Quality Assurance and Quality Control Officer at ECOBasic Seed Company Limited

Purpose of Job

• Effective management and control of the quality assurance function to ensure compliance with best agronomy practices, supply of quality and adequate foundation and certified seed volumes.

Key Functions / Responsibilities

• Monitor seed production (breeder, foundation and certified) activities for quality assurance (QA)/quality control (QC) at various seed production sites
• Prepare production field and warehouse audit schedules each season.
• Ensure seed legislation as laid down in the NASC Seeds Act and Seeds (Certification Scheme) is complied with throughout the seed supply chain
• Ensure compliance with the NASC and ISTA methods in seed testing and storage
• Oversee all activities of the seed testing laboratories: Physical Purity, Germination and Genetic Purity Testing (GPT)
• Ensure the implementation of the relevant Quality Management System (QMS)
• Liaison with relevant stakeholders and the certifying authority (Seed Services)
• To ensure that all seed crops are registered with the certifying authority
• To inspect and verify all deliveries to be made to customers before dispatch.
• Prepare monthly reports and ensure that all QA audits are shared with the relevant departments
• Carry out farm visits during the growing season to ensure the seed is produced in accordance with the Seed Certification Scheme
• Formulation and continual improvement of seed production quality assurance models
• Ensure adequate controls to minimize risk in the seed production and testing process
• Coordinate and document stewardship periodic training activities for seed producers, agro- dealers, farmers and ensure that farmers are adequately trained on stewardship requirements for the cultivation of ECOBasic's transgenic products in Nigeria.
• Monitor and ensure farmer's compliance to the product stewardship requirements (including insect resistance management IRM and refuge). Implement and document actions to improve levels of compliance when below expectations.
• Track, verify, document and report farmers complaints on ECOBasic products for remedial actions to be taken. Ensure that seed companies (AATF licensees) complaint handling systems are actively and efficiently implemented.
• Ensure that every recorded complaint is followed up. Make a quarterly summary of complaints and remedial actions.
• Generate a quarterly overall stewardship report (including all above elements) to be used as core document for intemal and external stewardship status and stewardship improvement communications.

Recruitment Qualifications

Education:

• At least a Bachelor's Degree or equivalent from a recognised University in Agricultural Sciences or related discipline

Experience:

• At least 3 years of relevant experience and sound knowledge in product stewardship and quality assurance with a reputed private or public sector seed entity, preferably in Africa
• Experience in seed production, seed processing and seed distribution
• Knowledge of Resistance Management for biotech traits
• Quality Management Systems in seed production, knowledge of ISO is an advantage
• Good understanding of the SSA agricultural biotechnology socio-political and policy environments.

Other Requirements:

• Fluency in written and spoken English. A working knowledge of Hausa language is highly sought for
• Mature, self-starter, time conscious and goal driven
• Good interpersonal skills
• Be computer literate
• Driver's license.