Technical Assistant

SUMMARY:
My client, a well established fruit exporter based in Paarl is seeking to employ a Technical Assistant to join their Quality team.  The successful candidate will have a relevant tertiary qualification (MSc) or similar in Food Technology.

POSITION INFO:
Tasks comprise:
General:

• Develop and manage internal technical and due diligence systems as defined by the IFS Quality Management Systems.
• Creating and maintaining a database for technical standards and applicable legislation

• Liaise with customers with regards to their food safety, product quality, labeling, MRL, ethical, sustainability requirements (Citrus, Grapes, Exotics and Vegetables).
• Implementation of these customer requirements per fruit team and communication back to supply base.

• Liaise with DAFF, PPECB, FruitSA, auditing bodies and key role players in order to keep up to date with quality, food safety, ethical legislation and requirements applicable to the industry (Citrus, Grapes, Exotics and Vegetables): MRL requirements, Minimum export standards, Special market protocols and registrations, FBO requirements and registrations, Dispensations, SIZA ethical program, Food Safety standards
• Implementation of these standards and legislation and communication back to supply base.
• Represent the company at industry technical meetings (Citrus, Grapes, Exotics and Vegetables).

• Set supplier approval criteria as per customer and market requirements. Communicate to commercial teams and supply base (Citrus, Grapes, Exotics and Vegetables).
• Assist producers at farm level with interpretation and implementation of customer requirements and Good Agricultural Practices 
• Assist packhouses with interpretation and implementation of customer requirements and food safety systems.

• Liaise with analytical laboratories with regards to accreditation status, scope of analyses and test results.
• Address customer concerns in terms of the use of plant protection products.
• Ensure that MRL sampling procedure is followed by monitoring that samples are drawn and results conform to market and customer requirements. Distribute MRL results to supply base and customers including Indonesia (Citrus, Grapes, Exotics and Vegetables).
• Manage incidences where residue analysis exceeds MRL at farm level or on arrival at customer.
• Communicate to commercial/technical teams for re-testing, re-routing or possible re-call (Citrus, Grapes, Exotics and Vegetables).
• Assemble spray records per farm and variety as required.
• Monitor pesticide applications as per target market requirements (withholding periods, approved chemicals). Distribute to customers on request. Communicate non-conformances to commercial/technical teams for re-routing.
• Perform trend analysis for MRL results to determine active ingredients/growers/variety that requires attention in reducing residue levels as requested by customers
• Ensure that the Gamma and formalin analysis procedure is followed by arranging for the testing of samples and issuing of certificates

• Assist in compiling technical specification book for farm and packhouse use (Citrus).
• Receive, interpret, capture and communicate QC feedback on arrival of fruit (Citrus, Grapes, Exotics and Vegetables)
• Monitor temptale readings and initiate possible shipping claims. Assist the Fin Director in closing out claims. Liaise with relevant parties in the event of temptale queries (Citrus, Grapes, Exotics and Vegetables).

• Management of the company QMS as per IFS Broker standards: implementation and maintenance, internal auditing (including traceability), external auditing, HACCP team member with the responsibility for food safety as required by the the company's IFS system

• Address customer concerns in terms of ethical pratices within the company supply chain.
• Ensure ethical compliance over the entire supply base by communicating market requirements to producers and growers status to customers (Citrus, Grapes, Exotics and Vegetables).
• Follow-up on Sedex and SIZA memberships.
• Follow-up on SIZA and GRASP ethical audit compliance.

• Address customer concerns and requirements in terms of sustainability practices within the company supply chain (Citrus, Grapes, Exotics and Vegetables).
• Assist in implementation of projects identified by the sustainability strategy (including biodiversity, social, water quality, carbon footprint) (Citrus, Grapes, Exotics and Vegetables).