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Form of workYou spend more than half of your waking hours working. Make these precious, fleeting moments matter by working for an organization and a cause you can believe in.
Western Growers exists for one reason only: to ensure the future viability of its members - the hard-working, salt of the earth farmers who grow the fruits, vegetables and tree nuts that feed our nation and nourish our bodies. But their way of life, their ability to pass their multi-generational farms and family legacies on to their children and grandchildren, is being jeopardized by a host of threats, many of them beyond their control. They face a growing litany of laws and regulations that make it increasingly difficult and expensive to do business.
Our members depend on us to help them remain competitive and profitable in spite of these trying circumstances, which we do by fighting - heart and soul - for them every single day. We passionately advocate for them in the halls of Congress and on the steps of the state capitol. We actively facilitate the advancement of technology designed to help them become more efficient and less dependent on diminishing resources. We diligently provide health insurance to their farm workers, as well as other insurance solutions tailored to the unique business. We do all of this, and more, from a position of leadership in the agriculture industry, which requires a team of intelligent, inquisitive and innovative individuals sold out for our common purpose.
Compensation: $66,839- $91,890 with a rich benefits package that includes profit-sharing.
Job Description Summary
Western Growers exists for one reason only: to ensure the future viability of its members - the hard-working, salt of the earth farmers who grow the fruits, vegetables and tree nuts that feed our nation and nourish our bodies. But their way of life, their ability to pass their multi-generational farms and family legacies on to their children and grandchildren, is being jeopardized by a host of threats, many of them beyond their control. They face a growing litany of laws and regulations that make it increasingly difficult and expensive to do business.
Our members depend on us to help them remain competitive and profitable in spite of these trying circumstances, which we do by fighting - heart and soul - for them every single day. We passionately advocate for them in the halls of Congress and on the steps of the state capitol. We actively facilitate the advancement of technology designed to help them become more efficient and less dependent on diminishing resources. We diligently provide health insurance to their farm workers, as well as other insurance solutions tailored to the unique business. We do all of this, and more, from a position of leadership in the agriculture industry, which requires a team of intelligent, inquisitive and innovative individuals sold out for our common purpose.
Compensation: $66,839- $91,890 with a rich benefits package that includes profit-sharing.
Job Description Summary
The position reports directly to the Assistant Vice President (AVP), Science, and is responsible for providing strategic support and execution of Food Safety and technical resources. This includes planning, creating, and managing best practice standards, regulatory compliance resources, and outreach and training materials that support members in their response to current and emerging Food Safety challenges. The incumbent is responsible for leading, facilitating, and executing specific projects and programs, including member engagement in Food Safety data-sharing and standards for select commodities. The incumbent may be asked to represent Western Growers (WG) at scientific or technical conferences and support Western Grower Science team activities.
QUALIFICATIONS- Bachelor's or master's degree in food science, agricultural or business-related discipline, with five (5) years' experience in a Food Safety management position, preferred.
- Intermediate familiarity with the produce industry, Food Safety issues, andand regulations.
- Excellent analytical skills led with superior verbal and written communication to produce well- structured and dynamic written collateral, including articles, reports, presentations, andbriefings.
- Highly self-motivated and able to take initiative and complete tasks without directsupervision.
- Ability to handle multiple ongoing projects in a fast-paced environment and prioritize.
- Strong time management, planning, and organization skills; effectively prioritizing assignments, changing priorities, and meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- A basic understanding of marketing and communicationstrategies.
- Ability to seek proactive solutions to difficult situations and make recommendations on sensitive, confidential matters.
- Ability to plan and coordinate events and training logistics.
- Customer service-oriented, able to respond to WG members' requests in a timely manner.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office, Salesforce, and Zoom products, with the ability to quickly adapt to using new programs.
- Ability to translate complex technical and regulatory topics into practicalinformation.
- Grant writing experience is a
- Internet access provided by a cable or fiber provider with 40 MB download and 10 MB upload
- Home router with wired Ethernet (wireless connections and hotspots are not permitted).
- A designated room for your office or steps taken to protect company information (e.g., facing computer towards wall, etc.)
- A functioning smoke detector, fire extinguisher, and first aid kit on
- Verifiable, clean DMV record and the ability to travel to various locations throughout the S. (mainly California and Arizona) up to 20% of the time.
