Job Description: Certification & Compliance Officer
Location: Bundibugyo, Uganda with frequent travel
Term: 1 Years – renewable

Company Overview 
Our client is a rapidly growing social enterprise in Uganda sourcing specialty cacao for export and producing bean-to-bar chocolate at origin. Working with over 7,000 certified organic smallholder farmers, our mission is to sustainably increase incomes and reduce risk for our suppliers while positively impacting the community and environment surrounding our operations. We provide chocolate makers and consumers in East Africa and around the world with the highest quality, transparently sourced, and fully traceable Ugandan cocoa products.

Job Description 
The Certification & Compliance Officer will ensure that the company’s operations for cocoa sourcing and chocolate production adhere to all certification standards, including food safety, organic certifications, and sustainability accreditations. This role will require coordination across teams and locations in Uganda to meet compliance standards, conduct mock audits, supervise laboratory testing, and manage external audits. The manager will support reporting requirements for both customers and investors.

Roles and Responsibilities:
Certification Management (60%) 

• Ensure compliance with HACCP food safety measures at all branches.
• Oversee cocoa certifications (NOP and EU Organic, Fair Trade, and Rainforest) and chocolate certifications (UNBS), and general company certifications (B Corporation).
• Coordinate and supervise internal and external audits for certification, including conducting mock-audits.
• Manage laboratory testing of all cocoa and chocolate products to maintain quality standards.
• Ensure all relevant data and documentation required for certifications are accurately compiled, organized, and available.

Team Coordination and Training (20%) 

• Work closely with production, sourcing, and quality control teams to ensure adherence to certification requirements.
• Provide training to relevant staff on certification standards and the importance of compliance.
• Implement accountability systems to ensure each team maintains compliance and produces reliable data.
• Reporting & Compliance (20%)
• Prepare and submit compliance reports for customers and investors, ensuring full transparency.
• Stay up-to-date with changes in certification standards and update company practices accordingly.
• Coordinate with external auditors, government bodies, and certification agencies during inspections or audits.

 Qualifications and Experience: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Agriculture, Environmental Studies, or related field.
• Minimum of 2-5 years of experience managing certifications and compliance in the food or agriculture sector.
• Strong knowledge of HACCP and certification standards (Organic, Rainforest, Fair Trade, and B Corporation).
• Experience in conducting internal audits, preparing for external audits, and managing laboratory testing.
• Strong organizational skills, with attention to detail and the ability to handle multiple tasks.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work collaboratively across different departments.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English