Modernizing the assurance system for global supply chains covering traders, factories, farmers and fisheries around the world. Oversight of global assurance program covering more than 1500+ audits of farms, factories, fisheries and traders in 63 countries, conducted by both in-house audit teams and through 3rd party audit bodies. Responsibilities include: • Strategic development and operational implementation of the compliance enforcement and assurance system covering all certification programs.• Maintaining certification best practices for internal and 3rd party audits.• Designing and implementing system improvements.• Establishing and implementing short- and long-range goals, objectives, policies, and operating• procedures for assurance activities.• Monitoring and evaluating operational risks and effectiveness of assurance programs.• Collaborating with internal teams to monitor implementation of standards to inform development of appropriate assurance policies, procedures, and rules.• Providing analysis and input to senior management and cross-departmental staff.• Contributing to department strategy development, operational plans, and budgeting.• Collaborating with across departments in developing, implementing and evaluating program activities to ensure they meet the needs of all stakeholders.• Directing team of Managers, Specialists and Assistants in carrying out and managing all assurance activities.• Managing relationships with external 3rd party assurance providers to carry out assurance activities, including negotiating contracts, developing, and tracking budgets, schedules and training.• Evaluating program needs to determine operational needs and resources to meet identified goals.• Monitoring audit assignment, timeline and operational performance of 3rd Party Assurance providers.• Coordinating overall engagement with 3rd party assurance providers, including training, calibration, and oversight for all Certification programs.

Strategic development and operational implementation of Trade Certification program, covering 1,400 certified operations. Responsible for developing, leading and supervising all aspects of certification, conducted by both inhouse and 3rd party assurance teams. Ensuring that systems and processes are developed, effectively implemented, and kept fully aligned with the organization’s strategic objectives and meeting all stakeholders' needs and expectations. Responsibilities included: • Design and development of certification programs and assurance system policies and operating procedures to scale processes.• Maintain certification best practices and monitor risks to the assurance system.• Collaborate with other teams across departments to implement measures for system improvements and mitigation of risks.• Direct and manage trade certification team of managers and specialists in carrying out periodic assurance and verification activities. • Oversight of verification of transaction reports, audit and assessment activities, and certification decisions.• Manage and grow certification relationships with licensees and brands in all categories, including its top-tier partners.• Collaborate with other stakeholders to monitor developments and learnings from the implementation of standards on the ground and develop appropriate compliance criteria interpretations to guide the assessment and verification processes.• Provide analysis and input into overall partner relationships and product management to senior management and cross-departmental staff.• Coordinate overall engagement with 3rd party audit bodies, including training, calibration, and oversight of audit quality.• Contribute to department strategy development, operational plans, and budgeting.

Working closely with the produce industry to support the use of GLOBALG.A.P. throughout the US and Canada in pursuit of a safer, more sustainable agricultural system. Development of the GLOBALG.A.P. network in the USA and Canada with a focus on growers and shippers, and implementing the company strategy at the national level. Responsible for increasing revenues and market share by promoting solutions among new and existing customers, through effective relationship and account management.Responsibilities included:• Development and management of relationships with fruit and vegetable producers and shippers to detect business opportunities and satisfy the needs of existing client base.• Promotion of organizational membership, training and capacity building opportunities.• Provide support to network of farm advisors and consultants.• Observe and analyze market and industry trends to inform planning and decision making.

Promoting environmental and social sustainability improvements in the Whole Foods Market global produce and floral supply chain.Responsibilities included:• Contributing subject matter expertise on sustainable agriculture practices. • Providing technical leadership to procurement teams.• Directing team of specialists in supporting supplier review.• Oversight over business use of SaS platform used for supplier verification.• Intra-organizational strategic planning.

Independent management of the implementation and growth of the Responsibly Grown sourcing program for sustainability in the Whole Foods Market produce supply chain, representing approximately $2 billion in sales per year. Responsbilities included:• Program analysis, review and development, and coordination across all levels. • Relationship management between internal business units.• Consultation with industry stakeholders to ensure program acceptance within the marketplace. • Management of contracted vendors and external consultants to support program development and implementation. • Oversight of SaS database maintinance and program website. • Leadership of a team of specialists performing supplier evaluation. • Collaboration with other senior managers to provide strategic direction to the business unit and company overall.• Maintaining current information through policy research and industry engagement. • Providing training, technical support and implementation guidance to procurement teams.