Food Safety and Technical Resources
- Provide day-to-day technical support and guidance to Western Growers members Food Safety teams (e.g., consulting, and program development).
- Develop and update guidance documents, commodity-specific guidelines, technical publications, white papers, and one-pagers with direction from the WG Science team and Subject Matter Experts, including managing the stakeholder/member input.
- Develop Food Safety training resources and social media materials in coordination with the WG Science team and Subject Matter Experts, including managing the stakeholder/member input.
- Consult with member companies and provide policy guidance and best practices.
- Support membership in their development of a comprehensive Food Safety program.
- Conduct online and in-person presentations regarding Food Safety standards and resources.
- Manage Western Growers' efforts to enhance commodity-specific Food Safety guidelines such as the Western Growers amendment process related to the Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement (LGMA) approved guidelines,
- Create, promote, and disseminate WG's Science services and member resources to appropriate audiences in coordination with the WG's Membership and Marketing staff.
- Analyze member feedback to identify needs, potential services and improve WG Science's team collateral on the WG's website and member portals.
- Work with the AVP, Science, to manage action items from projects and meetings from different member committees, such as the Food Safety Advisory Subcommittee and Data Governance
- Examine and ensure consistent communication from WG's Science in all WG collateral publications, Food Safety, and technical resources, including the GreenLink Newsletter.
Science Department Operations
- Analyze Food Safety trends and metrics in partnership with other membership and advocacy groups to develop solutions, programs, and policies.
- Work with member companies to advance their operational Food Safety policies so they remain up to date and are compliant with all federal, state, and local laws/ordinances.
- Work with member companies to ensure changes to Food Safety advancements are communicated timely and accurately.
- Conduct research on emerging science, new technologies, or other technical information, compile data, and provide periodic project and program reports to support the Western Grower's Science team as requested by the AVP, Science.
- Lead the drafting of Food Safety technical and policy guidance documents, white papers, comments, and training materials and manage stakeholder/member input process to finalize documents.
- Develop new Food Safety programs, regulatory compliance resources, informational offerings, and the maintenance of current programs.
- Advance the successful deployment of Food Safety programs, training, and educational efforts (i.e., webinars, in-person workshops, and on-demand training), including the coordination of training and event logistics.
- Create and maintain Science collateral and coordinate updates on internal and external websites, including the WG's Science pages, member portal, and the leafygreenguidance.com website.
- When appropriate or directed, contact customers/members to respond to inquiries (generated through website inquiries, phone calls, or emails), investigate needs, and follow up on communications with the Science team.
Data Services Management
- Work with WG Science staff on the strategic development, implementation of programs, and member engagement in the Western Growers data platform (GreenLink).
- Oversee member engagement with GreenLink, leading adjustments to procedures and platform enhancements to address member needs.
- Track and maintain a priority list of improvements in functionality, accessibility, , to ensure continuous improvement of GreenLink. functional and analytic tools.
- Facilitate strategic engagement of Subject Matter Experts in platform development and data
- Assure data standards are maintained, analyses occur as per recommendations, and manage the support needs for the Data Governance and Stakeholder committees.
- Develop and maintain the GreenLink newsletter and other communications for platform
- Execute platform demos and interact with prospective or new association members interested in data science services and in engaging with GreenLink.
Other
- Utilize all capabilities to satisfy one mission - to enhance the competitiveness and profitability of our members. Do everything possible to help members succeed by being curious and striving to understand what others are trying to achieve, planning, and executing work helpfully and collaboratively. Be willing to adjust efforts to ensure that work and attitude are helpful to others, be self-accountable, create a positive impact, and be diligent in delivering results.
- Maintain internet speed of 40 MB download and 10 MB upload and router with wired
- Maintain a HIPAA-compliant workstation and utilize appropriate security techniques to ensure HIPAA- required protection of all confidential/protected client data.
- Maintain and service safety equipment (e.g., smoke detector, fire extinguisher, first aid kit).
- Maintain a clean DMV record and the ability to travel to locations throughout the S. (mainly California and Arizona) up to 10% of the time.
- All other duties as
The physical demands and work environment described here represent those that an employee must meet to successfully perform this job's essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate with others. The employee frequently is required to travel to both indoor and outdoor areas that can vary in exposure and temperature. The employee is frequently required to operate a motor vehicle, use objects, tools, or controls, and/or required to lift up to 50lbs. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
