QA Samples Coordinator (Fruit Ingredients)

About the role

The QA Samples Coordinator is responsible for the daily execution and coordination of sample operations supporting our fruit ingredient divisions. Acting as an essential link between Quality Assurance, Sales, and Global Suppliers, this role ensures customer sample orders for fruit ingredients are processed accurately, packaged securely under proper temperature controls, and dispatched promptly. The role manages incoming supplier samples, fulfills customer sample requests, tracks sample inventory, and ensures all necessary quality documentation accompanies outbound packages.

Responsibilities

• Review incoming sample requests from Sales, verifying product specs, requested quantities, and target delivery dates.
• Ensure 100% of outbound customer samples are paired with accurate Certificates of Analysis (COAs), product specification sheets, and safety data.
• Log and maintain real-time inventory of incoming vendor samples, crop-year reference samples, and customer retains as applicable.
• Monitor freezer, refrigerator, and ambient sample room storage, performing routine quality checks, sample purges, and restocking.
• Maintain a clean, organized laboratory workspace. Calibrate and maintain basic testing tools, and maintain lab supply stock.
• Pack perishable fruit samples using appropriate cold-chain insulation, gel packs, or dry ice based on product sensitivity and transit times.
• Create shipping labels, commercial invoices, and tracking details via courier portals.
• Monitor transit status for time-sensitive or rush shipments and alert internal teams to carrier delays or customs holds.
• Receive, inspect, and log incoming sample shipments from international fruit suppliers.
• Perform routine physical and analytical tests on sample lots as required before sample releases.

Requirements

• High school diploma/GED required with 2+ years of relevant laboratory, quality, food industry, or warehouse/logistics experience.
• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Biology, Chemistry, or Supply Chain preferred.
• Experience working in food manufacturing, ingredient distribution, or agricultural supply chains.

Skills

• High attention to detail regarding product lot numbers, labeling, metric conversions, and technical documentation.
• Comfort working in a food testing lab and performing basic measurements (Brix, pH, weight/volume conversions).
• Proficient with MS Office (Excel, Word, Outlook), basic database entry, and web portals.
• Familiarity with courier shipping portals.
• Basic understanding of food safety principles.
• Driven to meet fast turnaround times for customer sample requests.
• Able to prioritize multiple daily sample requests without compromising quality or safety controls.

About Brothers International Food

Brothers International brings the world's best fruit to its customers. Our Ingredients divisions supply every major food and beverage manufacturer in North America with the fruits from the best growing regions of the world. Our CPG division sells market-leading branded and private label freeze-dried fruits to retailers nationwide.