Ag. Packaging Inventory Fiber Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Company Description

Charlie's Produce - Coke Farm Division - Who We Are

Coke Farm is an organic grower/shipper/handler located in San Juan Bautista, California. Farming since 1981, Coke Farm serves as a 100% organic food hub for over 100+ growers in our region. Coke Farm empowers organic farmers while engaging customers to become part of the organic farming movement.

Charlie's Produce is a privately owned wholesale produce company. We are the largest privately owned produce wholesaler on the West Coast, and we are growing. The secret to our success in this industry is PEOPLE! We strive to hire the best and we reward them with a working environment that fosters loyalty, stability, innovation, and growth. Charlie’s was founded in quality, and we are proud that it is still our focus.

With a team of dedicated people who are passionate about food, supply chain, and their community we are looking for like-minded individuals to help further our goal to enhance our communities through quality produce.

What we offer:

• An amazing company culture!
• Medical/Dental/Vision on the first of the month following hire.
• ESOP (Profit Sharing) and 401(k).
• Paid vacations, paid holidays.
• Coverage under State Sick Leave.
• 100% Prepaid College Tuition for employees and their dependents.
• Employee assistance program (EAP).

Additional Compensation Details:

• $85,000 - $115,000 Base Salary
• Yearly review with possibility of increase based on performance and tenure.

Job Description

Position Summary

This role is responsible for planning, purchasing, managing, and optimizing the fiber and packaging materials needed by growers to harvest crops, pack products, and deliver produce to Coke Farm for sale. This role ensures materials are available at the right time, in the right quantities, and at the appropriate cost to support grower needs, operational efficiency, food safety, customer requirements, and company profitability. The ideal candidate is highly analytical, takes ownership of processes, and proactively troubleshoots inventory-related issues.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Inventory Forecasting & Procurement

• Partner with the Grower Procurement Liaison Department to review forecasts, analyze inventory trends, and determine material requirements for boxes, twist ties, rubber bands, corner boards, labels, and related harvest supplies.
• Place orders based on forecasted demand, historical usage trends, and grower packing and delivery needs while monitoring inventory levels to ensure adequate supply and minimize excess inventory.
• Maintain and utilize spreadsheets and formulas to generate accurate order recommendations and coordinate material availability for harvest timing and product delivery schedules.

Inventory Analysis & Auditing

• Conduct inventory audits and reconciliations utilizing reports provided by the Inventory Lead; identify discrepancies, trends, and opportunities for process improvement.
• Develop and maintain analytical tools, reports, and spreadsheets to support inventory management decisions and update weekly supplier inventory reports in the master packaging spreadsheet.

Pricing & Vendor Management

• Negotiate pricing and terms with fiber and packaging suppliers to control costs while maintaining quality and availability standards; build and maintain strong working relationships with vendors.

Inventory Optimization & Cross-Functional Support

• Collaborate with Sales, Grower Procurement, Operations, Marketing, and Food Safety teams to identify aged or excess inventory, support inventory reduction initiatives, and ensure packaging materials meet quality standards and regulatory requirements including SB 540.
• Enter supplier invoices into Shippers to support full visibility of the materials process and coordinate packaging artwork changes with internal teams and external partners.

Process Ownership & Continuous Improvement

• Take full ownership of the fiber materials planning and procurement process from forecasting through final product delivery support; identify and resolve inventory-related issues and recommend process improvements to increase efficiency, accuracy, and profitability.
• Stay informed on new packaging technologies, sustainable materials, and industry developments that may improve cost, quality, or environmental impact.

Work Environment

This position operates in a professional office environment with regular interaction across warehouse, inventory, purchasing, operations, and grower-facing settings. The role may require occasional time in warehouse or field-related environments and may involve adapting to seasonal business demands, harvest schedules, and changing operational priorities.

Qualifications

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree focused in Business, Supply Chain Management, Operations, Logistics, Finance, or related field preferred.
• 3+ years of agriculture inventory planning experience, procurement, purchasing, supply chain, agriculture, packaging, grower support, or related functions.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including formulas, data analysis, and reporting.
• Experience with inventory management systems and forecasting tools preferred.
• Knowledge of agricultural harvest materials, produce packaging, grower operations, or food distribution environments preferred.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and troubleshooting skills.
• Excellent negotiation and vendor management abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Key Competencies

• Analytical Thinking
• Crop Forecasting & Fiber Demand Planning
• Inventory Management
• Procurement & Purchasing
• Negotiation Skills
• Process Improvement
• Attention to Detail
• Problem Solving
• Ownership & Accountability
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Grower Support & Service Orientation
• Financial Acumen
• Data Analysis & Reporting

Additional Information

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

This is a safety-sensitive position.

This employer participates in E-Verify and will provide the Social Security Administration and if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security with information from each new employee's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.

We do not provide H1-B sponsorships at this time.

Please note that the pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be dependent on factors, including but not limited to, the individual’s qualifications, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as physical work location within the state .

For additional protected privacy information please visit: Privacy Policy | Charlie's Produce (charliesproduce.com)

Charlie's Produce is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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