Position Summary
The Quality Chief is responsible for overseeing and ensuring compliance with Chiquita's quality standards for imported fruit at ports in the Netherlands. This role leads the quality inspection activities for incoming products, ensuring that fruit quality, temperature management, handling conditions, and operational processes meet company specifications and customer requirements.
The position serves as the primary point of contact for all quality-related matters at Dutch ports and supports the business through proactive monitoring, inspection management, customer engagement, incident investigation, and continuous quality improvement. The Quality Supervisor also manages a team of Quality Inspectors and coordinates with customers, suppliers, shipping lines, terminal operators, and regulatory authorities to minimize quality risks and protect product integrity throughout the supply chain.
Key Responsibilities
Quality & Operations
- Lead and develop the Quality Inspection team.
- Ensure imported fruit meets Chiquita's quality standards and customer requirements.
- Monitor inspection processes, inventory quality, and operational compliance.
- Oversee cold chain integrity, storage conditions, product handling, and loading activities.
Claims & Incident Management
- Investigate quality and food safety incidents and customer claims.
- Conduct inspections and identify root causes of quality issues.
- Prepare reports and recommend corrective actions.
Stakeholder & Regulatory Management
- Act as the main quality contact for port operations.
- Collaborate with customers, suppliers, carriers, and logistics partners to resolve issues.
- Represent the company during audits and ensure compliance with food safety and regulatory requirements.
Reporting & Continuous Improvement
- Analyze quality trends and performance indicators.
- Prepare regular quality reports.
- Support initiatives that improve quality, customer satisfaction, and supply chain performance.
People Management
- Coach, supervise, and develop Quality Inspectors.
- Manage work planning, attendance, and team performance.
- Foster a culture of quality, safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Qualifications and experience
- Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Agriculture, Supply Chain, Quality Management, or a related field.
- Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in quality assurance, quality control, food safety, fresh produce, logistics, or supply chain operations.
- Previous experience managing teams and coordinating inspection activities is preferred.
- Experience in fresh fruit import/export operations, port logistics, or cold chain management is highly desirable.
- Knowledge of food safety standards, quality inspection methodologies, and root cause analysis techniques.
SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES
- Strong leadership and team management skills.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to make sound decisions in a fast-paced operational environment.
- High attention to detail and commitment to quality standards.
- Strong organizational and reporting skills.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and reporting tools.
- Ability to travel within the Netherlands and neighboring countries when required.
- Fluent in English; Dutch and/or Spanish is considered an advantage.
KEY SUCCESS FACTORS
- Consistently achieving compliance with Chiquita quality standards.
- Effective management of quality incidents and customer claims.
- Minimization of quality-related losses throughout the supply chain.
- Strong collaboration with customers and operational partners.
- Maintenance of product integrity and cold chain compliance.
- Development and engagement of the Quality Inspection team.
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