Minnesota Crop Improvement Association (MCIA) has an opening for an Organic Services Manager:
The MCIA Organic Program has a deep commitment to organic production, excellent customer service, collaboration, and integrity. With this as a framework, the Manager of Organic Services will manage the day-to-day operations of the MCIA Organic Services Department including responsibility for supervising staff, overseeing the budget, and ensuring regulatory compliance.
Application information on the MCIA website: https://www.mncia.org/
Essential duties and responsibilities:
1. Oversee, plan, and manage the MCIA Organic Services and Organic Plus Trust Grass Fed Program.
2. Ensure compliance with USDA NOP regulations, directives, and MCIA policies.
3. Ensure positive accreditation results by overseeing the preparation and submission of accreditation
documents, preparing for and responding to audits.
4. Work with direct staff in an open, transparent and cooperative environment. Actively include direct staff in
decisions and the direction and management of the program. In collaboration with direct staff and executive
management consider the organizational structure of the Organic Department.
5. Ensure Internal Program Audit is conducted, appropriate corrective actions determined and effectively
implemented.
6. Oversee implementation of standards, including changes to regulations, standard operating procedures, work
instructions, or guidance documents.
7. Contribute to and oversee organic program improvement through form modifications, certification process
streamlining, and other program enhancements.
8. Explore alternative options and work with current database and technology resources to ensure operational
quality and efficiency.
9. Recommend hiring and promoting as well as disciplinary actions of direct reports. Provide oversight and
direction to staff, ensure creation and implementation of certification policies and procedures in a timely
manner, ensure accurate, efficient, and courteous customer service by all staff.
10. Mentor, develop, and support remote and in-person staff through training and collaboration. Delegate duties,
provide clear expectations and constructive feedback. Conduct annual evaluation of organic staff.
11. Direct staff to ensure timeliness of all aspects of the program including inspections, evaluations, and final
certification decisions.
12. Ability to analyze complex scenarios and find constructive solutions.
13. Work with executive management in developing and executing the annual departmental budget and creating
short and long-range objectives and growth strategies.
Job Description—Manager of Organic Services Staff Print Date: 5/21/2025
Controlled Version: 5/20/2025 Page 2 of 3 © 2025 Minnesota Crop Improvement Association
14. Contribute to the Minnesota Seed Grower, MCIA’s quarterly newsletter, and other MCIA publications.
15. Maintain certification related contracts and agreements with other agencies such as but not limited to ACA,
IOIA, OMRI, PCO, OTA. Serve as main point of contact for certification-related legal issues.
16. Assess and determine attendance at industry events. Represent MCIA or delegate staff at industry events,
professional associations, and NOP hosted trainings.
17. Consider and add additional related compliance programs as appropriate.
18. Perform other duties including inspections, certification, and administrative staff work as needed.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Minimum Qualifications
• B.S. in agriculture, business, or related field
• Completion of formal organic inspector training, such as IOIA courses
• Five years of experience in organic certification
• Demonstrated management and supervisory experience
• Valid driver's license
Preferred Qualifications
• M.S. in agriculture, business, or related field
• Eight years or more experience in organic inspection and certification
• Eight years or more experience in preparing budgets
• Eight years or more demonstrated management experience
• Hybrid work environment with the ability to work in-person at the MCIA office 2–3 days per week
Skills and Physical Demands
• Excellent organizational skills managing multiple priorities and performing written deadlines.
• Promote and ensure excellence in customer service.
• Promote good work ethics, integrity, positive attitude, and collaborative teamwork environment.
• Accurate, efficient, and detail oriented.
• Reviewing and auditing work completed by staff and inspections reports, including analysis of reasoning and
calculations.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, communication, analytical, and organizational skills. Ability to handle
confidential information with great sensitivity, excellent reasoning abilities, and sound judgement.
• Ability to work with limited supervision, highly self-motivated.
• Work for long periods of time at a computer.
• Ability to multitask and prioritize tasks on a regular basis.
• Ability to travel, including some overnight travel. Must possess a valid driver’s license.
Proficiencies
Communications:
Excellent ability to clearly and effectively communicate at all levels and in multiple formats (written, spoken, etc.) to a
diverse set of clients. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations, to customers,
clients, board members, staff, and other employees.
Computer:
Strong computer skills and working knowledge of Microsoft Office 365 software programs such as Word, Excel,
PowerPoint, and Outlook. Work with other computer software programs such as Filemaker that are specific to the MCIA
database and program. Ability to effectively communicate through email and teleconference platforms.
Reasoning:
Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
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