Handler Certification Specialist

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 in 1973, 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 is expanding our Handler Certification team! We are seeking a Handler Certification Specialist who will provide technical services to certify organic Handler operations and new applicants, ensuring all clients have fair and equal access to the certification process.     If you have regulatory compliance and/or food industry experience and a passion for our mission to advance organic agriculture for a healthier world, we encourage you to apply. As a Handler Certification Specialist, you’ll 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 Handler 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 fieldwork in the future.  Applications will be reviewed beginning November 2, 2026, and will be accepted until November 13, 2026. Essential Responsibilities: • Provide technical services to certified organic processor/handler clients, including review and communication of mid-year updates such as new labels, product formulations, ingredient suppliers, food additives, production methods, equipment sanitation procedures, facility pest control plans, audit trail documentation, etc., to certified operations. • Make autonomous or semi-autonomous decisions about client compliance with USDA NOP and other organic standards and communicate those decisions to clients. • Work on special projects as deemed necessary by Handler Certification Leadership (Team Leader, Supervisor, Manager, or Director of Handler Certification) or the Chief Certification Officer. • Maintain accurate client database records in CCOF’s complex, proprietary database. Specific duties • Provide technical assistance on regulatory topics to CCOF clients. • 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. • Review of client updates and inspection reports in a timely manner by independently managing workload. • Make compliance decisions based on regulatory text and other resources, including technical support staff office hours. • Complete a quality and quantity of work on par with other Handler Certification Specialists of similar tenure. • Ensure that USDA NOP and other applicable standards and CCOF Quality System requirements are implemented. • Update and audit client database ensuring 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. • Work on special projects as deemed necessary by the Director of Handler Certification. Required Qualifications: • B.A. or B.S. degree or higher in food science, chemistry, or related field. Alternatively, at least three years’ work experience in an applicable field will be considered in lieu of degree requirement.  • Strong comput