ICS Manager

• Listing summary: Candidates should hold a BSc/MSc in Agribusiness or Agriculture, possess 1–6 years of relevant agribusiness experience (including managerial exposure), and demonstrate strong knowledge of EU organic regulations, QA systems, and cross‑functional collaboration.

The Internal Control System Manager will manage the Internal Control System Department of Sunvado. This critical role for the certification program of Sunvado and essential for the adherence to organic certification regulations and other sustainability standards. Making sure all certification projects of Sunvado are in compliance with these rules. This role has a close working relationship with the management of the organic Avocado cooperatives and all staff members of the Internal Control System Department.

The function includes building strategic partnerships with key partners, including cooperatives and local authorities.

This function is accountable for the whole staff in the ICS department. Internally this role works very closely with the management of Sunvado and headquarter staff, such as the certification manager. External key stakeholders are the cooperative management staff, auditors from control bodies and local and regional government officials.

Job Requirements

Accountabilities

Description of key activities and responsibilities

Strategy & Budget

• Responsible for implementing the certification strategy as defined by the general Manager, ensuring alignment with the overall goals of the ICS department.

• Provide critical feedback on the execution of the strategy to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in its implementation.

• Oversee the implementation and management of the budget as defined on IOP for the certification-related activities, ensuring compliance and identifying opportunities for cost savings.

• Regularly review and analyze financial reports to ensure the

certification activities are progressing within the financial parameters, making adjustments as needed to stay on track.

Process & Administration

• Update and maintain departmental procedures related to certification processes and the management of the Internal Control System to ensure ongoing compliance with certification standards.

• Ensure compliance with annual inspection requirements and take corrective actions as necessary in line with ICS procedures.

• Decide on measures for non-compliance based on certifications standards and internal ICS procedures, facilitating corrective actions to ensure adherence to all certification standards for Sunvado and its cooperatives.

• Oversee and manage the documentation and traceability of organic products from suppliers to export, ensuring compliance with organic regulations.

• Prepare and submit reports on ICS performance and compliance status to management, including summarizing reports from direct reports (ICS inspectors or/and extension workers etc).

• Conduct risk assessments and implement mitigation measures to ensure the integrity of organic operations and regulatory compliance.

• Schedule internal inspections and other ICS-related activities,

coordinating with the team to ensure effective planning and execution of tasks.

Farmer Training

• Oversee the planning and execution of farmer training programs,

ensuring that they align with the ICS department’s overall strategy

and certification standards.

• Provide guidance and instructions to the ICS team on the execution of farmer training and sensitization activities, ensuring consistency across regions.

• Review training reports from the ICS Inspectors and extension workers, ensuring that all training sessions meet quality standards and compliance requirements.

• Ensure that proper documentation (including training summaries, attendance lists, and photos) is completed and submitted according to ICS procedures.

• Monitor the effectiveness of training programs, gathering feedback

from participants and stakeholders to ensure continuous improvement in training content and delivery.

Team Management

• Lead, train, and supervise internal control system staff and other relevant staff, including cooperative staff and management, to ensure compliance with organic standards and certification procedures.

• Assign tasks and responsibilities to extension workers and other ICS Department staff, ensuring clarity in roles and alignment with the department's certification strategy and activity plan.

• Monitor performance across a large team, ensuring that all team

members are meeting performance expectations and adhering to

the strategic goals and operational standards. Provide regular feedback and development support to direct reports.

• Oversee the coordination of tasks for the broader team of ICS staff, ensuring alignment with the certification objectives and timelines, while addressing any challenges that arise in the field.

• Foster collaboration and communication between direct reports, ICS Inspectors, and cooperative staff to ensure a unified approach to certification and compliance efforts.

• Provide strategic oversight to ensure the entire ICS team operates

efficiently and in line with the certification strategy, making adjustments as needed to meet goals and deadlines.

Stakeholder management

• Liase with cooperative staff, local authorities and representatives from certification bodies regarding compliance issues and inspections.

Leadership

• Hires new team members, trains, coaches, supports and appraises the team.

Differentiatin

g factors

Junior

Medior

Senior

Education

Bsc/ MSc Agribusiness/Agric

ulture

Bsc/MSc Agribusiness/Agriculture

MSc Agribusiness/Agricultur

e

Experience indication

1-3 years in agribusiness/agric ulture, preferably in the relevant region/products

3-5 years in agribusiness/agriculture in the relevant region/products.

