Company Profile

The Cocoa Abrabopa Association (CAA) is an independent cocoa farmer Association established for the serious Ghanaian cocoa farmers. The Association is a non-political, non-profit organization seeking a Better Life for its members by professionalizing cocoa farming. The association has over 60 field staff involved in different operational activities. CAA is Rainforest Alliance Certified and has an Internal Management System to ensure compliance with the standards. As part of the standards additional verification activities need to be carried out in the operational areas of the association.

Job Description

The association has over 60 field staff involved in different operational activities. CAA is Rainforest Alliance Certified and has an Internal Management System to ensure compliance with the standards.

As part of the Internal Management System of the association, several activities (Farmer trainings on RA standards, Internal Inspections, Traceability, etc.) are implemented to ensure compliance to the Rainforest Alliance standards, as well as other customer driven specifications. The Candidate assesses and evaluate all necessary requirements at the Farmer, Collector (Purchasing Clerk), and Warehouse levels leading to ensuring full compliance with the RA standards and other Customer driven specifications. 

The Compliance Officer is stationed in a regional demarcated area of the Cocoa Abrabopa Association, and travels to specific operational districts and communities of the farmers. The Compliance Officer will use a mobile application as part of data collection, monitoring and evaluation activities. The Compliance Officer reports to the Certification Manager.

Daily duties and responsibilities

• Evaluate biodata accuracy of farmers and their communities against the CAA database [Management Chapter – RA SAS 2020]
• Evaluate farmer knowledge and compliance on the Rainforest Alliance Standards [Management Chapter – RA SAS 2020]
• Evaluate farmer documentation system for availability and accuracy [Management Chapter – RA SAS 2020]
• Evaluate Traceability system at Farmer, Collector, and Warehouse levels [Traceability Chapter – RA SAS 2020]
• Evaluate Premium payment consistency against volume produced and delivered by Farmer [Income & Shared Responsibility Chapter – RA SAS 2020]
• Evaluate farm condition (pre & post-harvest practices) and compliance to the RA standards. This includes pesticides use. [Farming Chapter – RA SAS 2020]
• Evaluate at the farmer, collector and Warehouse levels (Including their workers) all human right and working conditions requirement [Social Chapter – RA SAS 2020]
• Evaluate at the farmer and farm level, all environmental requirements including deforestation, riparian buffers, etc. [Environment Chapter]
• Prepares weekly and monthly reports to the Certification Manager.
• Any other task assigned by the Certification Manager.

Required Skills or Experience

• The Compliance Officer should be a detailed-oriented professional who uses analytical skills and follows all procedures to ensure that all internal processes are followed according to the policies;
• The Compliance Officer has a bachelor degree, a minimum in Agric Business, Certification, business Administration or any other related study.
• The Compliance Officer has a minimum of 3 years’ experience in the cocoa sector in Ghana;
• Candidates with specialized supplementary experience is a plus
• Candidate should be knowledgeable in the Rainforest Alliance Standards
• Candidates should have a valid license and proven track record for usage of a motorbike
• The candidate has strong written and verbal communication skills
• The candidate should possess computer skills and is able to independently create digital reports.
• The candidate is able to work and live in rural deprived communities.
• The Compliance Officer is able to show a criminal check certificate.
• The candidate should be fluent in English writing, reading and speaking.
• The candidate should be fluent in the Twi language. Any other local language is a plus.