Quality Assurance Officer, Nakaseke, Uganda

BRAC Vacancy: Quality Assurance Officer, Nakaseke, Uganda | UNjobs Toggle navigation Latest Duty Stations Organizations Closing Soon Quality Assurance Officer, Nakaseke, Uganda Organization: BRAC Country: Uganda Field location: Nakaseke Office: BRAC Nakaseke, Uganda About BRAC Enterprise Uganda Limited (BSBE) BRAC Social Enterprises (BSBE) Uganda Limited was established in 2010 as a not for-profit venture to produce and distribute quality seeds, planting and stock material to vulnerable communities. In 2014, it transitioned to a fully-fledged commercial enterprise and expanded its services to field crop seeds research and certified seed processing, packaging, sales, marketing and distribution. In support of its social objective to improve employment opportunities, promote good agronomic behaviors and increase income among vulnerable communities, BSBE works with smallholder farmers as contract growers (about 45% are women and youth) to produce and multiply quality seeds. Seeds purchased from contract growers are then processed and packaged at BSBE's seed processing plant, before distribution through a hybrid network of agro-dealers and other partners. BSBE operates under BRAC International Enterprises B.V., a fully owned subsidiary of Stitching BRAC International. BIEBV is a socially responsible for profit organization dedicated to scaling impactful and sustainable social enterprises that contribute to BRAC International's social mission while generating profits that further support scale and impact. While BSBE is a separately registered for-profit company in Uganda, it originally grew out of BRAC International's NGO in Uganda and BSBE continues to work closely with the NGO. Position (1): Quality Assurance Officer Job Location : Brac Seed Processing Plant, Nakaseke, Uganda Job Summary: To act as the independent custodian of seed quality across the entire value chain. The Quality Assurance Officer is responsible for enforcing strict quality standards during field production, managing the internal seed testing laboratory, and overseeing regulatory compliance. The role maintains independent technical authority over batch quality release decisions in accordance with certified seed standards. Crucially, this role extends beyond the factory to include market shelf-life monitoring and investigating customer performance complaints to protect the BRAC Seed brand reputation. Education Qualifications Degree or Diploma in Agriculture, Biology, Seed Science, or Plant Pathology or any related fields. Responsibilities . Specifically, the Quality Assurance Officer shall be responsible for but not limited to the following: A. Field Quality Assurance (Pre-Harvest) · Standard Setting: Develop and update the "Field Inspection Protocols" (rogueing, isolation distances) for the Seed Production Officers to follow. · Field Audits: Conduct independent, spot-check inspections during critical growth stages (flowering, pre-harvest) to verify that field teams are adhering to genetic purity standards. · Pre-Harvest Clearance : Issue the technical "Green Light" for harvesting. If a field doesn't meet moisture or purity standards, you have the authority to delay harvest to prevent wastage. B. Laboratory Operations & Intake Control · Intake Gatekeeper: Oversee the reception of raw seed at the factory. Perform immediate moisture and visual checks. Authority to reject any delivery that does not meet the "Acceptance Criteria". · Internal Lab Management: Manage the internal testing lab operations. Conduct purity, germination, and moisture content tests on all processed batches before packaging. · Calibration: Ensure all lab equipment (moisture meters, scales) is calibrated and maintained according to ISTA (International Seed Testing Association) standards. C. Regulatory Compliance & Certification · Blue Label Execution : Execute the technical steps for MAAIF certification. Prepare official samples, schedule government inspectors, and ensure all documentation is ready for "Blue Label" issuance. · Plant Hygiene & Safety : Enforce EHS (Environment, Health, Safety) standards within the processing plant, ensuring treated seeds are handled safely and chemical residues are managed correctly D. Market Quality Monitoring · Shelf-Life Surveillance : Conduct periodic "Mystery Sampling" from the Container Village and Agro-dealer shelves. Test these samples to check if seed viability is dropping due to poor storage conditions in the market · Complaint Investigation : Lead the technical investigation of customer complaints (e.g., poor germination reports). Analyze the "Reference Sample" kept at the lab vs. the field complaint to determine the root cause. E. Systems & Data Management · Odoo Quality Control: Manage the "Quality Status" of batches in the Odoo ERP. You are the only person authorized to move stock from "Quarantine" to "Available for Sale." · Traceability Audit: Periodically audit the traceability logs to ensure that the Production team is correct