Farm Certification Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

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 over 53 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 seeks a Farm Certification Specialist to join our Farm certification team and provide technical & customer service to certified Farm operations and new applicants. 

If you have exceptional critical thinking and organizational skills, experience in regulatory compliance, agriculture, or a related field, and are passionate about our mission to advance organic agriculture for a healthier world, we encourage you to apply. 

As a Farm Certification Specialist, you'll join a dynamic and mission-driven team that collaborates to support approximately 3000 farm clients and will play a key role in ensuring the organic integrity of products in the marketplace. 

This is a full-time, non-exempt position that reports to the Farm Certification Team Lead, Supervisor, or Manager. This is a United States-based remote position. 

This position does not include on-site inspections of certified operations and will not include field work in the future. 

Applications will be reviewed beginning September 14, 2026.  

Essential Responsibilities:  

• Review inspection reports and mid-year updates for certified farm clients and new applicants to evaluate compliance with USDA National Organic Program (NOP) and other applicable standards and communicate outcomes to clients.
• Make autonomous or semi-autonomous decisions about client compliance with standards, including requirements related to land history, seed and planting stock use, crop rotation and soil management, natural resource management, input materials, equipment, post-harvest handling, labeling, records, and audit trail documentation.  
• Provide excellent customer service to clients through timely written and verbal communication, including technical assistance on regulatory topics and support navigating the certification process. Maintain accurate client database records in CCOF's complex, proprietary database. 

Specific Duties:     

• Provide clear and accessible written and verbal communication about the certification process and regulatory requirements to CCOF clients via email, letter, phone, and occasional virtual or in-person meetings.
• Utilize regulatory text and other resources, including technical support staff office hours, to make compliance decisions.
• Ensure timely review of client updates and inspection reports by independently managing workload in alignment with internal team goals.
• Complete a quality and quantity of work on par with other Farm Certification Specialists of similar tenure.
• Ensure that USDA NOP and other applicable standards and CCOF Quality System requirements are implemented.
• Ensure that client database records are consistent and current. 
• Attend recurring staff meetings and monitor internal communications to maintain updated knowledge of current topics, updates, and announcements.
• Complete ongoing professional development to expand skills and knowledge, meet requirements of CCOF's accreditations, and contribute to the ongoing development of the team.  
• Work on special projects as deemed necessary by the Director of Farm Certification. 

Required Qualifications:  

• Exceptional critical thinking skills to work independently within established procedures and use available resources to overcome obstacles and problem-solve. Able to ask for assistance when needed.   
• Professional written and verbal communication to effectively engage with individuals from diverse backgrounds. Writes clearly to tailor messages to various audiences. Organizes and shares information effectively.
• Able to confidently navigate roles involving communicating regulatory requirements.  
• Understands of how to prioritize competing needs and tasks without sacrificing quality. Able to monitor, plan, and follow through on tasks with competing deadlines. Able to effectively track information from multiple sources such as emails, phone calls, meetings, and messaging notifications. 
• Notices and fixes errors that others might overlook. Acknowledges mistakes and turns them into learning opportunities. Has a track record of leaving things better than they found them.
• Strong computer skills in Microsoft Office suite (especially Outlook, Word, and Teams) and other relevant applications such as database programs. Able to learn database programs and maintain accurate database records.   
• Proficient in delivering technical support and building trust through professional and empathetic customer service interactions. Displays a courteous, helpful attitude when interacting with clients and can de-escalate tense situations.
• Actively contributes to the team by completing tasks and meeting goals. Actively listens to coworkers, respects ideas, and aims to improve processes. Receptive to constructive feedback.
• B.A. or B.S. degree or higher in an applicable field such as environmental science, agriculture, or related fields. OR at least 3 years of experience in an applicable field gained through work or volunteer positions.   

Desired Qualifications:  

• Knowledge and commitment to the principles of anti-discrimination. A willingness to engage in discussions about race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, class, ability, or gender and the ways our identities shape our workplace experiences.  
• Experience with organic production practices or regulations, such as hands on field experience in agriculture or at a certification agency accredited by the National Organic Program.
• Completion of IOIA Organic Crop Inspector training or similar.
• Experience working in complex database programs (i.e. Intact Platform).
• Experience with environmental, quality assurance or food safety regulatory programs.
• Experience working remotely and/or collaborating effectively with remote teams.
• Commitment to CCOF's mission to advance organic agriculture for a healthy world. 

Supervisory Responsibilities or Key Relationships: