Job Description

Our Values and Behaviours

We believe in working collaboratively to achieve our Ways of Working (WOWs) as part of our culture and values.

Job Objectives and Responsibilities

To ensure all incoming fruit meets Edward Vinson's quality, safety, and traceability standards before entering the packing process. The role supports operational efficiency, product integrity, and customer satisfaction through accurate inspections, data recording, and collaboration with internal teams.

Main Duties

Inspect incoming strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries for quality, temperature, and defects

Assess incoming raw material against customer specifications and known defect criteria

Inspect each pallet on arrival, including box quantity, variety, pack type, box type, and punnet format

Create pallet ID labels and apply them to each pallet

Measure and record brix, pressure, and weight data in internal systems

Determine correct sort code and type of job required for each pallet

Reassess sort codes for stock held longer than expected and notify suppliers of any changes

Collect shelf-life samples and conduct assessments at defined intervals

Record inspection and shelf-life data accurately in internal systems

Monitor hygiene and food safety standards in the intake area

Communicate with growers, hauliers, and internal teams regarding quality concerns

Segregate non-conforming stock to prevent contamination

Process and fulfil daily check sheets and upload shelf-life probation results

Support the quality team in the production area when required

Provide QC intake team with necessary support to identify fruit quality challenges

Ensure sort card numbers are correctly assigned for light, heavy, or straight packs

Escalate any raw material requiring extra work to the management team immediately

Work independently and make decisions in the absence of management

Reassess fruit quality on the line and adjust sort codes if needed

Attend daily production meetings to update teams on upcoming quality challenges

Ensure all quality issues are communicated clearly to the production team

Manage QC rota to ensure adequate staffing across all 7 working days

Uphold Health & Safety, Food Safety, and hygiene policies within the QC team

Other Role Requirements

Flexibility to adapt to changing start/finish times based on fruit intake volumes

Willingness to support additional duties when operational needs shift

Standard working

Key Accountabilities

Guarantee the quality and safety of all incoming fruit prior to packing

Maintain accurate records of inspections and shelf-life assessments

Ensure traceability and correct sort coding of all raw materials

Communicate effectively with internal teams, growers, and hauliers

Support production efficiency by identifying and escalating quality issues

Uphold company standards in hygiene, food safety, and health & safety

Person Specification and Skills Requirements

Strong attention to detail and observational skills

Ability to work independently and make sound decisions under pressure

Excellent communication skills for liaising with internal and external stakeholders

Proficient in using internal systems for data entry and reporting

Knowledge of fruit quality standards and defect criteria

Ability to interpret customer specifications and translate them into actionable tasks

Comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment

Team-oriented with a proactive approach to problem-solving

Physically fit to handle manual inspection tasks and pallet checks

Role Requirements and Compliance

Flexibility to adapt to changing start/finish times based on fruit intake volumes

Willingness to support additional duties when operational needs shift

Availability to work across a 7-day rota, including weekends

Commitment to maintaining high standards of hygiene and safety

Participation in daily production meetings and team briefings

Adherence to Edward Vinson's Health & Safety, Food Safety, and hygiene policies

Compliance with traceability and quality control procedures

Accurate and timely documentation of all inspections and assessments

Immediate escalation of non-conforming stock or safety concerns

Support internal audits and external inspections as required

Edward Vinson Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

All employees are expected to contribute to the achievement of company-wide KPIs:

No RIDDORs; 10% YOY reduction in accident frequency; 100% accident investigation and reporting

No major non-conformances during customer audits

Customer service level maintained


This job description is a summary of the main requirements of the role but is not exhaustive. It may be reviewed and/or updated regularly in discussion with the post holder or as company focus/needs change.