At least 3 years of

managerial experience

6+ years in agribusiness/agriculture in the relevant region/products.

At least 5 years of

managerial experience

Strategy development

Executes strategy for own sourcing region and products. Provides suggestions for strategy development.

Contributes to Sourcing Development strategy for own sourcing region and products

Defines sourcing strategy for own sourcing region and products

Complexity

Medium complexity of supported sourcing projects in number of entities, standards,

stakeholders, legal

High complexity of supported sourcing projects in number of entities, standards, stakeholders, legal requirements, conflicts of

Very high complexity of supported sourcing projects in number of entities, standards, stakeholders, legal requirements, conflicts

requirements, conflicts of interests, degree

of routine

interests, degree of routine

of interests, degree of routine

Coaching

Coaches and trains new employees

Coaches, inspires and trains new employees on their professional

development

Advisory level

Collects and presents verified market information for strategy development, signals deviations, answers questions and informs requested and non-requested operational issues on improvements

and matters.

Collects, verifies and analyses market information for strategy development, signals deviations, requested and non-requested operational issues on improvements and matters. Advises internal and external stakeholders accordingly.

Analyze information provided by team and stakeholders and advise team and stakeholders on strategic improvements and innovations.

Communicati on level

Contact with trade, quality and operational departments, supply partners, limited number of external

stakeholders

Contact with interdisciplinary departments, retrieve information and influence broad external network.

Manage conflict of interests.

Contact with management team, influences broad external network in high-level positions. Manage escalating conflict of interests.

Knowledge & Skills Hard skills

• In-depth knowledge of Regulation (EU) 2018/848 and related organic and

sustainability standards.

• Knowledge and experience in organic production systems, QA systems, regulations, guidelines, and associated standards, international development

• Interested in/affinity with organic production and processing

• Be able to assess the opportunities and quality of organic projects, being able to create and review interdisciplinary, technical documentation.

• Able to develop, review, and maintain metrics and quality/social/organic audits

• Proficiency with MS Office.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Amharic; knowledge of Sidama is an added advantage.

Soft skills

• Highly motivated and self-directed, flexible, capable of multi-tasking.

• Able to work with minimal supervision.

• Strong problem identification and problem resolution skills.

• Keep the balance between adapting to changing conditions demanding flexibility and staying result oriented.

• Excellent interpersonal and intercultural skills.

• Proven leadership, project management and motivational skills.

• Strong organizational and documentation processing skills.

• Able to interface directly with international, cross-functional teams.

• Ability to think analytically in the evaluation of competing needs.

• Ability to collect and absorb a wide range of complex information and derive strategic and operational solutions.

• Have integrity and honesty.

How To Apply

Apply via email address; yezichalem.wulolet@tradinorganic.com

Accountabilities

Description of key activities and responsibilities

Strategy & Budget

• Responsible for implementing the certification strategy as defined by the general Manager, ensuring alignment with the overall goals of the ICS department.
• Provide critical feedback on the execution of the strategy to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in its implementation.
• Oversee the implementation and management of the budget as defined on IOP for the certification-related activities, ensuring compliance and identifying opportunities for cost savings.
• Regularly review and analyze financial reports to ensure the

certification activities are progressing within the financial parameters, making adjustments as needed to stay on track.

Process & Administration

• Update and maintain departmental procedures related to certification processes and the management of the Internal Control System to ensure ongoing compliance with certification standards.
• Ensure compliance with annual inspection requirements and take corrective actions as necessary in line with ICS procedures.
• Decide on measures for non-compliance based on certifications standards and internal ICS procedures, facilitating corrective actions to ensure adherence to all certification standards for Sunvado and its cooperatives.
• Oversee and manage the documentation and traceability of organic products from suppliers to export, ensuring compliance with organic regulations.
• Prepare and submit reports on ICS performance and compliance status to management, including summarizing reports from direct reports (ICS inspectors or/and extension workers etc).
• Conduct risk assessments and implement mitigation measures to ensure the integrity of organic operations and regulatory compliance.
• Schedule internal inspections and other ICS-related activities,

coordinating with the team to ensure effective planning and execution of tasks.

Farmer Training

• Oversee the planning and execution of farmer training programs,

ensuring that they align with the ICS department’s overall strategy

and certification standards.

