Manager, Ripening Operations

Job Summary

The role is responsible for the daily operations, basic financial performance, and quality execution of assigned banana ripening facilities. This includes direct supervision of ripening employees and accountability for operational performance, inventory accuracy, labor utilization, and service delivery. The position serves as the primary operational contact for assigned programs and works crossfunctionally to ensure consistent execution, timely issue resolution, and high levels of customer satisfaction.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Ripening Operations & Execution

• Lead daily ripening operations to ensure products are processed, conditioned, and released per customer requirements, quality standards, and SOPs.
• Serve as the primary operational contact for assigned programs and warehouserelated issues.
• Set operational goals and mitigate risks to strengthen service reliability, efficiency, and business growth.
• Maintain ripening room readiness and oversee sanitation, preventative maintenance, and equipment functionality, ensuring all activities are documented per program requirements.

Employee Supervision & Workforce Management

• Direct ripening employees through scheduling, task assignments, labor coverage, and daily guidance.
• Drive employee performance by setting goals, coaching, delivering development feedback, and participating in formal evaluations.
• Enforce quality, food safety, and SOP compliance across all ripening activities.
• Foster a safe work environment while managing overtime, productivity, and team development.

Financial, Inventory & Forecasting Accountability

• Track labor and operational costs to support profitability and costcontrol initiatives.
• Verify billing accuracy and support revenue assurance by reviewing operational data and coordinating with Finance.
• Analyze sales, demand trends, and operational data to inform forecasting, fruit allocation, and ripening decisions.
• Ensure inventory accuracy from port arrival through ripening operations and resolve discrepancies with internal and external partners.

Quality Assurance & Continuous Improvement

• Own ripening SOPs and ensure adherence to quality, food safety, and regulatory standards.
• Execute quarterly sanitation and preventative maintenance programs and document completion.
• Investigate quality issues, identify root causes, and implement corrective actions in partnership with internal teams.
• Address customer quality issues and complaints by conducting investigations, driving corrective actions, and following up to confirm resolution.
• Participate in ripening, packaging, and quality trials to advance cost savings, performance improvements, and program optimization.

Customer & Cross-Functional Engagement

• Communicate ripening performance, quality results, and operational updates with customers and QA teams, support customer visits, audits, and retail assessments.
• Collaborate crossfunctionally and manage thirdparty warehouse, logistics, and transportation partners to ensure consistent operational execution.
• Share operational risks, changes, and improvement opportunities with site leadership and peer managers; travel to support other facilities as needed.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, Operations, Business Administration, Food Science, Agriculture, or a related field or equivalent experience required.
• 3 - 5 years of experience in banana ripening, produce operations, quality standards, or related warehouse environment.
• Knowledge of inventory control, labor management, and basic financial analysis.
• ERP system experience (D365) preferred.
• Supervisory experience in an operational setting.
• Ability to lift and move 50lbs and stand for long periods of time.
• Ability to work safely in a warehouse setting or field location, including working around heavy equipment, such as forklifts.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office - Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams
• Excellent communication skills - oral and written
• Bilingual Spanish is a plus

Dole Fresh Fruit Company is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age or any other federally protected class.