Certification Specialist

Remote
Full Time
Mid Level
Certification Specialist (Remote)

Job Description

The Certification Specialist serves as the primary contact between Organic Certifiers and our clients.  For organic clients, they assess and determine the compliance of applications against the organic standards, issue reports, interpret data and collaborate in the processes of approval for certification. 
Duties and Responsibilities
  • Assure new client/renewal applications, compliance plans and supporting documents contain required descriptions, protocols, procedures and records to demonstrate compliance with applicable standards.
  • Contact clients to review findings, non-compliances and outstanding issues; provide technical support by clarifying any technical and regulatory requirements and issues.
  • Maintain record keeping systems in compliance with internal procedures.
  • Review and approve site additions, seed stock compliance, product formulations, product labels and material/input substances as applicable.  
  • Participate in development/training meetings as necessary.
  • Conduct reviews and desk audits, as assigned.
  • Support new business development efforts through program, quality system and certification documentation development.
  • Perform other duties as assigned. 
Qualifications
  • Must have sufficient expertise in organic production or handling techniques to successfully perform the duties assigned. Sufficient expertise must include knowledge of certification to USDA organic standards and evidence of education, training, or professional experience in the fields of agriculture, science, or organic production and handling that relates to assigned duties.
  • Must have the knowledge, skills, and experience required to perform certification review of operations of the scope and complexity assigned and to evaluate compliance with the applicable regulations of this part.
  • Excellent communication skills in person, on the phone and in writing. 
  • Ability to clearly communicate complex and technical concepts. 
  • Comfort using computer for multiple hours at a time. 
  • Competency in word processing, formatting, databases and email applications including of Microsoft Outlook, Word and Excel. 
  • Excellent skills to organize, monitor, and track numerous activities throughout the year.
Training Requirements
Prior to Formal Authorization:
  • Initial basic training on policies, forms, files, web-system, etc.
  • Standards training as appropriate (NOP, etc.)
  • Monitored training period as needed to demonstrate competence

Yearly Requirements to Maintain Authorization
  • Attendance of department update meetings and review of all notifications of industry updates
  • Attendance of Annual OC Training Seminar
  • All certification review personnel continuously maintain adequate knowledge and skills in the current USDA organic standards, certification and compliance processes, traceability audits, mass-balance audits, and practices applicable to the type, volume, and range of review activities assigned.
  • Certification review personnel with less than one year of certification review experience must complete at least 50 hours of training within their first year performing certification review.
  • Certification review personnel with one or more years of certification review experience must annually complete at least 10 hours of training if conducting certification review related to one area of operation and an additional 5 hours of training for each additional area of operation.


FoodChain ID, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to our Human Resources Department at [email protected].
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