Local Sales & Production Lead

Local Sales & Production Lead

Consolidated Fruit Packers

Star Produce Ltd. (The Star Group)

Osoyoos, BC

Status: Permanent Full Time, Salary

Salary Range: $50,000-$65,000/year

Consolidated Fruit Packers (CFP) has been a leader in the Canadian fresh fruit industry since 1993. Supplying premium Okanagan valley apples, cherries, blueberries, and more to satisfied consumers. With over 60 years of combined experience and the backing of The Star Group, we bring new varieties and fresh approaches to meet the needs of our customers worldwide.

Focus

Our Osoyoos packing facility receives fruit (including apples, cherries, and stone fruit) in bulk from Okanagan-based growers and sorts it for quality and size before packaging it for shipment to our domestic customers. This role is primarily responsible for sales of these locally-grown commodities to customers who focus on farmers markets and it is responsible for ensuring production tasks are completed. This is an excellent role for the individual who wants to leverage their entry-level sales and production skills in an agile, customer-oriented, and team-oriented environment. Developing a depth and breadth of understanding about our commodities, our customers’ needs, our operations, and our service levels are vital parts of our success. Supporting employees, supervisors, and managers by ensuring tasks are completed in a safe and timely manner are important parts of ensuring the quality of produce for our customers.

Key Accountabilities:

Work as part of our Sales team and concentrate on the local, Okanagan-based area:

• Build and develop relationships with the current customer base and the current grower base and source new customers and new growers by calling on them daily through phone calls, messaging, email, and in-person visits
• Order entry
• Track customers’ purchasing trends by month and by commodity (including varietal and packaging) by reviewing cases and sales reports
• Work with internal and/or external customers to troubleshoot issues that may occur with orders, products, and customers
• Develop strong knowledge and expertise in local, Okanagan-grown product by working with growers and our field service team
• Evaluate incoming fruit for quality and Local Sales opportunities
• Ensure accuracy of invoicing, inventory, and other related processes by working with internal systems and procedures and liaising with internal departments as necessary

Work as part of our Operations team as a Production Lead:

• Efficient, clean, organized, and safe set-up of the production line to Improve productivity and efficiency by:

-Assisting production line employees in a hands-on manner, providing coaching and training on job tasks

-Ensuring packing supplies (boxes, shakers, packaging) are prepared and staged throughout the packing line prior to start-up

-Ensuring production line employees are following safe work procedures

-Acting as a floater on the packing line, performing packer, sorter, box filler tasks as needed

• Ensure fruit is packed to required quality specifications and food safety standards by:

-Monitoring and ensuring quality control checks are done at regular intervals on the packing line and on packed product and completing all related documentation

-Ensuring all employees on the packing line are following quality specifications

• Identify, communicate, troubleshoot and/or escalate receiving and/or quality issues to Shipping and Receiving Supervisor and/or Operations Manager
• Ensure compliance with all legislative and organizational policies and procedures, including Occupational Health and Safety and Food Safety requirements
• Participate in inventory counts
• Report any maintenance and safety issues to Operations Supervisor
• Contribute to continuous improvement in systems and procedures
• Completion of other responsibilities as assigned

Key Attributes and Skills

• Excellent communication (verbal, written, and listening) and interpersonal skills
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic, growing, fast-paced, and diverse environment
• Strong negotiating skills
• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office, and the ability to learn in-house software programs
• In-depth knowledge of agriculture, packing facility practices, and/or marketplace conditions is an asset
• Supervisory and training skills are assets
• Knowledge of a second language is an asset
• Quality orientation
• Attention to detail, organizational
• Problem solving, teamwork
• Sales ability, negotiation, persuasiveness
• Integrity and work ethic, adaptability, initiative
• Time management, collaboration, mentoring/teaching
• Leadership
• Safety awareness

Education and Experience

• Completion of post-secondary education (or equivalent) in business or agriculture-related field is an asset
• Intermediate-level knowledge of sales, quality control, and operations functions, as well as cross-functional exposure to other business operations (accounting, logistics, inventory management)
• Minimum of three years of progressively increasing responsibilities in a related field
• Experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365, ERP, and/or CRM systems is an asset
• Valid Class 5 drivers license
• Occupational Health and Safety training and Food Safety training is an asset

Working Conditions

Work is conducted indoors at a fruit packing plant environment and outdoors at growers’ and/or customers’ sites and can be subject to extreme temperature conditions. Hours may be irregular and in excess of 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week. Plant operating hours are dependent on crop, production, and shipping needs, with extended hours and seven-day-a-week operations typical during peak harvest months (i.e. June through October).To meet the requirements of the business, there are times the work involves electronic correspondence, telephone calls, and site visits outside ordinary business hours, including weekends and holidays. Reimbursement provided for use of personal vehicle for business purposes, pursuant to company expense policy.

Physical Requirements

• Manual dexterity required to use desktop computer and peripherals
• Frequent standing and walking, including climbing stairs
• Overtime as required
• Frequent lifting, reaching, pushing, pulling, stacking, and carrying of up to 25 kilograms (50 pounds)
• Occasional travel within the Okanagan may be required

Why Us?

• Competitive pay and benefits
• Paid Training
• Respect for People
• Quality Leadership
• Team Atmosphere

How to Apply

Please submit your resume (in PDF Form) in confidence. While we sincerely appreciate all applications, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Salary: $50,000.00-$65,000.00 per year

Work Location: In person