Manager - ICS & Certification

Cowberry Industries; Surat; On-site; INR 1,800,000 - 3,600,000; Full time

Job summary

Cowberry Industries is seeking an experienced National Head IC to lead national Internal Control System development, organic certification, and compliance across multiple states. You will drive CAPA, audits, traceability, and procurement integration while leading a large team of field officers and managers.

The role requires deep knowledge of NPOP, NOP, EU Organic standards and extensive experience in multi-state organic farming projects.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of relevant IC development and organic certification experience.
• Strong experience with NPOP, NOP, EU Organic, and PGS-India certification systems.
• Proven track record in multi-state organic farming and certification projects.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement national-level IC strategies, SOPs, manuals, and QA systems.
• Oversee certification management, audits, CAPA, and audit readiness.
• Coordinate farmer registration, inspections, and data validation.
• Lead procurement planning, warehouse management, and supply chain coordination.
• Mentor and manage Multi-Certification Managers and field teams.
• Implement digital MIS for farmer records, inspections, and traceability.

Skills

National IC Strategy & Development

Organic Certification & Compliance

NPOP / NOP / EU / PGS-India Standards

Internal Inspection & Audit Management

CAPA & Risk Assessment

Farmer Mobilization & FPO Development

Procurement & Supply Chain

Digital MIS & TraceNet 2.0

Team Leadership & Multi-State PM

Strategic Planning & Performance

Education

M.Sc. in Agriculture

Ph.D. in Agriculture

Organic Agriculture / Agribusiness / Rural Development / SCM (advantage)

Job description

1. About the Role

We are looking for an experienced and result-oriented National Head IC to lead national-level Internal Control System (ICS) development, organic certification, compliance management, and multi-state agricultural operations.

The ideal candidate should have strong expertise in organic certification standards, farmer mobilization, internal inspections, third-party audits, traceability, procurement integration, and team leadership.

The position will be responsible for developing national IC strategies, ensuring certification compliance, strengthening field operations, and managing large-scale organic and natural farming projects.

2. Key Roles & Responsibilities

A. National IC Strategy & Compliance

• Develop and implement national-level IC strategies, SOPs, manuals, and quality assurance systems.
• Ensure compliance with NPOP, NOP, EU Organic, PGS-India, and applicable natural farming standards.
• Establish standardized compliance protocols across multiple states and projects.
• Drive Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA) and maintain audit readiness.

B. Certification & Audit Management

• Manage farmer registration, internal inspections, documentation, and data validation.
• Plan and coordinate internal inspections, external audits, and annual surveillance audits.
• Coordinate with accredited certification bodies and regulatory authorities.
• Monitor audit observations, non‑compliances, and corrective action closure.

C. Risk Management & Product Traceability

• Conduct pre‑audit risk assessments and contamination risk analysis.
• Monitor input‑output mass balance, seed records, farm production estimates, and product traceability.
• Ensure farm‑to‑warehouse traceability and certified produce segregation.
• Maintain certification integrity throughout the supply chain.

D. Procurement & Business Operations

• Align certified farmer clusters with corporate procurement plans and business requirements.
• Coordinate crop planning, harvest forecasting, production estimates, and procurement targets.
• Monitor certified commodity volumes, warehouse operations, stock reconciliation, and quality standards.
• Ensure coordination between farmer groups, procurement teams, and supply chain operations.

E. Team Leadership & Capacity Building

• Lead, guide, and mentor Multi‑Certification Managers, Regional IC Managers, Project Executives, Field Officers, and Internal Inspectors.
• Develop team capabilities through structured training and performance management.
• Conduct farmer training on organic production, bio‑input preparation, pest management, and certification standards.
• Ensure effective execution of national and state‑level project targets.

F. Digital MIS & Reporting Management

• Implement and monitor digital MIS systems for farmer registration, inspections, certification, and traceability.
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting through TraceNet 2.0, PGS-India, and other relevant certification platforms.
• Review daily, weekly, and monthly reports and monitor project performance.
• Consolidate national‑level operational, certification, procurement, and compliance reports for senior management.

3. Reporting Structure

Reporting To: CEO / Managing Director / Director – Operations.

Direct Reporting & Coordination:

• Multi‑Certification Managers
• Regional IC Managers
• Project Executives
• Field Officers
• Internal Inspectors
• Documentation and MIS Teams

Reporting Responsibilities:

• Collect and review periodic reports from all Multi‑Certification Managers, Project Executives, and Field Officers.
• Monitor state‑wise and project‑wise performance against assigned targets.
• Review farmer registration, inspection progress, certification status, and audit compliance.
• Consolidate reports and present progress, challenges, and corrective action plans to senior management.
• Ensure accountability, timely reporting, and effective coordination across all operational levels.

4. Operational Scale & Performance Expectations

• Manage large‑scale multi‑state IC operations and farmer networks.
• Experience in supervising approximately 38 IC clusters covering 19,000+ registered organic farmers.
• Manage multi‑disciplinary teams comprising managers, project executives, warehouse staff, accountants, and field supervisors.
• Establish digital tracking systems for farmer records, inspections, production, procurement, and traceability.
• Ensure effective coordination between certification, production, procurement, and supply chain departments.

5. Educational Qualification

• M.Sc. in Agriculture – Mandatory.
• Ph.D. in Agriculture – Preferred.
• Additional qualifications in Organic Agriculture, Agribusiness, Rural Development, or Supply Chain Management will be an advantage.

6. Required Professional Experience

• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience in IC development and organic certification.
• Strong experience in NPOP, NOP, EU Organic, and PGS-India certification systems.
• Proven experience in multi‑state organic farming and certification projects.
• Experience in managing large farmer networks, FPOs, and field teams.
• Strong knowledge of internal inspections, third‑party audits, CAPA, and traceability systems.
• Experience in procurement planning, warehouse management, and certified commodity operations.

7. Key Skills & Competencies

• National IC Strategy & Development
• Organic Certification & Compliance Management
• NPOP / NOP / EU / PGS-India Standards
• Internal Inspection & External Audit Management
• CAPA & Risk Assessment
• Farmer Mobilization & FPO Development
• Procurement & Supply Chain Management
• Digital MIS & TraceNet 2.0
• Team Leadership & Multi‑State Project Management
• Strategic Planning & Performance Monitoring

8. Language Proficiency

• English: Good proficiency – Written and Verbal.
• Gujarati: Fluent – Written and Verbal.
• Hindi: Fluent – Written and Verbal.