Reports To:

Director, Standards & Policy, Sustainable Agriculture Network Secretariat – Sustainable Agriculture Network Secretariat, Sustainable Agriculture Division

Type:

Job Opportunities

Locations:

Costa Rica - San José

The Rainforest Alliance is an international nonprofit organization that works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior. Based in New York City, with offices throughout the United States and worldwide, the Rainforest Alliance works with people whose livelihoods depend on the land, helping them transform the way they grow food, harvest wood and host travelers.

Under the auspices of the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN), an international coalition of leading conservation groups, the Rainforest Alliance’s Sustainable Agriculture Division works with farmers to ensure compliance with the SAN standards for protecting wildlife, farm land, workers’ rights and local communities. Farms that meet these rigorous environmental, ethical and economic standards are awarded the Rainforest Alliance Certified™ seal.

The Sustainable Agriculture Division consists of the Sustainable Landscapes Program, the Sustainable Value Chains Program, the Sustainable Agriculture Auditing Services Program, the Traceability Unit and Program Administration. The work of the Sustainable Agriculture Division is closely linked to the work of the SAN Secretariat, housed in Rainforest Alliance’s Costa Rica office.

Position Summary:

The Manager, Auditor Competence will support the SAN’s technical and operational goals by leading the global auditor training program and network of trainers for auditors. S/he will manage the implementation of training events conducted by trainers and accredited certification bodies. S/he will be the SAN Secretariat leader in defining best methodologies for training courses and ensuring high quality training events. S/he will also design and manage the SAN auditor and trainer register platform, building an online continuous training system and resource library for lead auditors, consolidating the worldwide SAN trainer network and working towards an auditor and trainer certification system. S/he will also support the development of training collaborations with other standards systems and ensure the recruitment of experts to provide additional expertise to the SAN training system through regular contact with other sustainable agriculture certification systems close to our mission.

Responsibilities:

Lead the development and implementation of the worldwide SAN auditor training program for farm, producer groups and chain-of-custody auditors by consolidating the framework of available SAN materials, accrediting trainers and monitoring the training implementation by accredited certification bodies;
Plan, draft, and review trainer guides, course agendas, presentations, case studies, exercises, online materials, evaluation templates, protocols, procedures;
Collaborate with the network of independent auditor trainers, SAN accredited certification bodies and technical assistance providers to ensure good planning, organization and implementation for worldwide in-person auditor training and events for auditor trainers, including an online auditor and trainer resource library;
Ensure the quality of the SAN training events and trainer network through continuous monitoring and development of work plans;
Improve process design and management of the auditor and trainer database;
Suggest improvements for event planning and implementation of SAN public consultation, workshops, SAN board and committee meetings;
Coordinate closely with the Sustainable Agriculture Division’s Sustainable Landscapes team to achieve harmonization between the SAN secretariat training system and the Sustainable Landscapes training program for sustainability advisors;
Collaborate with other standards systems close to the SAN mission by conducting joint trainings;
Support SAN operational and administrative processes as necessary; and
Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

University-level degree required; Advanced degree in Education, Social Sciences, Natural Resource Management or related fields required;
7 - 10 years of experience working with certification systems;
Minimum two years professional experience in support activities for certification systems;
Minimum two years of experience working with the agriculture sector;
Excellent English and Spanish oral and written communications skills; French and Portuguese language skills a plus;
Excellent computer and data management skills (Microsoft Word, Excel and database programs);
Strong organizational skills and the ability to work independently and under tight deadlines;
Excellent interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills; and
Willingness and ability to travel internationally up to 20 percent of the time.

Salary:

Commensurate with experience.

Notes:

Only candidates authorized to work in Costa Rica will be considered.

Title	Manager, Auditor Competence - Sustainable Agriculture Network Secretariat
Posted	4493 Day/s Ago.

Manager, Auditor Competence - Sustainable Agriculture Network Secretariat