• Provide guidance and instructions to the ICS team on the execution of farmer training and sensitization activities, ensuring consistency across regions.
• Review training reports from the ICS Inspectors and extension workers, ensuring that all training sessions meet quality standards and compliance requirements.
• Ensure that proper documentation (including training summaries, attendance lists, and photos) is completed and submitted according to ICS procedures.
• Monitor the effectiveness of training programs, gathering feedback

from participants and stakeholders to ensure continuous improvement in training content and delivery.

Team Management

• Lead, train, and supervise internal control system staff and other relevant staff, including cooperative staff and management, to ensure compliance with organic standards and certification procedures.
• Assign tasks and responsibilities to extension workers and other ICS Department staff, ensuring clarity in roles and alignment with the department's certification strategy and activity plan.
• Monitor performance across a large team, ensuring that all team

members are meeting performance expectations and adhering to

the strategic goals and operational standards. Provide regular feedback and development support to direct reports.

• Oversee the coordination of tasks for the broader team of ICS staff, ensuring alignment with the certification objectives and timelines, while addressing any challenges that arise in the field.
• Foster collaboration and communication between direct reports, ICS Inspectors, and cooperative staff to ensure a unified approach to certification and compliance efforts.
• Provide strategic oversight to ensure the entire ICS team operates

efficiently and in line with the certification strategy, making adjustments as needed to meet goals and deadlines.

Stakeholder management

• Liase with cooperative staff, local authorities and representatives from certification bodies regarding compliance issues and inspections.

Leadership

• Hires new team members, trains, coaches, supports and appraises the team.

Differentiatin

g factors

Junior

Medior

Senior

Education

Bsc/ MSc Agribusiness/Agric

ulture

Bsc/MSc Agribusiness/Agriculture

MSc Agribusiness/Agricultur

e

Experience indication

1-3 years in agribusiness/agric ulture, preferably in the relevant region/products

3-5 years in agribusiness/agriculture in the relevant region/products.

At least 3 years of

managerial experience

6+ years in agribusiness/agriculture in the relevant region/products.

At least 5 years of

managerial experience

Strategy development

Executes strategy for own sourcing region and products. Provides suggestions for strategy development.

Contributes to Sourcing Development strategy for own sourcing region and products

Defines sourcing strategy for own sourcing region and products

Complexity

Medium complexity of supported sourcing projects in number of entities, standards,

stakeholders, legal

High complexity of supported sourcing projects in number of entities, standards, stakeholders, legal requirements, conflicts of

Very high complexity of supported sourcing projects in number of entities, standards, stakeholders, legal requirements, conflicts

requirements, conflicts of interests, degree

of routine

interests, degree of routine

of interests, degree of routine

Coaching

Coaches and trains new employees

Coaches, inspires and trains new employees on their professional

development

Advisory level

Collects and presents verified market information for strategy development, signals deviations, answers questions and informs requested and non-requested operational issues on improvements

and matters.

Collects, verifies and analyses market information for strategy development, signals deviations, requested and non-requested operational issues on improvements and matters. Advises internal and external stakeholders accordingly.

Analyze information provided by team and stakeholders and advise team and stakeholders on strategic improvements and innovations.

Communicati on level

Contact with trade, quality and operational departments, supply partners, limited number of external

stakeholders

Contact with interdisciplinary departments, retrieve information and influence broad external network.

Manage conflict of interests.

Contact with management team, influences broad external network in high-level positions. Manage escalating conflict of interests.

Knowledge & Skills Hard skills

• In-depth knowledge of Regulation (EU) 2018/848 and related organic and

sustainability standards.

• Knowledge and experience in organic production systems, QA systems, regulations, guidelines, and associated standards, international development
• Interested in/affinity with organic production and processing
• Be able to assess the opportunities and quality of organic projects, being able to create and review interdisciplinary, technical documentation.
• Able to develop, review, and maintain metrics and quality/social/organic audits
• Proficiency with MS Office.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Amharic; knowledge of Sidama is an added advantage.

Soft skills

• Highly motivated and self-directed, flexible, capable of multi-tasking.
• Able to work with minimal supervision.
• Strong problem identification and problem resolution skills.
• Keep the balance between adapting to changing conditions demanding flexibility and staying result oriented.
• Excellent interpersonal and intercultural skills.
• Proven leadership, project management and motivational skills.
• Strong organizational and documentation processing skills.
• Able to interface directly with international, cross-functional teams.
• Ability to think analytically in the evaluation of competing needs.
• Ability to collect and absorb a wide range of complex information and derive strategic and operational solutions.
• Have integrity and honesty.