Role: Compliance Implementation Manager

Department: Standards & Verification

Location: Bellingham, WA; Remote

Employment type: Full-time, salary

Professional Level: Managerial

Salary Range: $70,000 - $85,000

About the Standards & Verification Team:

STANDARDS & VERIFICATION

The Standards & Verification team at the Non-GMO Project is responsible for maintaining the technical integrity of our Product Verification Program. We stay up to date on developments in the world of GMOs, support our third-party certifiers who are known as Technical Administrators (TA) in administering the Non-GMO Project Standard (the Standard), and facilitate the overall quality assurance of our programs. Our team is a cross-section of scientists, researchers, technical implementation virtuosos, maestros of quality, manufacturing industry veterans, and solution seekers. We’re skilled at wading through the details, interpreting and synthesizing complex information, speaking industry language and using our expertise to ensure that the Standard remains North America’s most trusted standard for GMO avoidance. If you’re interested in joining a team of unapologetic nerds who also happen to enjoy a good game of jeopardy every now and then, then the Standards & Verification team may be for you! 

About the Non-GMO Project

We’re passionate about what we’re doing as an organization and about who we are being and becoming through our everyday actions. We endeavor to be open-hearted collaborators, creatively and intentionally impacting the world we live in with our individual and collective choices.

The Non-GMO Project is a non-profit organization offering rigorous product verification and trustworthy education that empowers people to care for themselves, the planet and future generations. The work culture at the Project is informed by our values. We believe in the power of our individual and collective choices and care not only about what we’re doing as an organization but also who we are being and becoming through our everyday actions. From the choices we make to how we treat each other, we are shaping the world we live in together.

As an equal opportunity employer, the Non-GMO Project embraces the pursuit of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of our work as critical to our mission. We do not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, national origin, color, gender (including gender identity), sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, family, marital or parental status, religious affiliation, creed, the presence of any physical, mental or sensory impairment, immigrant status, age, personal appearance, veteran status or any other protected class in accordance with all applicable federal, state and local laws. We collectively uphold this commitment. We celebrate our inclusive work environment and welcome members of all backgrounds to apply.

What We’re Looking For 

We are seeking a mission and values-aligned certification professional who excels at translating desired compliance outcomes into pragmatic, clear, actionable and effective requirements, while always keeping in mind the big picture. 

This person enjoys learning about the intricacies of different (primarily food and agriculture related) industries, being challenged by the complexities of operationalizing Standard requirements across a wide range of businesses and multiple certifiers, collaborative brainstorming to determine appropriate courses of action, and thinking creatively and strategically about how to preserve and expand the Non-GMO ecosystem. 

In this role, the candidate should be adept at communicating ideas and technical concepts in various ways and forms (e.g., written, orally, in webinars, etc.) to audiences ranging from third-party technical administrators of the Standard to brands participating in the Product Verification Program and their supply chains. They should also be skilled in listening deeply to stakeholder feedback, considering multiple perspectives, and being adaptive about how to implement requirements in a way that acknowledges industry realities while maintaining program integrity.

An aptitude for breaking down complex work that can span months and sometimes years into manageable and meaningful tasks, understanding how to make progress and clear obstacles, and bringing initiatives across the finish line is essential.  The ability to interpret and extrapolate from existing requirements and precedents to address new challenges is also essential. 

Ultimately, the role requires the successful candidate to bring a solid foundation of related experience with a drive and ability to learn on the job and become a subject matter expert in the process of implementing standards and the Standard itself.

About Your Application

To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume. Your cover letter should address your interest in working with the Non-GMO Project and any particular skills or strengths you feel would qualify you for this role. We are committed to reviewing your application and hold ourselves accountable to creating an equitable process for each candidate. To learn more about our organization, please visit our website (www.nongmoproject.org).

Reasonable Accommodations 

If you’re a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please reach out to accommodations@nongmoproject.org.

