Quality Assurance and Production Assistant

Are you passionate about Quality Assurance and Compliance, and motivated by helping teams stay aligned and meet requirements?

Do you enjoy a hands-on role that involves checking quality while also working with data, refining quality control processes, and leveraging technology to drive smarter, more efficient QC operations?

This role is perfect for someone who enjoys the dynamic of being hands-on in production during the season (September to January) and, in the off-peak period (February to August), focusing on compliance, legislation updates, process improvements, and data reporting.

In this exciting role, you'll support the Production Manager in driving the Quality Assurance and Food Safety Management system at CherryHill by maintaining quality systems, documentation, and compliance records up to date.

You will ensure all operations align with HACCP and HARPS principles, food safety standards, and industry regulations. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone with a strong eye for detail, excellent organisational skills, and a passion for food safety and quality assurance.

• Full-time position based at our Coldstream Packing Facility in the beautiful Yarra Valley, just under an hour's drive from Melbourne CBD
• Work in a supportive close-knit team
• Opportunities for career development

If this sounds like you and you're ready to take your QA career to the next level, we'd love to hear from you

About us

We are a growing family-owned premium cherry growing business, based in Victoria's Yarra Valley, with a wide range of dynamic and exciting business products. We run agri-tourism experiences and supply Australia's supermarkets, independent grocers, and fresh produce markets. We also export our produce around the world.

Guided by our purpose "*_Growing Moments of Joy_*" We foster a team culture where every person is empowered to contribute to our shared success

About the role

This role offers a unique blend of responsibilities across quality assurance, food safety, data collection and reporting, and Work Health & Safety (WHS). With such a broad scope, no two days will be the same.

Reporting to our experienced Production Manager, you'll play a hands-on role in managing and implementing quality assurance and food safety practices, ensuring compliance with relevant standards and legislation. From data mining and reporting insights to the Orchard team, to sharing timely findings with internal stakeholders, your work will directly support operational excellence.

You'll also contribute to WHS initiatives, working closely with HR to maintain compliance while helping champion a strong safety culture.

We're looking for a self-starter with strong organisational skills, attention to detail, and a practical mindset. In this role, you will:

• Support key quality assurance processes and daily production activities
• Drive continuous improvement by contributing ideas and solutions
• Take ownership and make a meaningful impact across compliance and operations

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who enjoys variety, thrives in a fast-paced environment, and wants to play a vital role in shaping safe and efficient practices.

Here's what your day might look like:

• Developing, implementing, and auditing quality assurance procedures across the Packing Shed and Orchards.
• Training and supporting staff on food safety, quality standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Maintaining accurate records of quality documentation, including non-conformances, findings, and audit reports.
• Supporting orchard staff with Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and QA practices.
• Assisting in root cause analysis and problem-solving activities to address quality issues.
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure quality standards are consistently met.
• Providing timely feedback to stakeholders on fruit quality metrics, including post-harvest summaries of orchard performance in the packhouse.

As cherry growers, we know the weather can change everything, including our workload That's why we need someone who thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, especially during our peak season (August to January) when things are buzzing.

From February to July, the role shifts gears, offering more flexibility while still keeping everything running smoothly. If you're adaptable, love variety, and are ready to grow with us, we'd love to hear from you.

Why you should choose us

You will be joining a dedicated team with a fun and hardworking culture who love what we do. Here is what makes us different:

• You'll love the location: We're in Coldstream Victoria in the beautiful Yarra Valley, just under an hour's drive from Melbourne CBD
• You'll be part of an amazing team: A work culture and life balance that values you
• You will work for one of the largest cherry growers in Australia
• You'll enjoy a competitive salary
• Enjoy annual leave loading that lets you make the most of your holidays
• You'll work in a close-knit team, learning alongside our experienced team
• Celebrate the end of the season and Christmas with us Enjoy a paid day filled with fun, food, and festive cheer at our team party
• We value growth and provide opportunities for career development

What we are looking for

We're looking for someone with a hands-on approach to supporting quality assurance and production operations, with a solid understanding of compliance, process improvement, and day-to-day production workflows. The ideal candidate will be confident working across teams, have strong attention to detail, and be comfortable supporting both field and shed environments. They will also demonstrate:

• Excellent organisational and time management skills, with a strong ability to prioritise tasks in a fast-paced QA and production environment.

• Proactive and adaptable self-starter with the flexibility to respond to changing quality and production requirements.

• Experience in agriculture, production or manufacturing environment.

• Analytical mindset with excellent problem-solving skills and a focus on driving improvements.

• Confident using digital systems (ERP systems, data dashboards) to support data capture, identify quality trends, and contribute ideas for continuous improvement.

About you

• You must hold a current Driver's license & own transport

• Hold a HACCP training, Agronomy or Food Safety Qualifications (Highly Regarded)

• You have sharp attention to detail and a strong orientation toward compliance and legislation

• Strong interpersonal skills and stakeholder engagement abilities.

• Must be team oriented and results focused

• Committed and reliable, with the ability to travel to the primary work location in the stunning Yarra Valley area.

Preferred Experience

• 2 + years of quality management experience in agriculture, food manufacturing or FMCG.

• Proven experience in implementation and continuous improvement of HACCP food quality assurance systems and processes (Highly Regarded)

• Be tech-savvy with using ERP systems and with an orientation toward Artificial intelligence to enhance quality control process.

• Proficiency in MS Office, SharePoint, and data analysis tools.

• Proven experience in liaising with and building strong relationships with stakeholders

Ready to join us?

If the above position sounds like you. Please send us your resume and cover letter telling us why you're the Quality Assurance & Production Assistant we've been looking for.

We can't wait to see how your quality assurance and food compliance skills and relationship-building skills will help us grow and thrive.

This is an ongoing full-time position. Applicants must have permanent full work rights in Australia (Permanent Residents or Australian Citizens). Thank you for considering with opportunity and we look forward to hearing from you.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• Work from home

Work Location: In person