Quality & Operations Associate

Job Title: Quality & Operations Associate

Location: Doral, Florida

Department: Warehouse Operations

Reports To: Associate Director, Warehouse & 3PL Operations / Regulatory & Trade Operations Manager

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt (Hourly)

The Quality & Operations Associate is responsible for supporting food quality and compliance activities within the Doral warehouse operation as the primary function, while providing operational backup support to the Regulatory & Trade Operations Manager as needed based on availability and workload volume.

This is an entry-level position designed for candidates with a foundational interest in food quality, warehouse operations, or export documentation. The role offers a growth path toward expanded responsibilities in regulatory compliance and trade operations as the associate develops experience and proficiency.

The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, organized, bilingual (English/Spanish), and comfortable working in both a warehouse and administrative environment.

Key Responsibilities:

Quality Control

• Perform routine inspections of inbound, stored, repacked, and outbound food products.

• Verify product condition, packaging integrity, expiration dates, lot codes, labeling, and pallet conditions.

• Identify damaged, expired, contaminated, or non-conforming products.

• Recommend product acceptance, quarantine, rework, or rejection based on established quality standards.

• Maintain inspection logs, quality records, and documentation of product holds and rejections.

• Conduct warehouse quality walks and document observations.

• Support repack and special project initiatives by collecting product information, photographs, UPCs, and packaging specifications

• Maintain product specification files and related documentation

• Monitor basic product storage conditions and flag concerns to supervisor

• Support corrective action documentation and follow-up under direct supervision

Operational Support (Based on supervisor availability and workload volume)

• Assist in the preparation and organization of export documentation including commercial invoices, packing lists, certificates, and shipping documents

• Coordinate notarization and apostille processing for export documents as required

• Manage domestic and international document shipments through DHL, FedEx, UPS, and other courier providers

• Support scheduling, tracking, and follow-up of document shipments

• Maintain organized and auditable export records and operational files

• Assist with USDA and phytosanitary inspection documentation preparation

• Support other operational and administrative tasks as assigned based on business needs

Requirements:

Education

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree preferred — not required

• Relevant experience considered in lieu of formal education

Experience

• 0 to 2 years of experience in quality assurance, food safety, warehouse operations, food manufacturing, distribution, or related environments.

• Experience working with food products is preferred.

• Experience conducting inspections and preparing reports is preferred.

Knowledge & Skills

• Basic understanding of food quality and food safety principles.

• Strong attention to detail and observational skills.

• Ability to identify non-conforming products and quality defects.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook).

• Bilingual English/Spanish required

• Ability to document findings and prepare clear reports.

• Strong organizational and communication skills.

• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities.

• Comfortable working in a warehouse and office environment.

Preferred Certifications:

The following certifications are preferred and may be obtained after hire:

• Food Safety Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) – FSMA

• HACCP Awareness or HACCP Certification

• Food Handler Certification (Florida)

• GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) Training

• OSHA Warehouse Safety Training

Physical Requirements

• Ability to walk warehouse floors for extended periods.

• Ability to inspect products stored at various heights.

• Ability to occasionally lift up to 35 pounds.

• Ability to work in refrigerated and ambient warehouse environments when required.