Who You Are

• You are a demonstrated critical and strategic thinker
• You are a certification professional experienced in evaluating to a standard
• You are adept at both seeing the big picture and being detail-oriented
• You are interested in how food is grown, processed, packaged, distributed, sold, and consumed
• You are relational, empathetic, and a clear communicator in your approach to working with others
• You are a self-directed learner and enjoy developing your subject matter expertise 
• You have a knack for creating and maintaining momentum
• You are possibility and solutions-oriented
• You enjoy translating complex technical concepts into plain language
• You are skilled at organizing information and data, making it easily accessible, and presenting it in ways that are relevant and offer insight to the topic at hand
• You have a talent for picking up on patterns, systems, and interactions

Areas of Responsibility

• Program Integrity and Standardization
• Draft and disseminate standardized program documents and technical administrator reporting templates; maintain document control procedures
• Track, manage and report on compliance deadlines; work with technical administrators as required to ensure program participants complete compliance transitions

• Administration, Organization, and Integration

• Create and maintain a Technical Implementation Calendar managed according to organizational priorities, program needs, and changes in the larger GMO landscape
• Write implementation guidance, integrating peer-written interpretive guidance, and publish to technical administrators to support their clarity in understanding Standard requirements
• Manage recurring program activities such as periodic updates to information tables that inform compliance 
• Plan, execute, and facilitate technically-focused events  
• Provide visibility into and project management for longer-term projects 
• Develop processes to harmonize the application of compliance requirements using iterative and collaborative approaches with both technical administrators and internal stakeholders  

• TA Technical Support

• Function as technical liaison for technical administrators helping them troubleshoot challenges relating to PVP technical implementation. 
• Manage the Technical Administrator Portal (TAP), a key resource for technical administrators to access technical and other business collateral, applying continuous improvement and optimum user experience principles

• Calibration and Harmonization:
• Develop the concept for, plan, produce, and facilitate technical administrator gatherings for the generative exchange of non-confidential information and ideas to support program integrity and elegance

Experience You Bring 

• 5+ years of professional experience in the certification space in the technical division of either a standard-owning organization or a certifier
• 3+ years of managing 1-3 direct reports 
• Experience working with external stakeholders in both service provider and service receiver roles
• Experience with designing and leading projects of various durations
• Demonstrated ability to organize, manipulate, and interpret data
• A demonstrated ability to learn quickly and think strategically 
• Solid computer literacy, including experience with Google Workspace and Microsoft Office
• Education, lived experience, professional experience, or a combination thereof in the fields of agriculture, biology, supply chain management, manufacturing, or food science is preferred
• Proficiency with Salesforce, Google Sites (or other website applications), and Smartsheets is preferred

Current Benefit Package 

• Health, vision, and dental insurance includes a wide range of medical insurance options to choose from. The Project contributes a flat rate ($420) towards employee premiums which covers the base-level HSA medical plan in full. Employees have the option to opt into more robust plans.  
• Paid time off: 10 paid holidays, your birthday, 8 care days, and paid vacation starting at 15 days a year  
• Annual training & development budget
• 401k Retirement Option and a 3% company match 
• Annual Variable Pay (per person bonus)
• $500/year WFH benefit
• Flexible schedule and remote-first work arrangements (office based in Bellingham, WA)
• 36 hour workweek
• Engage in meaningful, mission-oriented work in a values focused work environment

About Non-GMO Project

The Non-GMO Project is passionate about what we’re doing as an organization and about who we are being and becoming through our everyday actions. We endeavor to be open-hearted collaborators, creatively and intentionally impacting the world we live in with our individual and collective choices. The Non-GMO Project is a non-profit organization offering rigorous product verification and trustworthy education that empowers people to care for themselves, the planet and future generations. The work culture at the Project is informed by our values. We believe in the power of our individual and collective choices and care not only about what we’re doing as an organization but also who we are being and becoming through our everyday actions. From the choices we make to how we treat each other, we are shaping the world we live in together.

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