Job Description

The industry organization, Fresh Produce Exporters Forum, runs a number of initiatives to bring about transformation in the fresh fruit export industry. The FPEF Graduate Placement Program places high caliber graduates in junior commercial, logistics and technical (post-harvest quality management) roles at various South African fruit export companies for one year, potentially leading to long term career opportunities. The aim of this programme is to integrate a growing group of talented black individuals into the commercial and operational heart of the industry.This is your opportunity to enter the dynamic, fast-growing, and competitive world of post-harvest fruit handling, international fruit trade and marketing.A dynamic company in the blueberry export industry and Fresh Produce Exporters Forum (FPEF) member, based in the Western Cape, is offering an opportunity for a driven, educated person to give them exposure as a Technical Intern in the agricultural sector.Purpose of the role
The primary purpose of this role is to provide support to the QC admin function, the compliance team with due diligence admin and the fruit supply team with grower estimate updates. A secondary function will be to support the technical team on ad hoc items, like collecting fruit samples, supporting on set-up of R&D trials, helping with setting up benchmarking and processing the related data.Duties:Fruit Supply & Data Support

• Estimate & Forecast: Attend meetings, update data, and provide feedback on fruit supply changes.
• Climate Impact: Review forecasts and inform the team about potential impacts on fruit supply.
• Data Updates: Assist in updating census information.
• Compliance Admin: Handle MRLS and due diligence planning.

Due Diligence

• Certifications: Liaise with growers for certifications and documentation.
• Monitoring: Track grower submissions and audit reports.
• Documentation: Compile and send supplier approval documents to importers and customers.
• System Updates: Maintain customer due diligence systems.
• Tesco Grower Matrix: Identify Tesco growers.

Spray Application & Monitoring

• Records: Request and check spray application records.
• Compliance: Ensure information meets approved lists and submit to customers.

Compliance Coordination

• MRL & Microbial: Request, track, and summarize results, report exceedances, and release compliant varieties.
• Projects: Assist with ongoing compliance projects.

QC Administration Support

• Data Management: Save reports, compose rejection emails, and capture rejection details.
• Claims Support: Gather QC data for claims investigations.
• Customer Accounts: Manage QC capture at the CPT depot.

QC Capture (CPT Depot)

• Inspections: Conduct QC inspections, capture data, and report on quality.
• Support: Assist QC team with visits to growers and packhouses.

Fruit Benchmarking

• Sample Collection: Collect and sort samples, set up benchmarking, and process data for reports.

R&D Trial Support

• Trial Preparation: Support R&D manager with trials, prepare samples, analyze fruit, and set up trials.
• Assigned Trial: Manage one assigned trial under guidance.

Intern requirements:

• Degree: Bachelor of Science degree: Horticulture, Agronomy and Food Science
• Driver's license and own transport
• Fruit industry knowledge
• MS Excel and Word and Outlook
• Problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Team player
• Planning and organisational
• Time management
• Applicants must be BEE SA citizens, under the age of 30.

Remuneration: The respective organisation undertakes to provide mentorship and market-related remuneration as applicable to interns.Start date: 1 Feb 2025

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