Leading cool chain management activity, including stock monitoring and supporting European packhouses through the season.
Ensuring cold chain integrity across truck, charter vessel and container transport movements.
Developing and managing the Long-Term Storage trial programme across Europe.
Driving execution of the Smart Monitoring Storage Library programme across France, Italy and Greece.
Coordinating storage trial resources with internal teams and external partners across key European locations.
Partnering with Innovation and Global Technical teams to develop future storage trials that improve pack-out, storage duration and fruit quality.
Identifying, investigating and trialling new post-harvest technologies in collaboration with universities, suppliers, industry contacts and Zespri technical teams.
Building capability with supply partners, laboratories and packhouse teams to lift post-harvest performance.
Analysing and reporting trial outcomes in a structured, searchable format, including annual reviews and end-of-season performance analysis.
Managing purchase orders and invoice processing for the Technical Operations team, ensuring accuracy, compliance and timely approval.
Requirements
Fluency in Italian and English; French would be advantageous.
The ability to coach, influence and build capability with suppliers, partners and packhouse technical teams.
3-5 years' experience in post-harvest operations.
Knowledge of kiwifruit production systems, pre- and post-harvest processes, cold store operations and inventory management.
Strong analytical capability, with the ability to interpret data,



identify trends and understand whole-system interdependencies.
A clean driving licence and flexibility to travel within Italy, across Europe and internationally as required.
Strong planning, organising, writing and reporting skills.
A degree in Applied Sciences, Biological Sciences or equivalent experience.
Flexibility around working hours, particularly during the main season from September to December, including some weekend work and out-of-hours accessibility when required.
Core Competencies
Demonstrates expertise in cold chain management, post-harvest operations, and inventory management, with strong analytical skills to interpret data and improve storage processes. Proficient in coaching and building capability with suppliers and technical teams while ensuring compliance and accuracy in operations.
Highest-signal resume keywords
Cold Chain Management
Post-Harvest Operations
Inventory Management
Analytical Capability
Fluency in Italian and English
ATS Optimization Keywords
Hard Skills
Kiwifruit Production Systems
Pre-Harvest Processes
Post-Harvest Processes
Cold Store Operations
Data Analysis
Reporting Skills
Trial Management
Stock Monitoring
Purchase Order Management
Invoice Processing
Soft Skills
Coaching
Influencing
Building Capability
Planning
Organizing
Certifications & Qualifications
Degree in Applied Sciences
Degree in Biological Sciences
Industry Keywords
Cold Chain Integrity
Smart Monitoring Storage Library
Post-Harvest Technologies
Supply Chain Management
European Packhouses
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📌 Technical Operations Lead (Bologna)
🏢 Jobtailor
📍 Bologna