As an Organic Standards Auditor, you will conduct on-site audits of organic operators across the United States, supporting certification activities in accordance with applicable organic standards and internal procedures.
Key Responsibilities
- Conduct on-site audits and inspections of organic operators, including farms, livestock operations, processors, handlers, and other relevant scopes.
- Plan and prepare audits, including prior review of documentation, risk assessment, sampling definition, and preparation of standard-specific checklists.
- Conduct interviews, facility and field inspections, document reviews, and evidence collection.
- Verify traceability systems, mass balance records, input approvals, production records, and organic integrity controls.
- Assess risks related to contamination, commingling, fraud, prohibited substances, and other risks to organic integrity.
- Prepare clear, complete, accurate, and timely audit reports, including documentation of nonconformities and corrective action deadlines.
- Review corrective action evidence and support the certification decision-making process in accordance with internal procedures.
- Maintain up-to-date technical knowledge of regulatory changes, organic standards, and internal certification policies.
- Act with professionalism, ethics, impartiality, confidentiality, and a strong commitment to quality.
- Travel frequently within the assigned region and, when required, to other areas of the United States.
- Demonstrated experience as an Organic Auditor, Inspector, or Certification Specialist, preferably under the USDA National Organic Program (USDA NOP).
- Knowledge of additional organic standards or programs, such as EU Organic Regulation, Brazil Organic Regulation, Demeter, or Fair Trade, is a plus.
- Practical experience conducting audits involving traceability, mass balance, input verification, record review, and risk assessment.
- Experience identifying and evaluating risks related to contamination, commingling, labeling, fraud prevention, and organic integrity.
- Ability to independently conduct audits and write high-quality technical reports in English.
- Experience with one or more certification scopes, including:
- Crop production
- Livestock production
- Wild crop harvesting
- Processing and handling
- Storage, distribution, and trading activities
- Strong organizational, communication, and time-management skills.
- Availability and willingness to travel extensively for field audits.
- Valid driver’s license and ability to travel domestically within the United States.
- Technical degree, bachelor’s degree, or higher education in Agronomy, Agriculture, Animal Science, Veterinary Medicine, Food Science, Biology, Environmental Science, Sustainability, or a related field; equivalent proven experience in the organic sector or certification/audit activities will also be considered.
- Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
- This is a remote position; however, candidates must be based in one of the following hiring regions: East Coast, Midwest, or West Coast.
