Fresh Produce Agronomist

Dunnes Stores is Ireland's leading retailer positioned at the cutting edge of food and fashion retailing. We have over 152 stores in Ireland, the UK and Spain and are expanding our service and product offer all the time. Our guiding principle is to deliver excellent quality products at competitive prices and we are constantly developing our product offerings. Our Buying Teams are a key element to our continued success and we currently have a vacancy for a Fresh Produce Technical Manager in our Fresh Food Buying offices. This is an excellent opportunity to join a thriving business and highly motivated team. The Fresh Produce Agronomist will have the following responsibilities: Key Responsibilities: QUALITY To develop the Fresh Produce/Horticulture Supply chain to position Dunnes Stores fresh produce as a market leader in the retail sector in Ireland from a quality, consistency viewpoint To develop supply chain at eight critical stages, planning, programming, ordering, supply confirmation, distribution, retail, customer after sales To carry out continious improvment of of supplier quality management working closely with other teams in setting criteria for all fresh produce/Horticulture standards to deliver best in class quality. To maximise quality opportunities for improved sales within the Fresh Produce/Horticulture Department. Maintain constant tracking and analysis of quality information within the supply, distribution and retail, identifying reasons for non-performance and agreeing action plans for improvements. Working with supply base to identify and rectify quality issues and ensure compliance. Develop relationships with our direct growers/Suppliers to ensure that growers are supported in delivering Dunnes Stores quality and legality standards. Create an effective link between the Buying Office and stores to constantly monitor quality of Fresh Produce/Horticulture. Ensure full range availability and stock for stores Carry out effective monitoring and reporting of supply quality criteria for the efficient and effective management of supply base Report all issues regarding quality to Buying Team Monitor wastage in store and implement improvements in supply chain where possible to reduce same Attend pre production and first production of key Fresh Produce lines. Attend event productions for key selling events. Mothers day, Easter, Christmas. Monitor product performace at store and report issues to buying team/ CDC so that improvement can be actioned quickly. On going Grower and packer inspections to ensure standards are being maintained. To supervise depot quality control staff to ensure best practice and quality specification assessments are being carried out according to Dunnes Stores requirements. To provide Fresh Produce/Horticulture knowledge buying team to ensure legality and safety of product purchased. Support of store team with information about Fresh Produce to enable them deal with customer queries and improve customer experience. Support in the delivery of training for Fresh Produce and Horticulture in stores) To communicate with external bodies in relation to food production compliance standards. (Bord Bia)( FSAI)(Organic Bodies)(Department of Agriculture) Work with Dunnes stores brand compliance team to help develop suitable specifications that are fit for purpose. COSTS Constantly work with Buying Team and suppliers to maintain effective control of cost to the business of all fresh produce including sourcing, price and quality specifications To develop the range of fresh produce within Dunnes Stores with the buying team to improve availability, cost and margin To review range and packaging configuration in line with specification on produce to improve competitiveness Requirements: A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in a fresh produce role. Production growing experience preferable Experience in FMCG preferable Degree/ qualification in Commercial Horticulture or similar field Strong communication skills Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with cross functional teams Ability to multi-task and ensure flawless execution and delivery Flexibility to work on and juggle a variety of initiatives Outstanding work ethic and results-oriented Experience in Quality Systems Management preferable Knowledge of internatinal markets and supply chains preferable If this sounds like the job for you, please apply now and tell us why you would be perfect for this challenging and rewarding role! Please submit a covering letter along with your CV. Dunnes Stores is an Equal Opportunities Employer /*generated inline style */