Controls Officer

This is a hands-on, field-intensive role working directly with Rural Entrepreneur Partners (EPs), farmers, warehouse staff, and agronomists in rural settings. You will conduct daily monitoring, verify compliance with agricultural protocols, track performance gates, and detect problems before they become losses.Critical Context: During the pilot phase, you will work with unsophisticated users in challenging rural environments using intentionally manual and labor-intensive processes. This is not a limitation—it is the strategy. Every manual inspection you conduct, every data point you record, every problem you document becomes the foundation for designing effective automation systems when we scale. You are building the blueprint.As Controls Officer, you are the eyes and hands of the company's performance management function in India. Your job is to execute systematic controls that protect our pilot investment, prevent value leakage, and gather the data that proves (or disproves) our business model.Primary Responsibilities:1. Daily EP Performance Monitoring (40% of time)Calendar Execution Tracking: Visit farms weekly to verify actual vs. planned agricultural calendar milestones (land prep, sowing, input application, pest management, harvest timing). Flag delays >3 days immediately to HQ and Country Manager.Gate-Based Control Verification: Check whether farms are passing or failing critical control gates (germination rates, nutrient application timing, pest thresholds, yield forecasts). Document root causes of gate failures. Report weekly to HQ.SOP Compliance Spot Checks: Conduct random audits (20% of farms) to verify EPs are following standard operating procedures. Take GPS-tagged photos of field conditions, input applications, and task completion. Submit evidence through mobile forms.EP Performance Scorecards: Collect weekly data for EP performance metrics: SOP compliance, budget variance, yield vs. forecast, calendar adherence. Input data into tracking systems for HQ analysis.2. Loss Prevention & Fraud Detection (30% of time)Weighbridge Monitoring (CRITICAL during harvest): Conduct unannounced spot checks at weighbridge during harvest period. Verify camera system is recording. Randomly re-weigh 5% of loads. Compare weighbridge tickets against system records. Investigate discrepancies >2%. This is your highest priority during harvest weeks.Warehouse Inventory Spot Checks: Conduct weekly random physical counts of input inventory (seeds, fertilizers, pesticides) and compare against system records. Verify gate pass documentation for all movements. Check CCTV functionality. Flag shrinkage >3%.Harvest Security Coordination: During harvest periods, coordinate with local security personnel hired to maintain 24-hour presence. Conduct daily check-ins. Verify fields are secure overnight. Report any theft incidents immediately.Anomaly Investigation: Follow up on any unusual patterns flagged by HQ analytics (unexpected cost variances, irregular disbursements, suspicious yield gaps). Conduct field interviews. Document findings. Recommend corrective actions.3. Data Collection & Benchmarking (20% of time)Benchmark Data Collection: Gather baseline data from local sources: smallholder farmer yields in the region, top commercial farm performance, input prices, labor rates, logistics costs, harvest/storage loss rates. Build relationships with agricultural extension officers, research stations, and farmer cooperatives to access data.Plot-Level Performance Recording: Document granular farm-level data: actual yields by crop/variety/plot, cost per hectare, quality grades, harvest efficiency, calendar execution, gate pass/fail rates. Maintain detailed records for season-close validation reports.Loss Documentation: Record all observed losses: harvest field losses, storage losses, transit shrinkage, quality downgrades, pest damage, weather impacts. Quantify losses where possible. Photograph evidence. This data informs scale-up control design.4. Training & Capacity Building (10% of time)EP Training Support: Assist with on-boarding new EPs on control protocols, reporting requirements, and performance expectations. Verify understanding through field demonstrations. Provide ongoing coaching on proper documentation.Warehouse Staff Training: Train warehouse personnel on inventory management protocols, gate pass systems, and physical count procedures. Verify competency through observation.Community Engagement: Build relationships with local tribal leaders and respected community figures who can serve as oversight during critical operations. Explain the mutual benefits of theft prevention and long-term partnership.REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONSEducation & ExperienceEducation: Bachelor's degree in Agriculture, Agribusiness, Accounting, Auditing, or related field. Agricultural background strongly preferred.Experience: Atleast 5 years of relevant experience in agricultural operations, quality control, internal audit, or compliance in rural/agricultural settings in India.Agricultural Knowledge: Practical understanding of crop production cycles (maize, beans, potatoes, vegetables). Ability to recognize good vs. poor agronomic practices in the field. Familiarity with input management (seeds, fertilizers, pesticides).Rural Experience: Comfortable working in rural Indian farming communities. Experience working with smallholder farmers or outgrower schemes. Understanding of local farming practices and cultural context.