Internal Inspector (Food Manufacturing)

Role Overview

This position is central to protecting the credibility of organic and fair-trade certifications across a network of smallholder coconut farmers. You will carry out systematic internal inspections of farms, collection centres, and production units, verifying that every operation aligns with EU Organic Regulation 2018/848, USDA/NOP, Regenerative Organic Standards, Fair for Life, and the company’s Internal Control System (ICS). Beyond conducting audits, you will serve as a bridge between the certification team and the farming community, providing hands-on guidance, supporting traceability, and helping farmers continuously improve so that both quality standards and supply targets are met.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan and conduct internal farm inspections and facility audits according to the annual work plan, risk categorisation, and ICS procedures, ensuring full alignment with EU and USDA/NOP certification requirements.
• Verify compliance with organic production methods, including field management, harvesting, input usage, and post-harvest handling; document findings accurately and submit inspection reports and checklists to the ICS data clerk on time.
• Perform yield estimation and balance verification exercises to confirm that declared production volumes match actual outputs, and flag any discrepancies.
• Identify non-compliance issues during inspections, recommend practical corrective actions, and follow up with farmers to ensure improvements are implemented effectively.
• Work directly with field officers, buying clerks, and receiving clerks to educate farmers on organic and fair-trade standards, proper harvesting methods, traceability, and input requirements.
• Contribute to farmer onboarding and recruitment by assisting field officers in assessing new applicants and ensuring they understand ICS expectations before joining the programme.
• Support the preparation of external audits and certification body visits by compiling compliance data, maintaining the Approved Farmers List, and updating farmer records.
• Participate in monthly ICS review meetings, reporting on inspection performance, target achievement, and emerging risks, while also attending regular coordination sessions with the Sustainability and Compliance Manager.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Diploma in Agriculture or a closely related field.
• At least two years of relevant work experience in agricultural inspection, certification, extension services, or smallholder farmer support.
• Strong working knowledge of organic farming standards, fair-trade requirements, and climate-smart agricultural practices.
• Moderate computer proficiency, especially in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, along with the ability to use mobile devices for digital data collection and surveys.
• Excellent communication skills in both English and Swahili, with the confidence to speak publicly and explain complex requirements to audiences with varying literacy levels.
• Comfort spending extended periods in the field, including walking and riding a motorcycle on rural terrain; a valid motorcycle licence and riding experience are required.
• Demonstrated integrity, impartiality, and commitment to avoiding conflicts of interest when inspecting farms or interacting with growers.