Packhouse Manager

Can Tho City, Vietnam | Lead Vietnam's Most Advanced Optical Citrus Sorting Operation

The Fruit Republic’s mission is to let the world discover the fantastic Vietnamese fruits and to make the Vietnamese consumer proud again of their own home-grown produce. Since 2009, we have worked passionately to achieve this mission and have developed The Fruit Republic into the most professional fruit company of Vietnam. The Fruit Republic is the only fruit company in Vietnam which is certified according to the following standards: GlobalGAP, LEAF, GRASP, SMETA, BRC, and FSSC 22000 and supplies the largest supermarket chains worldwide and in Vietnam.

For over 16 years, we have ensured that smallholder farmers remain at the heart of our fruit value chains. Through a strong extension and quality assurance team, we support hundreds of smallholders to meet world-class food safety and quality requirements. We have a multinational team of over 400 dedicated staff, including Vietnamese, South African, Dutch, and Filipino professionals, committed to delivering exceptional fruits worldwide. We have our own packhouses, distribution centers in both Vietnam and the Netherlands, citrus training and R&D farms and our own fruit tree nursery.

The citrus sector in Vietnam is still in the early stages of adopting automated sorting lines. Only recently, The Fruit Republic invested in the country's first optical citrus sorting line and, following its successful implementation, is investing in a new large-scale automated grading facility. This expansion will establish one of the most advanced citrus packhouses in Southeast Asia.

To support the continued growth of our domestic and export business, we are looking for an experienced Packhouse Manager to lead our fruit packing operations in Can Tho, Vietnam. For more information about The Fruit Republic, visit our website http://www.thefruitrepublic.com

Why This Opportunity Is Different

This is not a typical packhouse position. You will work in one of Asia's fastest-growing fresh produce industries, managing the packing, grading and quality management of a wide range of tropical fruits, but mainly citrus, sourced from thousands of hectares of orchards across the Mekong Delta.

As most fruits in Southern Vietnam can be produced year-round, our packhouse operates 52 weeks per year. You will be working with a very dedicated and well organised packhouse team, where significant opportunities exist to develop local expertise in advanced optical fruit grading and packhouse automation.

You will play a leading role in implementing and developing Vietnam's first and most advanced optical citrus sorting operations. This is a rare opportunity to transfer knowledge from a mature citrus industry into a rapidly developing fruit sector.

The Role

This position is specifically intended for experienced citrus packhouse professionals with extensive experience to optical grading technology. Reporting directly to the Supply Chain Director, the Packhouse Manager will have full responsibility for operational performance, food safety, quality management, productivity within the packhouse. You will lead continuous improvement initiatives, develop local management teams and help establish world-class packhouse systems capable of serving leading retailers across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Oceania and North America.

Key Responsibilities

Packhouse Operations Management

• Manage all daily packhouse operations from fruit intake through grading, packing and dispatch

• Lead packhouse supervisor and operational teams

• Plan packing activities to maximise throughput, efficiency and customer service

• Monitor pack out percentages and implement corrective actions where required

• Manage labour productivity and operational costs

• Deliver operational performance in line with company KPIs

• Drive continuous improvement projects focused on efficiency, quality and profitability

• Ensure excellent housekeeping, hygiene and workplace safety standards

Automation

• Manage and optimise automatic optical sorting and grading systems

• Analyse grading and quality data to improve packout percentages and profitability

• Monitor sorter performance and grading accuracy

• Work closely with technical teams and equipment suppliers to maximise equipment performance

• Evaluate new technologies and automation opportunities

Food Safety & Quality Management

• Ensure compliance with BRC, GlobalG.A.P., SMETA and customer requirements

• Lead internal and external audits

• Maintain complete product traceability systems

• Ensure compliance with our domestic and export market specifications

• Drive continuous improvement of quality management systems

Post harvest improvements

• Analyse current post harvest systems and propose improvements

• Review current packaging materials and propose improvements

• Evaluate new technologies and shelf life extension and waste reducing opportunities

KPI management

• Monitor and improve packhouse KPIs, productivity and operational efficiency

• Monitor packing costs and profitability

• Monitor product quality and pack-out performance

• Report progress, recommendations and operational performance directly to the Supply Chain Director

Requirements

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Post-Harvest Science, Food Technology, Operations Management, Agricultural Engineering, Fruit Quality Management or a related field

• Minimum of 8 years' commercial packhouse management experience within the citrus industry

• Experience managing BRC/SMETA/Globalgap export-oriented fruit packing facilities

• Proven experience leading medium to large operational teams

Skills and Experience

• Extensive experience operating, managing and optimising citrus packing operations, using optical sorting technologies from suppliers such as Reemoon, MAF RODA, Compac/TOMRA and Greefa

• Experience managing food safety and quality assurance systems

• Strong leadership and people management capabilities

• Experience with production planning and performance management

• Strong operational management skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

• Fluent English

We Are Looking For Someone Who Is

• Hands-on and practical

• Driven by operational excellence

• Will always try to: “Seek first to understand, then to be understood”

• Passionate about post-harvest improvements and innovations in fruit packing

• Self-driven and committed to achieving measurable results

• Adaptable and willing to work in a multicultural environment

• Comfortable leading large teams in a fast-growing business

• Proven track record to introduce experiences into a new working environment

• Motivated to build world-class packhouse systems and develop local talent

Why Vietnam?

Southern Vietnam is poised to become Asia’s leading fruit supply region, thanks to its tropical climate, fertile soils, and entrepreneurial farmers. Over 500,000 hectares of tropical fruits are grown here year-round. With booming economies, rapid urbanization, and growing demand for high-quality, sustainably produced fruits, The Fruit Republic plays a key role in professionalizing Vietnam’s fruit sector. Vietnam is among the world’s fastest-growing economies, offering a safe, welcoming environment and a strong domestic market of nearly 100 million people. Our packhouse is based in Can Tho City, the commercial capital of the Mekong Delta, with a population of approximately 1.5 million people. It offers modern international amenities while retaining the character and hospitality of the Mekong region.