Proforest is seeking a new team member to play a key role in our dynamic global responsible sourcing team. The position involves working with major international brands, retailers, agricultural commodity traders, growers and processing companies to develop and implement their responsible sourcing and production strategies.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone passionate about human rights to make a difference to workers and local communities involved in agricultural production especially in the tropics. We are looking for someone with practical experience in addressing labour rights and/or local community rights in agricultural production via supply chain mechanisms and broader interventions, and who would be excited about leading initiatives at scale.
About Proforest
Proforest is a not-for-profit, mission-driven organisation that works with producers and other private sector partners, as well as governments, civil society organisations and NGOs, throughout agricultural and forest product supply chains. Proforest is now an established world leader in the development and implementation of sustainable production and responsible sourcing with a global presence. We have offices in the UK, Malaysia, Ghana, Colombia and Brazil. We work across agricultural and forest product supply chains, with particular focus on palm oil, soy, sugar cane, cattle and cocoa, helping companies, governments, non-governmental and civil society organisations to achieve sustainable use of the world’s natural resources.
Proforest provides practical advisory support to producers, processors and purchasers to help them work in environmentally and socially responsible ways. Our clients include Nestlé, Unilever, Wilmar, Cargill, PepsiCo, McDonalds, Bunge, AAK, and Mondelez. We also implement donor-funded programmes, which aim to create the enabling environment, and build the capacity required, to deliver agriculture and forest commodities sustainably at scale. We work at all levels throughout agricultural commodity supply chains – from international policy and legislation to practical operations on the ground – to support the implementation of responsible sourcing mechanisms and achieve positive sustainability impacts.
Position summary
The position offers an exciting opportunity to take a leading role in the management and delivery of Proforest’s responsible sourcing projects, particularly in the agricultural commodities sector.
As a senior project manager, you will be part of the UK Responsible Sourcing team; ideally based in Oxford. You will be managing consultancy projects for clients; supporting them to deliver on their social and environmental commitments in the sourcing of agricultural commodities.
You will contribute thought leadership, strategy development and technical advice to the responsible sourcing team, Proforest Directors and regional offices in the on-going development of Proforest’s innovative approaches to addressing labour rights in agricultural production and supply chains. Approaches to which you will have the opportunity to contribute include:
• risk-based approaches for supply chain engagement
• beyond-compliance approaches for addressing systemic challenges in specific supply chains in different regional contexts
• approaches for clients to align their human rights commitments to their responsible sourcing approaches
• tailored solutions for companies to engage with their supply chains on complex strategic and operational challenges to improve labour rights or other human rights performance;
Responsibilities
• Manage and deliver responsible production projects, programmes and partnerships. This includes proposal writing, budgeting, technical work (including fieldwork where relevant), research, managing client relationships and reporting;
• Actively contribute to the development of Proforest’s approaches and tools via thought leadership, strategy development and technical advice. Take a lead on the oversight and implementation of some of those approaches.
• Develop and strengthen knowledge management and internal communications tools on Proforest’s work related to addressing human rights and labour rights.
• Build and maintain relationships with relevant key actors working on labour rights and foster collaboration via projects and programmes on labour issues in agricultural production and supply chains;
• Support and deliver training and capacity building (internal and external) on key topics and practices in human rights and labour rights and their application to responsible production and sourcing.
• Represent Proforest in relevant international meetings and forums, ensuring close collaboration with Proforest colleagues to agree positions and share outcomes.
• Contribute to the broader functioning of the Proforest team, including supporting other relevant projects and programmes, strategy and planning, mentoring and supporting junior staff, and using internal systems effectively and supporting further development.
Qualifications, Experience, Qualities
Essential Qualifications, Experience, Skills:
• Tertiary level (masters or equivalent) qualification in a relevant discipline;
• A minimum of 7 years relevant work experience in the practical application of ethical trade, or labour standards; working within production, supply chains, consultancy and/or civil society organisations
• A strong, practical understanding of the issues of workers in agricultural production (small and large scale) and/or global supply chains.
• An understanding and an interest in the drivers and root causes of poor labour practices in agricultural production;
• A good knowledge of the relevant international frameworks, conventions and guidelines; and voluntary standards / certification schemes designed to address human rights and worker’s rights.
• Excellent project management skills (including excellent time-management, problem-solving and organisational abilities); ability to multi-task
• Highly developed interpersonal and team working skills, as well as proven ability to operate in a multi-cultural environment;
• Ability and willingness to travel for training, field work, meetings;
• Fluent written and spoken English; strong verbal & written communication skills.
Highly desirable:
• Training and experience of gender equality mainstreaming, and/or building gender sensitivity into field work or programmes.
• Qualification and experience as an auditor in labour rights/ethical trade/agricultural production.
• Experience of living or working in least one of the regions where Proforest has a strong presence (Latin America, West Africa and Southeast Asia)
• Knowledge and/or experience of the production practices of at least one of the commodities Proforest works on (palm oil, cocoa, sugar, beef, soy, rubber).
• Fluency in another relevant language: French, Bahasa Indonesia, Bahasa Malay, Spanish, Portuguese.
Salary and practical details
• Range from £36,000 - 42,000 depending on experience
• Full-time permanent position
To apply
• Please send your CV, a cover letter explaining your suitability for the position and confirmation that you are eligible to work in the UK to personnel@proforest.net or by post to:
Human Resources | Proforest |South Suite | Frewin Chambers |Frewin Court | Oxford OX1 3HZ |UK
• Proforest is an equal opportunity employer. To help us address unconscious bias, kindly send us your CV and cover letter without the inclusion of your name, sex, age or photo. You should include your name in the email only.
Application Deadline: 23rd January 2020
Interviews are expected to take place during the week commencing 10th February 2020.
