1-800-510-6242 1-855-213-4461 (Organic) Contact

Improving Your Process, Enhancing Your Products, Increasing Your Profits

Job Openings

Organic Certification Specialist

The Minnesota Crop Improvement Association seeks qualified candidates for the position of Organic Certification Specialist. The person holding this position performs organic certification activities and client communications from initial client contact, through application review and final certification decision, including handling compliance and enforcement issues. Position requirements are described in the Job Description, below.

This is a full-time position. The MCIA office is located on the St. Paul campus of the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Qualified candidates who live in our service area (Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, eastern North Dakota, and eastern South Dakota) will be considered for hybrid or remote office set-up. We offer a competitive salary and full benefits package.

Job Description: Organic Certification Specialist

Department: Organic Services
Reports to: Organic Certification Team Leads
Direct Reports: None
Salary Range: $50,000–$63,500 annually
FSLA Status: Exempt

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

  1. Understand, be able to analyze, and consistently apply the National Organic Standards and MCIA policies.
  2. Possess and exercise knowledge of the organic certification rules formalized by the USDA National Organic Program.
  3. Provide excellent customer service while upholding regulatory requirements in the client’s chosen method (e.g., email, printed letters, phone communications), as appropriate.
  4. Explain certification requirements in language clients can understand.
  5. Prepare and distribute organic certification application materials to new and renewing clients.
  6. Review organic system plans for compliance with certification requirements.
  7. Exercise consistent discretion and judgment in evaluating inspections and making final organic certification decisions.
  8. Utilize adequate analytical and math skills to evaluate audits.
  9. Prepare and distribute files, background information, and other support materials to organic inspectors to ensure inspections are completed at appropriate times.
  10. Evaluate inspection reports for compliance with constructive feedback.
  11. Issue noncompliance and adverse actions.
  12. Maintain appropriately detailed and up-to-date records of organic certification activities by updating database, electronic records, and hard copy files, as applicable.
  13. Establish deadlines and monitor certification progress to ensure adherence to timelines.
  14. Contribute to ongoing organic program improvement through form modifications, certification process streamlining, and other program enhancements.
  15. Promote MCIA organic certification services through participation in outreach activities to the organic industry including development of promotional pieces and attendance at industry events.
  16. Complete training requirements as assigned.
  17. Perform miscellaneous other duties as required.
  18. Actively participate in meetings and discussions.
  19. Ability and willingness to learn and grow in a diverse, fast paced, and rapidly changing industry.
  20. Perform work with honesty, integrity, and willingness to admit and fix mistakes.

Additional Duties and Responsibilities, as Assigned:

  1. Understand and be able to apply the National Organic Standards and MCIA policies as an inspector.
  2. Prepare, distribute, and/or submit seasonal/annual reports to organic clients and regulatory agencies.
  3. Evaluate inputs for compliance with certification requirements.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

  • High school diploma or GED required.
  • Two years of inspection or production experience in agriculture or food industry.
  • Valid driver’s license.
  • Reside within the MCIA service area with at least occasional travel to the MCIA office in St. Paul.

Preferred Qualifications

  • B.S. in agriculture or business or related field.
  • Completion of formal organic inspector training.
  • Three years’ experience in organic inspection and/or certification.

Skills/Physical Demands:

  • Highly accurate, efficient, and detail oriented.
  • Strong interpersonal communication skills including spoken and written.
  • Excellent organizational skills. Ability to track and adhere to numerous deadlines.
  • Strong computer skills including reasonable typing proficiency, and solid working knowledge of Microsoft 365.
  • Handle confidential information with great sensitivity, good reasoning abilities, and sound judgement.
  • Ability to work with limited supervision, highly self-motivated.
  • Ability to know when to ask questions.
  • Ability to multitask and prioritize tasks on a regular basis.
  • Familiarity with organic systems in crops, livestock, and/or food processing.
  • Willingness to travel.
  • Promote and ensure excellence in customer service.
  • Promote good work ethics, positive attitude, and a teamwork environment.
  • Ability to work for long periods on a computer.
  • Ability to solve problems.

Interested individuals should submit a letter of interest and résumé to employment@mncia.org or mail to Employment, MCIA, 1900 Hendon Ave, Saint Paul MN 55108.

Minnesota Crop Improvement Association is an EEO Employer.

Organic Administrative Specialist

Minnesota Crop Improvement Association seeks qualified candidates for the position of Organic Administrative Specialist, which supports the day-to-day operations of MCIA’s Organic Services department. This full-time position offers a competitive salary and full benefits. The position is located at the MCIA Office on the St. Paul campus of the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Position requirements are described in the Job Description, below.

Job Description: Organic Administrative Specialist

Department: Organic Services
Reports to: Organic Certification Team Leads; Administrative and Certification Manager
Direct Reports: None
Hourly Rate Range: $22.00–$25.00/hour
FSLA Status: Non-exempt

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Answer and direct phone calls. Answer client inquiries within the subject area.
  • Prepare and distribute organic certification application materials to new and renewing clients.
  • Process, file, and track organic documents and client application materials. Record customer payments. Investigate and resolve discrepancies. Issue and send invoices to clients.
  • Receive and process inspection reports. Send inspector invoices to accounting.
  • Assist in updating Field History Sheets, Material Lists, and Organic System Plans, as requested.
  • Assist with client correspondence, including mailings.
  • Process surrender and withdrawal requests under supervision of Organic Certification Team Leads.
  • Maintain up-to-date records of organic certification activities by updating database and hard copy files.
  • Run and distribute monthly payment status reports, as requested, to ensure adherence to timelines.
  • Contribute to on-going organic program improvement through form modifications, certification process streamlining, and other program enhancements.
  • Provide input to improve current organic database.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

  • High school diploma or GED required.
  • Postsecondary degree/certificate or two years relevant administrative experience.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Background in organic agriculture or business.
  • Five or more years work experience in supporting day-to-day operations of an office or business.

Skills/Physical Demands

  • Strong interpersonal, written, communication and organizational skills.
  • Strong computer skills and working knowledge of Microsoft 365.
  • Ability to handle confidential information with great sensitivity, good reasoning abilities, and sound judgement.
  • Ability to work with limited supervision, highly self-motivated.
  • Ability to multitask and prioritize tasks on a regular basis.
  • Accurate, efficient, and detail oriented.
  • Promote and ensure excellence in customer service.
  • Promote good work ethics, positive attitude, and teamwork environment.
  • Ability to work well in a dynamic and ever-changing environment.

Interested individuals should submit a letter of interest and résumé by email to employment@mncia.org or mail to Employment, MCIA, 1900 Hendon Ave, Saint Paul MN 55108.

Minnesota Crop Improvement Association is an EEO Employer.

Organic Contract Inspectors

MCIA’s Organic Services department is always interested in working with organic contract inspectors. MCIA certifies organic operations in Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. To be considered, please send a letter of interest and your résumé to employment@mncia.org or mail to Employment, MCIA, 1900 Hendon Ave, Saint Paul MN 55108.

Minnesota Crop Improvement Association is an EEO Employer.