Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) / Cold Chain Specialist

Project: ATraCSI

Location: Guatemala City, Guatemala

Start Date: On/around February 2026

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BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION

AGEXPORT is a non-profit trade association, founded in 1982, that facilitates the growth of exports through the implementation of processes and the promotion of initiatives that generate economic growth and promote the creation of employment, with the objective of contributing with the sustainable development of Guatemala.  AGEXPORT represents the non-traditional export sector and small groups, medium and large companies, supporting them in improving their competitiveness, as well as, promoting initiatives with the public and private sector and international cooperation to take the export chain to the whole country. 

Improving Economies for Stronger Communities (IESC) is a leading U.S. nonprofit organization that catalyzes private sector growth and creates economic opportunity for people and communities across the economically developing world. Since our founding in 1964, we have delivered lasting solutions across 139 countries. 

IESC is a valued partner to people and communities throughout the economically developing world. We share proven business skills and experience with entrepreneurs, jobseekers, businesses, farmers, cooperatives, and governments. We also offer resources—human, technological, financial—that sustainably build capacity and empower communities. Our long legacy of strengthening developing economies is matched by our vision for the next generation: a world with economic opportunity for all, where people and communities thrive. 

AGEXPORT is recruiting a Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS)/ Cold Chain Specialist to provide technical expertise regarding SPS measures and cold chain for the USDA-Food for Progress funded ATraCSI project. The project is located in the Northern Triangle Region of Central America (El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras).  The ATraCSI project is implemented under the leadership of IESC in close partnership with AGEXPORT as the local implementing partner in Guatemala. The ATraCSI project focuses on implementing international and risk-based sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) regulations; and improving trade facilitation, customs modernization, cold chain logistics, and food safety for U.S.-bound exports as well as U.S. imports into the region. The project is improving processes and systems that benefit U.S. agribusiness exporters to the region and improving food safety of specialty crop and product exports going to U.S. consumers from the region.

GENERAL OBJECTIVES

The SPS / cold chain specialist is accountable for designing, promoting, and supporting the regional implementation of specialized technical assistance and training activities that support SPS measures and regulations with government institutions, exporters and processors, small, medium, and large farmers, packing houses and other value chains’ stakeholders. In addition, the SPS/cold chain specialist will support activities related to cold chain infrastructure and systems improvements in collaboration with IESC’s implementing partner, the Global Cold Chain Foundation. This is a full-time (40 hours per week) position based at the ATraCSI office in Guatemala City and reports to the Senior Technical Lead, Guatemala.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develops and implements interventions related to SPS and cold chain that address critical market requirements, especially in the areas of food safety and quality; 

• Provide technical expertise to support the improvement of trading of priority agricultural export and import processes, focusing on SPS requirements, trade-related access requirements, cold chain performance, and coordination among inspection, border, and regulatory authorities.

• Informs project team and collaborators on USDA, Central American regional, and national SPS and Cold Chain regulations and policies; 

• Establishes, maintains, and nurtures collaborative relationships with stakeholders and beneficiaries, including identifying challenges, mutual solutions, and actions that are accurately tracked and attributed to the efforts; 

• With the Chief of Party (CoP), the two DCoPs, and the Senior Technical Lead, Guatemala; maintains good relationships with public counterparts, in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala;

• Generates draft reports related to ATraCSI progress or technical areas of oversight, including scopes of work for consultants as needed in a timely manner;

• Develops scopes of work and manages international and domestic consultants and volunteers to deliver outputs; 

• Coordinate and support interventions/actions to be implemented by the Global Cold Chain Foundation, IESC’s project implementation partner;

• Coordinate, participate in, and organize meetings with government institutions and key stakeholders to plan, execute, and follow up on agreed actions, ensuring timely implementation and alignment with project objectives.

• Ensure that the planned budget for the regional SPS/Cold Chain activities is executed and that the activities are carried out with the best quality to reach the indicators target and within the indicated budget;

• Coordinates training activities for farmers (principally via Farmer Field Schools) and firms, with agronomists , and other specialists from the project team in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, as needed; and 

• Other duties as assigned by the Senior Technical Lead or the CoP.

QUALIFICATIONS

Academics Qualifications:

• B.Sc. in Food Safety; Agriculture Science, International Trade with emphasis in agribusiness, or related field; M.Sc. in related field is preferred; 

Professional Experience:

• Experience with agricultural supply chains and logistics, working in agricultural production, and post-harvest activities highly preferred in the three countries;

• Experience in the design and implementation of trade- and market-access–oriented programs or activities, including export and import processes, regulatory compliance, and coordination with public and private sector stakeholders, resulting in improved agricultural production, sales, and cross-border trade outcomes.

• Work experience in program implementation, activity analysis, design, and implementation resulting in successful increased production and sales; 

• Experience with USDA, USAID, or other donor programs preferred. 

Technical Knowledge and Skills:

• Good knowledge of SPS guidelines and regulations

• Good knowledge of cold chain systems, infrastructure and activities

• Good knowledge of end-to-end agricultural supply processes and best practices

• Core competencies: Demonstrated ability to work at varying levels of government and with the private sector to build consensus among key stakeholders and follow-through on agreed tactics and plans;  

• Ability to prioritize among multiple competing requests; 

• Self-starter, detail-oriented, thorough, and well organized; 

• Well-developed interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills to work with a local team as well as international consultants and volunteer expertise effectively; 

• Excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills, including training development and delivery; 

• Relevant computer software skills (including, at a minimum, the standard applications in MS Office); 

• Ability to travel throughout the Northern Central America Region (El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras); 

• Fluency in English and Spanish required;