About the Opportunity

The Raspberry Production Specialist plays a pivotal role as the primary liaison between Driscoll’s and contracted raspberry growers. This position is responsible for fostering strong communication channels, addressing and resolving grower challenges, and ensuring the alignment of both parties' goals to drive mutual success. The specialist will actively support growers by providing expert guidance on production issues, gathering and analyzing data related to acreage, cultural practices, forecasting, and yields. Additionally, this role involves collaborating with management on field trials, implementing strategic production improvements, and performing other critical tasks to advance overall production and business objectives.

Responsibilities

Communication and Analysis

• Conduct Raspberry field observations and actively gather feedback from growers
• Challenge and capture individual grower forecasts for the upcoming 5 weeks, assisting in refining their predictions
• Communicate performance metrics by application at both district and ranch levels
• Analyze and interpret both business and field data for actionable insights
• Identify primary drivers of variance to the budget and pinpoint reasons for such variances
• Provide clear visibility on ranch-to-ranch performance and tracking in relation to the budget
• Engage in and contribute to grower meetings, ensuring alignment with the organization's objectives

Production Monitoring and Forecasting

• Engage directly with production fields, fostering a close connection with the growers and the substrate
• Monitor crucial factors affecting commercial production such as pest dynamics, soil conditions, irrigation practices, varietal impacts, and acreage considerations
• Extract industry insights during field trips, enhancing the Production Group's strategic decision-making process
• Develop and maintain the full-season supply outlook at the district level
• Execute, communicate, and monitor reforecasts
• Formulate, update, and convey the 5-week rolling Raspberry forecast for Oxnard

Database Management and Tracking

• Ensure the accuracy of the acre database, updating and refining as necessary
• Track performance metrics in relation to the set budget, providing transparency and accountability

GIS/GPS Mapping

• Use GIS to map and manage the locations of substrate blocks where pots are situated, ensuring accurate geospatial data for production planning and analysis.
• Collect and process field survey data, integrating it into GIS databases for accurate mapping and analysis.

Plant Distribution

• Serve as the key liaison between growers and the nursery, coordinating plant distribution according to the strategic district plan and nursery capacities to ensure smooth and timely delivery
• Manage the plant claim process by addressing grower-reported issues

Candidate Profile

Job Qualifications:

• Bilingual (Spanish and English) is required
• BS degree in agriculture or other horticultural science preferred
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in the field
• Knowledge of Raspberry production is preferred
• PCA license is a plus
• Strong organizational and writing skills is critical
• Good math and analytical skills are critical
• High proficiency with Excel spreadsheets and database systems including the ability to create and work with detailed planning models is expected
• Capacity to be fair, impartial, and diplomatic is essential
• Ability to work and communicate independently and contribute to group processes is critical
• Moderate walking and bending during field evaluation processes and ability to lift 50 lbs. is to be expected
• Maintain a valid CA driver license is required
• Extended hours and flexibility with work schedules to accommodate travel, forecasting and field visits is expected

Compensation & Benefits:
The following information is provided in good faith as a general description of the salary range and benefits for the position posted.  The actual compensation offered to the successful candidate is dependent upon experience, skills, education, work location, internal pay equity, and other objective job-related factors. 
Salary range estimated for this role is: $56,900 to 73,000 USD.
Driscoll’s is committed to a culture of care and offers an attractive benefits package that includes comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, life insurance, and disability coverage for positions working more than 30 hours per week. Other benefits include:  401(k) with employer match, profit-sharing participation, paid sick time, paid vacation, paid personal and family care leave, and a free Employee Assistance Program (EAP).  More detailed information regarding the benefits package, will be shared during the application process.
 

About Driscolls

Driscoll's is the global market leader for fresh strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. With more than 100 years of farming heritage and hundreds of independent growers around the world, Driscoll's is passionate about growing fresh, beautiful and delicious berries. Our values of humility, passion and trustworthiness have guided our mission to delight consumers around the world.

Driscoll's exclusive patented berry varieties are developed through years of research using only natural breeding methods – meaning, no GMOs. From farm-to-table, we focus on delivering a high quality, premium berry experience with our many supply chain partners.

Driscoll's is the trusted brand for Only the Finest Berries™.

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Driscoll's es el proveedor líder en la comercialización de Fresas, Frambuesas, Zarzamoras y Arándanos Azules en el mundo. Con más de 100 años de herencia en agricultura y cientos de productores independiente alrededor del mundo, Driscoll's es una compañía apasionada por cultivar Berries frescas, hermosas y deliciosas. Nuestros valores de humildad, pasión y confianza han guiado nuestra misión de deleitar a los consumidores en el mundo.

Las variedades exclusivas de Driscoll's han sido desarrolladas a través de años de investigación usando sólo métodos de mejoramiento natural. De la granja a la mesa, nos enfocamos en ofrecer una experiencia de alta calidad con apoyo de nuestros socios de la cadena de suministro.

Driscoll's es la marca de confianza de sólo las mejores Berries.