Status: Field

Reports to: Chief Operating Officer, with close collaboration with the Rwenzori Field Coordinator

Direct Reports: Field Officers, Field Trainees/Interns

Location: Field - Rwenzori

About Mountain Harvest

Mountain Harvest is a young, innovative coffee production company that was founded in 2017 and works to raise the quality of life for smallholder Arabica coffee farmers in Uganda by increasing incomes, helping build farm and household assets, and enhancing farmer resilience to shocks on a commercially and environmentally sustainable basis. Mountain Harvest believes such change can only be achieved by unlocking and monetizing the unrealized potential of the farmers' coffee and farms. Our approach involves three major interventions:

• Elevating quality into the premium segment of the specialty coffee market,

• Disconnecting pricing from the commodity markets through a relationship-based trade with roaster-retailers that pay substantially higher prices for quality and impact (social and environmental)

• And by using the additional margin generated from higher prices to invest at the farm level through an intense, service-oriented engagement with farmers

Job Description

Job Summary: The Field Agronomy and Certification Officer has two core responsibilities covering farmer agronomy training and certification. The position is responsible for ensuring farmers are trained and coffee products and processes meet specific standards and certifications set by regulatory bodies. He/she will help maintain the integrity of company–farmer relations and coffee certifications, which are crucial for sustainability, ethical sourcing, and meeting consumer expectations.

Field Agronomy Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support with the development of agriculture-related need assessments used to inform proposal design.
• Design Training of Trainer (ToT) programs (content and implementation plans) on coffee management, production, improving product yield, and climate change-related topics.
• Conducting training on coffee agronomy through educational presentations and visiting fields to carry out demonstrations on better agronomic practices.
• Set up, research, and lead practical studies in coffee agronomy & promoting agricultural strategies to counter the effects of changes in soil, climate, weather, and pest damage.
• Supervise and monitor the implementation of regenerative agricultural practices on company farmers.
• Supervise, coach, and monitor the implementation of demonstration plots, nurseries, coffee, and climate studies in cooperation with Field Officers and Farmers.
• Design and update the training manual on best practices in coffee production.
• Maintain a farmer record-keeping database and perform regular quality control checks.
• Write up concise reports presenting progress and findings to management,

Certification Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with stakeholders to develop and establish clear certification standards related to coffee quality, sustainability, organic farming, fair trade practices, or other relevant criteria.
• Conduct on-site audits and assessments of coffee farms, processing facilities, and supply chain partners to verify compliance with established standards and regulations.
• Analyse audit results and assess whether Mountain Harvest complies with the established certification standards, including quality, sustainability, regenerative practices, and other criteria.
• Offer guidance, feedback, and recommendations to Mountain Harvest regarding necessary improvements or modifications to achieve and maintain certification compliance.
• Handle disputes or issues related to certification compliance, working to resolve conflicts while upholding the integrity of the certification process.
• Keep accurate and up-to-date records of coffee certifications, audits, assessments, and related documentation, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Work closely with farmers, cooperatives, and other stakeholders to educate them about certification requirements, best practices, and the benefits of compliance.
• Prepare and present regular reports summarizing certification activities, audit results, compliance trends, and recommendations to management and other stakeholders.
• Conduct educational workshops and training sessions to promote understanding and adoption of certification standards for Mountain Harvest employees and farmers at large.
• Provide excellent customer service by addressing inquiries, concerns, and requests from farmers and stakeholders in a timely and professional manner.

Qualifications, Skills, and Experience:

•  The applicant must hold a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Science or a closely related field. Possession of an advanced degree will be an advantage.
• At least 3 years of experience working in coffee agronomy and sustainability practices.
• At least 3 years of experience working on major coffee sustainability certification schemes such as Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance, and Organic. Experience should include managing and overseeing certification processes, including auditing, compliance assessment, and ensuring adherence to certification standards.
• At least 1 year of field experience in the greater Rwenzori area
• Data-driven and digitally fluent, with evident leadership, motivation, and engagement competencies.
• Fluent in English
• Fluent in Lukonzo and/or Runyakitara