POSITION OVERVIEW: The North America Quality Manager plays a critical role in protecting and enhancing the quality of our product by ensuring the consistent delivery of premium-quality fruit across the NA supply chain.Reporting directly to the Global Director of Quality, this role serves as the primary regional quality leader for North America, acting as a key liaison between Sourcing (Tropics), Logistics, and NA Markets to support customer requirements, monitor quality trends, resolve issues, and continuously improve quality performance in-market. The NA Quality Manager works in close coordination with Tropical Quality teams and NA Commercial, Operations, and Food Safety partners. This position is based at Chiquita’s U.S. headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:

Serve as the North America quality lead, ensuring effective execution of Chiquita Quality SOPs across NA operations, distribution points, and customer interfaces.

Monitor, analyze, and act on quality performance trends in the NA marketplace, including customer feedback, claims, and quality KPIs.

Support consistent implementation of quality standards throughout the NA supply chain, from receipt through customer delivery.

Act as the primary NA quality liaison with Tropics Quality Managers, Sourcing Operations, Logistics, and Market counterparts to resolve quality issues and drive corrective actions.

Coordinate follow-up actions with Sourcing and Logistics partners to ensure timely and sustainable resolution of quality issues.

Partner closely with Sales, Commercial, and Customer teams in North America to address quality-related customer needs, requirements, and expectations.

Participate in key customer visits across North America to strengthen customer relationships, gain insight into quality expectations, and translate market trends into clear sourcing and operational feedback.

Support responses to customer quality inquiries, audits, or escalations in alignment with Chiquita standards.

Support the deployment, training, and adherence to current Quality SOPs, partnering with global Quality and subject matter experts as updates or changes are implemented.

Manage and coordinate SOP exceptions arising from NA market or customer requests, ensuring appropriate alignment and approval with sourcing, market, and quality decision-makers.

Identify and recommend quality-driven improvements that enhance customer experience, consistency, and profitability.

Contribute to regional continuous improvement initiatives related to quality processes, data, and reporting.

Work closely with Food Safety & Quality leadership (including the corporate Food Safety & Quality organization) to align initiatives, priorities, and governance expectations across North America.

Ensure NA quality activities are aligned with global policies, regulatory requirements, and Chiquita standards.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

Bachelor’s degree in food science, Agriculture, Engineering, Supply Chain, or related field (Master’s preferred).

5 – 8 years of progressive experience in Quality Management, preferably within fresh produce, food manufacturing, or FMCG environments.

Strong knowledge of quality systems, SOP management, and quality performance metrics.

Experience working in global organizations with sourcing and market interfaces.

Familiarity with food safety and regulatory frameworks (e.g., FSMA, GFSI) strongly preferred.

Quality systems execution and problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration and influence

Customer-focused mindset

Data-driven decision making

Clear communication across cultures and regions

Ability to balance standardization with market-specific needs

Willingness and ability to travel up to 50%.

PHYSICAL ENVIRONEMENT:

Most work is performed in a temperature-controlled office environment

Incumbent may sit for long periods of time at desk or computer terminal

Incumbent may use calculators, keyboards, telephone, and other office equipment in the course of normal workday

Stooping, bending, twisting, and reaching may be required in completion of job duties

This position requires satisfactory passing of a drug test in accordance with Florida Statute § 440.102.