Food Safety Certification Specialist - Bilingual skills desired but not required

Who we are: CCOF advances organic agriculture for a healthy world. We advocate on behalf of our members for organic policies, support the growth of organic through education and grants, and provide organic certification that is personal and accessible.

CCOF is a nonprofit organization governed by the people who grow and make our food. Founded in California 50 years ago, our roots now span the breadth of North America, and our presence is internationally recognized. We are supported by an organic family of farmers, ranchers, processors, retailers, consumers, and policymakers. Together, we work to realize a future where organic is the norm.

 

Position Summary:  

CCOF is expanding our Food Safety Certification team! We are seeking decisions and proficient Food Safety Certification Specialist to conduct GLOBALG.A.P. (and some PrimusGFS) technical reviews, issue certification decisions, and provide technical regulatory customer support to organic farming and handling operations.   

If you are passionate about Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), have experience with GLOBALG.A.P. and/or PrimusGFS certification standards, consider joining our team to support CCOF’s mission to advance organic agriculture for a healthy world.   

This is a full-time, non-exempt position that reports to the Assistant Director of Food Safety. This is a United States-based remote position.

 

Applications will be reviewed by January 17th, 2025. 

 

Essential Responsibilities: 

 

• Conduct technical reviews and issue certification decisions in various databases. Occasionally conduct onsite inspections and witness evaluations of other auditors in training or as part of maintenance of competency. 

• Perform key GFSI certification services, including onboarding, reviewing, and accepting new applicants. Assist in properly scoping audits according to the GLOBALG.A.P. or PrimusGFS rules.  

• Ensure a strong customer service-oriented certification approach alongside regulatory responsibilities by acting as the Food Safety Certification Service Specialist for CCOF’s Food Safety clients. 

• Support the marketing of CCOF’s GFSI certification services to attract new clients and facilitate client acquisition efforts.  

 

 Specific Duties 

 

• Conduct technical reviews and issue certification decisions for operations seeking GLOBALG.A.P. (and potentially PrimusGFS) certifications.  

• Maintain and ensure data accuracy and integrity of information and regulatory standards across client contracts, GLOBALG.A.P. and Azzule databases, CCOF’s database, and other applicable databases as necessary. 

• Conduct occasional farm or facility audits to the GLOBALG.A.P. (and potentially PrimusGFS) standards, including witness evaluations for auditors in training or as part of regular evaluation oversight. While auditing is not primary responsibility, occasional audits will be necessary to maintain competency in the standards.  

• Handle daily incoming Producer/Handler emails or phone inquiries, process corrective actions, and provide general support to farm/facility operations working with the standards.   

• Provide written and verbal instructions to CCOF clients regarding compliance with all applicable standards. 

• Provide technical support to the Assistant Director of Food Safety related to maintaining accreditation and compliance with GLOBALG.A.P. and PrimusGFS General Regulations.  

• Attend CCOF internal meetings.  

• Represent CCOF at trade shows, conferences, meetings, etc. as directed by the Assistant Director of Food Safety. 

• Support the Assistant Director of Food Safety in responding to issues as they arise, including the development and implementation of any special projects. 

• Conduct witness field evaluations for existing and new auditors.  

 

Required Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities): 

 

• 2+ years post-high school education in food or agriculture or a related field.   

• 2+ years of experience in food production or food certification with demonstrated knowledge of Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs). 

• Experience with GLOBALG.A.P., PrimusGFS food safety standard criteria.  

• Possession of a Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) FSMA Produce Safety Rule training certificate.  

• Plant protection, fertilizer, and IPM training, either as part of a formal qualifications, or through the successful completion of a formal course.  

• One or more years’ experience working in a professional office environment.  

• Proficiency in computer skills including Microsoft Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, and database programs. Effectively manage emails, create professional documents, spreadsheets, and maintain accurate database records. 

• Professional written and verbal communication. Writes clearly, ability to tailor messages to various audiences sharing context and asking questions to understand others’ perspective and fostering effective and engaging interactions. Organizes and shares information effectively. Receptive to constructive feedback. Public facing meeting facilitation. Willingness to represent the organization at trade shows, conferences, and events as directed by the department director.  

• Highly organized, motivated, and detail-oriented with the ability to manage high volumes of work with efficiency: Demonstrated ability to create and maintain systems to ensure tasks are completed accurately and on time. Able to juggle competing demands and prioritize without sacrificing quality. Plans strategically to meet deadlines and asks for help when needed. Proactive, self-directed and driven to achieve goals. 

• Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Ability. Works independently within established procedures, uses available resources to overcome obstacles and find a solution that best resolves the issue.   

• Ability to collaborate effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds, demographics and communication styles, fostering an inclusive and respectful work environment.  

 

Desired Qualifications: 

 

• B.S. or M.S. degree in Food Science, Food Safety, Agriculture, or a related field  

• Intermediate Spanish language skills to effectively communicate technical requirements verbally and in writing.  

• Successful completion of a lead auditor training course based on the ISO 19011 principles with a minimum of 37 hours.  

• Minimum of 16 hours of Training in HACCP principles either as part of a formal qualifications or through the completion of a formal course.  

• Completion of a formal training course in Food Hygiene, with a minimum of 8 hours.  

• FSMA Preventative Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) training certificate.  

• Completion of International Organic Crop Inspectors (IOIA) Organic Crop Inspector training or equivalent experience in organic agriculture.  

• Experience within the agriculture industry, and a network in the agriculture and food safety community. Practical field experience in agriculture, food science, or food production, preferably organic practices.  

• Public speaking and presentation skills with the capability of presenting complex regulatory topics clearly and effectively. While major public appearances will typically involve the Executive Director (ED) or allies, the ability to represent the organization when needed is desired. 

• Experience engaging and promoting underserved communities and diverse populations in digital channels. 

• Knowledge and familiarity with DEI principles. Willing to talk about race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, class, ability, or gender and the ways our identities shape our experience at work. Understands the historical context for inequities and its present-day implications. 

• Experience working remotely with in-office and remote teams.     

 

Supervisory Responsibilities or Key Relationships: 

 

• This role does not have any supervisory responsibilities. 

 

Physical and Travel Requirements: 

 

• 8-hour regular workday schedule that falls within the 7:00 am to 7:00 pm timeframe in the employee’s time zone. This ensures client contact availability during most normal CCOF business hours (8:00 am – 5:00 pm Pacific Time).  

• May work occasional evenings and weekends to support special events (about 2 days per year) 

• Ability to travel domestically (about 3-5 days a month) 

• Ability to lift 40 lbs. from ground to waist and be physically able to pack boxes and materials for trade shows and events. 

• Ability to stand and walk for several hours. 

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer for multiple hours at a time. 

 

Other duties: 

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

 

Compensation: CCOF takes pride in offering competitive pay and benefits such as superb health plans, 401(k) program, and generous sick/personal and vacation time. The Food Safety Certification Specialist’s starting salary range will be $56,329 - $65,000 and will depend on qualifications and experience.

 

Hiring Process: Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Interested applicants, please submit the following documents:

• Cover letter summarizing your interest in CCOF and the position, and qualifications
• Current resume
• List of three professional references 

Incomplete applications will not be considered. No phone calls, please. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Thank you for your interest.

CCOF is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage people with diverse backgrounds and experience to apply.

Inclusivity is a core value at CCOF. We are passionate about building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable work and learning environment for all employees. We believe every member of our team enriches our diversity by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and to discover, design and deliver solutions.