Specialist Technical Services

Job Responsibilities

• Support customer training in general and specialized handling of produce and specialty items throughout the supply chain, from source to retail.
• Provide produce management support for Chiquita distribution centers (DCs), including fruit ordering, forecasting, inventory control, and processing.
• Provide technical support for custom packing projects, alternative fresh product rollouts, and test initiatives.
• Perform customer ripening-room audits, including publishing comprehensive analyses comparing key measurements to established SOPs, and provide corrective action plans for any operational challenges.
• Effectively fill in as Lead or Support Ripener when assigned to Chiquita or customer ripening operations, including managing inventory and achieving targeted outbound color and pulp temperatures.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in science or agriculture, or equivalent experience in produce, quality, technical sales, field auditing, and banana ripening.
• 1–3 years of experience in produce operations/handling, including an understanding of how produce behaves under varying conditions (e.g., temperature effects).
• Ability to lift produce boxes weighing up to 52 lbs (typically 45 lbs) from 8 inches to 72 inches off the ground, up to 40 times per day. Experience with banana processing/ripening is highly preferred.
• Experience in inventory control and quality assurance is a plus.
• Strong integrity, work ethic, and physical endurance.
• Availability for frequent travel.
• Ability to collaborate effectively and work cross-functionally.
• Strong sense of urgency and follow-through.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Physical Environment

• Work is performed in office environments, warehouses, produce ripening rooms, and cold storage areas.
• Must be able to repeatedly lift up to 45 lbs to heights of up to 80 inches for product inspection.
• May be required to stand for extended periods.
• Ripening rooms are long and narrow with a single front opening; duties may require working in confined spaces.
• Regular use of calculators, keyboards, telephones, and other office equipment.
• Frequent stooping, bending, twisting, lifting, pulling, pushing, and reaching.
• Must be able to accurately distinguish produce color and assess quality.