Senior Ripener / Ripening Specialist

Senior Ripener / Ripening Specialist – Fresh Produce

Near Tonbridge, Kent

£35,000 per annum

Full-time, Permanent

This role is perfect for someone who is from Fresh Produce and has a background as a QA, QC, Production Line Leader, Shift leader or similar.

About the Role

A leading fresh produce supplier based near Tonbridge is seeking an experienced Senior Ripener to join their state-of-the-art facility.

Working with high-volume, global produce lines year-round, you will lead daily ripening operations, manage stock flow, and use technical expertise to ensure fruit meets exact retail, wholesale, and foodservice quality specifications. This is a key position where your technical decision-making directly impacts quality, yield, and waste reduction.

Key Responsibilities

* Ripening & Stock Management: Plan, manage, and optimise ripening rooms to meet customer volume, spec, and timing requirements.

* Quality Control: Assess fruit condition and maturity using pressure, dry matter, grading, sugar levels, and visual checks. Adjust cycles according to variety, origin, season, and stock age.

* Team Guidance: Act as a senior technical contact on site, guiding and mentoring junior Ripeners, and escalating issues to senior management when necessary.

* Cross-Departmental Communication: Collaborate daily with Production, Technical, Commercial, and Procurement teams regarding stock availability, quality risks, and operational priorities.

* Process & Compliance: Monitor and calibrate equipment, maintain audit-ready BRC, hygiene, and traceability records, and support continuous improvement/yield trials.

Your Skills & Experience

* Industry Experience: Proven practical experience within fresh produce, commercial fruit ripening, or food manufacturing.

* Technical Knowledge: Strong understanding of fruit behaviour across different origins, seasons, and varieties.

* Data & Decision-Making: Confident using data to plan stock flow, manage room utilisation, and minimise waste while maximising shelf life.

* Leadership & Standards: Clear communicator capable of mentoring staff and upholding strict food safety, BRC, and H&S standards.

Benefits

* Competitive salary of £35,000

* Opportunity to work in a newly invested, modern facility

* Long-term career development within a stable, growing industry sector