Compliance and Certification Officer 2020
| Location | Butajira, SNNPR, Ethiopia |
| Date Posted | August 7, 2020 |
| Category | Agriculture |
| Job Type | Full-time |
| Currency | ETB |
Description
Green Way Farms PLC is currently seeking a professional, high-performance individual to serve as a Compliance and Certification Officer.
This individual will have the unique opportunity to help shape the future of a young, environmentally, and socially-conscious agriculture business in Ethiopia, one of Africa’s most promising economies. Ideal candidates have a passion for East Africa, a dedication to environmental sustainability, and the ability to successfully support the company’s horticulture production efforts as the company scales over the next 5 years to produce more than 500 tons of produce annually with several hundred partner farmers.
Green Way Farms is a socially-oriented agribusiness that produces organic produce in an environmentally-sustainable, organic manner in conjunction with a network of smallholder farmers.
The company currently operates from its Butajira Production Area with a team of 100 staff and 100+ Partner Farmers. Green Way maintains a facility (the Farmer Service Center) with a cold store, nursery, and pack-house in Butajira, SNNPR. The company exports regularly to Amsterdam, London, and Dubai.
The Senior Staff at the organization are a group of highly talented professionals with experience in Ethiopian export horticulture, and agricultural development sectors, as well as direct experience in the Ethiopian start-up context. Each member of the team has a passion for improving the lives of smallholder farmers and increasing access to organically and sustainable grown, high-nutritious foods, and is committed to seeing the company realize its core objectives.
Job Requirements
Mission of Role
To ensure the company remains in compliance with all agribusiness best practices, and notably the certifications that the company is maintaining (currently EU Organic, GlobalGAP, GRASP). To ensure all internal and external inspections are streamlined, efficient, and completed without issue
Responsibilities & Outcomes
Activities | Outcomes |
| Ongoing Compliance | |
| Organize all relevant company documentation (with the assistance of other staff) to facilitate streamlined and easy inspections | All documents required for inspection are immediately able to be retrieved and up to date (at all times) |
| Conduct independent and random internal audits of ALL company practices and report the findings to the Director of Operations and Managing Director | The company leadership is aware of any non-compliances and has guidance on how to address them |
| Provide directly or facilitate guidance/training to staff on all compliance related needs annually (as well as when internal audits identify a knowledge/activity gap) | All staff have the knowledge and formalized training required for the company to remain in compliance with relevant certifications |
| Review company practices and propose changes to the company’s operations that increase efficiency while remaining in complete compliance with all certifications | The company reduces its unit operating costs by 5% due to suggestions provided by the Compliance Officer. |
| Certification | |
| Lead the process of preparing for and undergoing certification for GlobalGAP, EU Organic, and other certifications as specified by the company management | The company completes inspection and receives approval (within 8 weeks) for each certification for which the company applies. |
| Monitor the timing and expiration dates of all certifications, proactively scheduling inspections | The company’s certifications never expire |
| Other | |
| Lead the process of registering new seed varieties that the company wants registered, going through the Ministry of Agriculture’s seed registration and testing protocols and collaborating with research centers Attend to any other tasks assigned by the Director of Operations and/or Managing Director. These tasks included, but are not limited to: note taking, record keeping, and conducting analysis | Three new crop varieties that the company wants registered are registered within one year of starting the process The company’s Directors are supported and able to focus on the company’s highest priorities |
Required Experiences/Skills
- Deep understanding of and experience with the rules and requirements of GlobalGAP and/or EU Organic
- Undergraduate degree from a top-tier university with a minimum 3.0 GPA or equivalent
- Strong reading, writing, and speaking abilities in English language
- At least 5 years of experience working in one of the following fields: agronomic production or horticulture
- Experience working on agribusiness certification
- Experience leading projects, managing and owning responsibility for all aspects, from conception to execution
- Experience in information and/or data management
- Experience working in environments that are regularly changing and where results are generated not behind a desk, but out of the office with external stakeholders
- A strong attention to detail, a dedication to doing things correctly & completely, and complete reading and writing fluency in English
- Passionate and knowledgeable about organic farming, growing food, agribusiness, and compliance
Preferred Experiences/Skills
- Deep understanding of and experience with the rules and requirements of BRC, Rainforest Alliance, GRASP, Fair Trade, ISO, HAACP, or other horticulture certifications
- Experience working at an early-stage organization
- Experience supporting certification in a smallholder farmer-oriented business
- Experience working in or collaborating with an Ethiopian agriculture research center
- Experience managing the registration of a new seed variety in Ethiopia
- Experience supporting certification in a smallholder farmer-oriented business
Reporting
The position reports to the Operations Director and then to the Production Director (upon her starting). The team currently retains a certification consultant to support each month. This consultant will remain engaged for the remainder of 2020 to prepare the Compliance Officer.
Location
This position is based in Butajira, SNNPR; however, the staff member may also choose to move to another of the company’s production sites after they are established. The location of future sites is not yet known.
Applying Instructions
Please submit your application materials through the EthioJobs website only.
Women candidates are highly appreciated.