Quality Assurance & Regulatory Director – Fruits

The Quality Assurance & Regulatory Director at Fyffes North America is responsible for leading Quality Assurance, Claims & Complaints, and Regulatory Compliance. This role oversees and maintains internal and external quality standards, policies, and procedures for company produce within the North American territory (US and Canada). The director works with a cross-functional leadership team to ensure compliance with the Standard Operational Procedures and to manage quality control programs. This position encompasses all products imported to the US and Canada, all facilities handling them and all production areas supplying it. The QA&R Director analyzes and writes internal standards and procedures related to the US and Canada regulatory requirements, as well as social and food safety requirements from clients.

Responsibilities

• Quality Management
• Provide leadership, support, and guidance to the team to ensure preventive and corrective actions meet high-quality standards and customer expectations.
• Plan constant training and alignment of all quality team members.
• Analyze data from quality inspections, routine products checking, clients feedback, production areas information, and related facts concerning quality deviations. Provide corresponding guidance and action plans.
• • Plan quality inspection process across all North American ports where the company operates.
• Act as the voice of the market to sourcing countries and vice versa on all quality and food safety – related topics.
• Prepare written reports recapping quality issues, trends, corrective actions, and preventive measures taken.
• Ensure quality inspection data is properly recorded into the designated database and reports are timely issued to related parties.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of experience in agricultural field operations.
• Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, Biological Sciences, or related fields.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in the banana business; experience with other fruits such as pineapples, plantains, tropicals, and exotic bananas is desirable.
• At least 10 years of supervisory experience.
• Experience in quality control operations with understanding of banana ripening processes.