Tupande Biochar Compliance Specialist (Fixed-Term) at One Acre Fund

About the Role



Owns the facility's Compliance function, combining leadership of the Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) programme with responsibility for facility Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) programme design and oversight. Designs and runs the data system that captures feedstock, production, quality, and end-use data to the standard required by the external verifier. Owns HSE programme design, training, documentation, and audit readiness. Serves as the primary interface with external verifiers, auditors, and regulators (NEMA, DOSH, third-party carbon verifiers). Reports to the Biochar Lead.



Responsibilities

Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) Leadership


Design and maintain the facility's HSE programme, including risk registers, emergency response plans, and safety-critical procedures
Design and deliver HSE training for all facility staff, including inductions, toolbox talks, and emergency drills
Ensure PPE distribution, safety signage, and site safety infrastructure are in place and maintained
Support the Production Shift Supervisors, who carry shift-level safety accountability, with the programme, tools, and training they need to enforce safety on shift.
Coordinate scheduled third-party HSE testing and audits (fire safety, emissions, occupational health)


Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) Leadership


Design, implement, and manage the facility's MRV system covering feedstock inputs, production outputs, quality measurements, and carbon removal calculations.
Ensure data collection processes across all shifts are accurate, consistent, and traceable to the carbon standards the facility reports against
Oversee and support the Lab and Quality Technicians in their data recording responsibilities to ensure the standard required for verification
Develop and maintain data management systems, dashboards, and reporting templates for MRV purposes
Stay current on evolving carbon standards, methodology requirements, and MRV best practices in the biochar sector


Audit Readiness


Serve as the primary point of contact with external verifiers, auditors, and certification bodies during verification and audit cycles (carbon, HSE, environmental)
Prepare and submit monthly and quarterly reports required for carbon credit verification
Prepare the facility for audits, including documents, site walkthroughs, and evidence for the verifier
When auditors flag issues, own the corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs) through to closure
Maintain audit-ready documentation across MRV, HSE, and environmental compliance streams at all times


Staff Training


Train all relevant staff at the facility on MRV data recording requirements, HSE procedures, and the importance of data and safety discipline
Coordinate cross-functionally with Production, Quality, and Administration on the completeness and accuracy of the data they record for MRV and safety reporting


Farmer Engagement


Develop and maintain training materials for field staff on correct biochar application methods and how to collect data at the point of delivery
Deliver refresher training to field teams before the start of each season


Qualifications


Degree in Health and Safety, Environmental Science, Engineering, Data Science, Agronomy, or a related field
Minimum 3 years of experience in HSE, compliance, audit, or environmental data management roles
Strong background in HSE, OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Act, Kenya, 2007), ISO (International Organization for Standardization), or comparable regulatory environments is a strong advantage
Comfort engaging with third-party auditors and external verifiers, and comfort designing and running audit-facing programmes
Familiarity with carbon standards (e.g., Isometric, Puro.earth, EBC, IBI) or carbon credit methodologies is a plus but not required. Successful candidates will build this expertise on the job, supported by Tupande's carbon partners
Strong data management, reporting, and analytical skills
Experience with data management platforms, spreadsheets, or environmental monitoring software
High attention to detail and a strong commitment to data integrity, traceability, and safety discipline
Willingness to learn on the job across both MRV and HSE domains; the role's success depends on translating a strong compliance foundation across both areas
Fluent in English; experience working in an East African context is an advantage