VACANCIES

Production Technical Officer

required to start as soon as possible.

The Production Technical Officer’s role is to provide expertise within the Certification Office in regard to all matters concerning biodynamic / organic farming, gardening, forestry as they pertain to primary production.

Key tasks:

• Dealing with enquiries from farmers, growers, and others involved in food production who are interested in becoming biodynamic or organic certified with BDA Certification.
• Provide standards (organic and demeter standards) information and technical support for currently certified producers on the phone or email.
• Completing application reports, reviewing derogations and filing as necessary (eg. Non-organic seeds)
• Development of the certification programmes about primary production– revision and development of assessment forms, procedures and documentation.
• Participation in the on-going process of reviewing and revising demeter and organic standards in the UK and with the Biodynamic Federation Demeter International (‘BFDI’).
• Attendance at the Certification Board meetings and other meetings (CBTWG & UKOCG), as required.
• Liaise with other organic certification bodies and DEFRA regarding primary production issues.
• Training inspectors on production issues.
• Participation in workshops and events
• Contribute to tasks that assist the certification team as needed.

Required Skills & Experience:

• Preferred experience in compliance or policy/regulatory management.
• Preferred university degree and experience with a certified agricultural business (either organic or biodynamic).
• A minimum of 2 years working in agriculture or horticulture.
• Experience in working independently for an organisation with deadlines.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office suites, specifically excel.
• Ability to work both as part of a team and independently.

Salary & location

The role is for 15 hours of work per week with mixed remote and in-office presence at our Stroud office.

This position’s salary is offered on a scale depending on the experience of the applicant and completion of training.

£23,500 pro rata 0.4FTE (2 days weekly)

Up to

£26,000 pro rata 0.4FTE (2 days weekly)

Potential for also becoming an external inspector thus adding supplementary income.

Annual holidays

The normal annual holiday with pay is 21 days per year FTE. Additionally, you are entitled to bank and other public holidays. A further day’s paid holiday is given for each full year’s completed service up to a maximum of 9 extra days. For employees working on a part-time basis, entitlement to holiday will be calculated using the ratio of hours/days worked to full time hours (37.5/week).

To apply for this post please send in your CV with a covering letter to our certification manager Ms. Hannah Gutteridge at hgutteridge@biodynamic.org.uk

Closing date for applications is 9th August 2024; interviews will be held shortly thereafter.