Quality Control Inspector

**Quality Control Inspector - Job Description**

**Position Overview**

The **Quality Control Inspector** is responsible for monitoring and maintaining quality standards across all stages of kiwifruit orchard management. This includes ensuring that all produce meets **industry benchmarks, Zespri GlobalGAP standards, and market export requirements.** The role requires conducting thorough inspections, identifying quality deviations, implementing corrective actions, and working closely with the Orchard Manager, Pest & Disease Control Specialist, and Harvesting Team to ensure premium fruit quality.

This position reports to the **Orchard Manager** and plays a key role in **ensuring compliance with all food safety, biosecurity, and quality assurance protocols**.

**Key Responsibilities**

**1. Quality Inspection & Monitoring**
- Conduct **regular orchard inspections** to assess fruit quality, vine health, and overall orchard conditions.
- Perform **pre-harvest, harvest, and post-harvest assessments** to check for fruit size, color, sugar content (Brix), shape, and skin defects.
- Identify **quality deviations such as sunburn, wind rub, pest damage, or fungal infections**.
- Work closely with **Pest & Disease Control Specialist** to detect and mitigate quality-impacting infestations and diseases.
- Monitor **packhouse and storage quality controls** to ensure kiwifruit is handled and stored according to industry standards.

**2. Compliance & Industry Standards**
- Ensure strict compliance with **Zespri GlobalGAP, NZ Food Safety Regulations, and Biosecurity New Zealand standards**.
- Maintain **documentation and reports** for all quality control activities for audit and compliance purposes.
- Implement **corrective actions** to ensure fruit meets local and international market standards.
- Conduct **internal quality audits** and prepare for external inspections by regulatory bodies.

**3. Harvest & Post-Harvest Quality Management**
- Inspect **fruit bins and pallets** before dispatch to packhouses, ensuring no substandard fruit is included.
- Work with harvesting teams to **improve fruit handling techniques** to minimize bruising and physical damage.
- Supervise **sorting and grading** procedures in line with packhouse and export standards.
- Ensure adherence to **cool chain management protocols** from orchard to storage facilities.

**4. Data Collection & Reporting**
- Maintain **detailed records of inspections, defects, and corrective actions taken**.
- Analyze data on **fruit quality trends, identifying patterns and areas for improvement**.
- Submit **weekly reports** to the Orchard Manager on orchard quality status.
- Provide **feedback and training** to orchard workers and supervisors to enhance quality control awareness.

**5. Training & Process Improvement**
- Train orchard staff on **quality control procedures, fruit handling, and compliance requirements**.
- Develop and implement **quality improvement strategies** based on data analysis and industry best practices.
- Keep up-to-date with **new technologies, quality standards, and best practices in kiwifruit production**.

**Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)**
- **Fruit Quality Compliance** - Ensure that **98% of harvested fruit meets Zespri GlobalGAP standards**.
- **Defect Reduction** - Reduce quality defects such as **sunburn, bruising, and pest damage by 15% annually**.
- **Compliance Accuracy** - Maintain **100% compliance** with food safety and export quality regulations.
- **Inspection Timeliness** - Conduct **quality inspections on 100% of harvested fruit bins before dispatch**.
- **Training & Development** - Conduct **at least 2 quality training sessions per year** for orchard workers.
- **Reporting & Documentation** - Ensure **100% completion of inspection reports and compliance logs**.
- **Packhouse Rejections** - Maintain packhouse rejection rates below **5% per season**.
- **Corrective Actions** - Implement and track the effectiveness of **all corrective actions within 7 days** of quality deviations.
- **Customer Satisfaction** - Ensure that **100% of fruit meets buyer and exporter specifications**.
- **Audit Readiness** - Ensure orchard is **100% audit-ready at all times** for external quality inspections.

**Qualifications & Experience**
- **Degree/Diploma in Agriculture/Horticulture/Business/Commerce**(or similar), OR a minimum of **3 experience in quality control** (preferably in agriculture/horticulture).
- Experience in **data analysis, reporting, and quality improvement initiatives**.
- Excellent attention to detail.
- Strong leadership and communication skills.

**Reporting Structure**
- **Reports to**: Orchard Manager
- **Works closely with**:

- Pest & Disease Control Specialist
- Orchard Supervisor
- Agronomist
- Harvesting Team

Employment Type: Full Time (Permanent)

Minimum Hours per week - 30

Hourly Rate: $25/hour

Location: Waikato Region

**Job Types**: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: $25.00 per hour

Expected hours: 30 - 40 per we