Execute launch of industry leading rating program to incentivize sustainable agriculture practices across nationwide produce and floral supply chain and purchasing divisions. Responsibilities included:• Consultation with key industry stakeholders to finalize program criteria and matrix. • Organize and host in person training events for regional purchasing teams and growers to facilitate understanding and compliance. • Program analysis, review and development, and coordination across all levels. • Relationship management between internal business units.• Conduct review of supplier supply chains and provide recommendations for improvements on sustainability topics. • Consultation with industry stakeholders to ensure program acceptance within the marketplace. • Management of contracted vendors and external consultants to support program development and implementation. • Oversight of development of SaS database and program website. • Collaboration with other senior managers to provide strategic direction to the business unit and company overall.• Informing requirements and decisions through policy research and industry engagement. • Providing training, technical support and implementation guidance to procurement teams. • Provide education, training and comprehensive support for all stakeholders.

Oversight of the largest department at the leading and largest organic certifier in the United States, with total annual revenues over $7 million. Responsibilities included:• Ensuring the maintinance of USDA and IOAS (International Organic Accreditation Service) accreditations including facilitating accreditation audits. • Oversight and development of quality and scheme management systems and staff. • Development, implementation, monitoring and improvement of organic certfication program systems and processes. • Ensuring ease of export to a variety of international markets including EU, Switzerland, Canada, Mexico, and Asia through monitoring of international export arrangements and agreements and ensuring cooperation with all export requirements and documentation. • Top line management of USDA Organic Grower and Livestock certification programs including policy development and implementation. • Member of the organizational executive management team conducting long term strategic planning and budget oversight. • Ongoing interaction with the organic community, including the National Organic Program. • Providing analysis and commentary on proposals to Program staff and National Organic Standards Board.• Ongoing development of GLOBALG.A.P. Global Food Safety Institute (GFSI) benchmarked food safety certification program for organic farms.

Responsibilities included:• Oversight and development of quality and scheme management systems and staff, including involvement managing the CCOF quality system and accreditation, with participation in internal and external audits. • Development, implementation, monitoring and improvement of organic certification program systems and processes. • Making policy decisions regarding interpretation and implementation of USDA organic regulations and international laws and regulations for department. • Top line management of USDA Organic Grower and Livestock certification programs including policy development and implementation. • Supervised Grower and Livestock certification activities including review of inspection reports and certification decisions. • Providing responses to compliance matters raised during accreditation audits by USDA National Organic Program and IOAS (International Organic Accreditation Service). • Managed department workload timeliness. • Provided subject matter expertise on technical issues, inspection review and quality management. • Member of the organizational executive management team conducting long term strategic planning and budget oversight. • Ongoing interaction with the organic community, including the National Organic Program. • Providing analysis and commentary on proposals to Program staff and National Organic Standards Board.• Directly managed a staff of nine Certification Specialists. • Independently trained certification personnel and assisted in training inspectors and regional representatives.

Management of certificaton technical operations for largest department, providing oversight and development support. Responsibilities included:• Supervised Grower and Livestock certification activities including review of inspection reports and certification decisions. • Develop and implement policies and procedures to ensure quality, consistency and quantity of certification decisions. • Support design and implementation of SaS certification database with Intact. • Providing responses to compliance matters raised during accreditation audits by USDA National Organic Program and IOAS (International Organic Accreditation Service). • Managed department workload timeliness. • Provided subject matter expertise on technical issues, inspection review and quality management. • Team leadership of between three to seven Certification Specialists.

Analyze client files and inspection reports to determine compliance to federal and international laws and regulations for certified organic crop and livestock operations.

Operations management and office administration for a mid-size coffee roasting company.Responsibilities included:• Soliciting and processing daily orders from wholesale clients.• Shipping online and retail orders.• Prepare label art and ensure compliance with requirements (organic, fair trade, etc).• Liason with roasting and packing team on quality and quantity of product required.• Coordinate long distance shipping logistics with trucking companies and brokers.• Maintain lot availability and traceability documentation and database.