Technical Advisor

About DECCO Postharvest: DECCO, an ADVANTA company, is the global leader in providing postharvest solutions to reduce food waste and enhance the freshness of fresh fruits and vegetables all along the food supply chain. DECCO delivers value every day to packers, shippers, supermarkets and consumers with customized coating, decay control, sanitization and disinfection products, application technology, on-site service and almost 90 years of postharvest expertise. Our 200+ dedicated DECCO employees operate in over 40 countries.
Our purpose is to enable more and better Fresh Food for the world. More. Beautiful. Fresh
OB SUMMARY:
The Technical Advisor provides technical advice/consultation to all stakeholders in the citrus/stone/vegetable (CSV) value chain, including growers, packers, and shippers regarding producing, storing, handling and processing of fruit
and vegetables. This person is part of a team of Technical Advisors in the field leading and coordinating field trials, product & treatment recommendations, fruit and vegetable handling advice, and ensuring application protocols are followed. This person will work closely with Commercial and R&D teams to support strategic agenda initiatives focused on maximizing fruit and vegetable quality.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
Advisor: Responsible for advising stakeholders on the proper use of Decco products focused on protecting fruit
and vegetable quality during the postharvest process. Provide insight into proper handling practices during the storage and shipping of commodities. Utilize existing skills in combination with available resources to provide creative and effective solutions
Technical Expert: Achieve expert status on the known pathogens of fruit and vegetables along with the optimum control methods and products. Continuous improvement of skills and knowledge of postharvest handling practices.
Biological Testing: Prepare and properly utilize fungicide amended PDA plates to monitor pathogen activity and measure pesticide resistance levels. Properly analyze results to make treatment recommendations.
Collaboration: Professional interactions with colleagues and customers, communicate clearly, active listening, incorporating inputs from others, personal responsibility, and respect for diverse and alternative thoughts and ideas. Interact with university and industry experts to know latest trends, upcoming products, and conduct research to support upcoming and ongoing business opportunities.
Innovation: Focus on continuous improvement of products, applications, and handling practices. Seek
opportunities to provide solutions for customer and organizational needs.
Training/Teaching/Presenting: Sharing knowledge of treatment and handling practices with colleagues, customers, and general audiences. Scenarios will range Ranges from 1 on 1 meetings to large group presentations.
Trials/Tests: Coordinate with R&D colleagues and commercial teams to conduct lab testing and field trials with various products on numerous commodities.
REQUIRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, SKILLS:
· Bachelor’s degree in Plant Science, Pathology, Agronomy, or a related field
Minimum 4 years of relevant working experience related to producing, processing, handling, and/or treatment of fruit and vegetables
Experience conducting research and trials on agriculturalcommodities
Computer skills: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other MS Office programs
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Have or are able to obtain Pest Control Advisor’s license from California DPR within 12 months of hire date
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE, SKILLS:
MS, MBA, or PHD in Agriculture or Crop Science related field
Knowledge of pesticides and general use