all aspects of this program are performed to company standards within the distribution center. Communicate banana ripening results to buyers and key associates as needed and drive continuous improvement in the program.
• Respond to alarm situations and ripening issues as needed to evaluate and determine disposition of fruit.
• Manage daily fruit inventory from receiving to shipping.
• Daily QA inspection of all inbound and outbound bananas, and other commodities that would require processing.
• Daily store order maintenance
• Maintain and manage two color ripening program
• Coordinate weather related allocations
• Resolve transportation issues between brand transportation and the vendor, subsequent ripening schedule adjustments as needed
• Forecast all orders for conventional, organic and varietal bananas
• Execute all buying duties for conventional, organic and varietal bananas within FoodLink buyers application.
• Coordinate resolution to purchase order billing issues.
• Purchase ethylene gas for ripening
• Approximate time split 45-60% ripening duties 55-40 % QA Inspection. (% will vary by season)
• Conduct regular inspections of banana ripening rooms to ensure they are maintained and cleaned in accordance with company standards.
• Conduct daily surveillance and aged inventory inspections of produce storage coolers to assure product is rotated correctly and is being shipped to the stores in a timely manner so as to maintain freshness for the customer.
• Conduct daily code date inspections of other commodities to ensure products are properly rotated and shipped to stores within company remaining shelf life standards.
• Conduct daily preventative controls monitoring records/checklists for effective monitoring of critical control points, preventative controls and prerequisite programs. Properly report findings and initiate corrective actions as required.
• Work with category and commodity buyers to enforce quality specifications covering all incoming products.
• Provide commodity buyers with information related to quality levels of incoming products.
• Work with commodity buyers to ensure proper disposition of products refused for quality issues.
• Ensure commodity buyers are made aware of any problems having an adverse effect on product quality and are involved in proper disposition of suspected products.
• Monitor and investigate store complaints of poor quality. Initiate immediate corrective actions, identify root cause(s) and report to distribution and commodity teams as appropriate.
• Act as a liaison between distribution and the commodities teams.
• Be a resource to our business partners and suppliers.
• Maintain and observe good/safe working practices as they pertain to OSHA guidelines. Immediately report unsafe conditions/working practices to management and assist in the implementation of corrective actions.

Qualifications:

• High school diploma/equivalent
• Self-motivated and able to function with minimal supervision, yet work within a team environment.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Have experience as a produce, meat or seafood manager or produce receiving associate
• Knowledgeable of USDA Standards, Rules and Regulations and have the ability to identify certain species, diseases, varieties and defects and determine their severity as it relates to accepting or rejecting product at delivery.
• Familiar with Federal , State and Local regulatory requirements
• Must be available to work shifts which may include nights and weekends.
• Ability to complete Food Protection Manager Certification & Seafood HACCP Certificaiton Training.
• Advanced knowledge of USDA Standards of all produce commodities
• Three to five years as produce manager, produce distribution or equivalent produce experience
• Food Protection Manager Certification
• Good Computer Skills including proficiency with Offlice applications
• Ability to multi-task
• Good Written and Verbal communcation skills
• Team Player
• Ability to stand for long periods of time
• Ability to work in a refrigerated environmnet with appropriate personal protective equipment
• Ability to use inspection tools to conduct
• Ability to lift product weighing up to 100lbs

IL/MA/MD/NY Salary Range: $72,880 - $109,320
Actual compensation offered to a candidate may vary based on their unique qualifications and experience, internal equity, and market conditions. Final compensation decisions will be made in accordance with company policies and applicable laws.
At Ahold Delhaize USA, we provide services to one of the largest portfolios of grocery companies in the nation, and we're actively seeking top talent.
Our team shares a common motivation to drive change, take ownership and enable our brands to better care for their customers. We thrive on supporting great local grocery brands and their strategies.
Our associates are the heartbeat of our organization. We are committed to offering a welcoming work environment where all associates can succeed and thrive. Guided by our values of courage, care, teamwork, integrity (and even a little humor), we are dedicated to being a great place to work.
We believe in collaboration, curiosity, and continuous learning in all that we think, create and do. While building a culture where personal and professional growth are just as important as business growth, we invest in our people, empowering them to learn, grow and deliver at all levels of the business.