Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International
Bonn, Germany
UNIT: Global Product Management (GPM)
REPORTS TO: Director of GAM and GPM
OVERVIEW:
Fairtrade is an ethical certification system and movement with a people first approach to trade. Fairtrade International (FLO) is an internationally recognized, non-profit organization that works to secure fairer trade terms so that farmers and workers in developing countries can invest in a better future for themselves and their communities. Our global team works to directly connect producers and consumers and promote fairer trading conditions and sustainability. We are responsible for the strategic direction of the Fairtrade system, the Fairtrade Standards and support to Fairtrade farmers and workers worldwide.
The Global Product Manager for Cocoa forms part of Global Product Management Unit. The Manager reports into the Head of Global Product Management, with peers responsible for global product management for other Fairtrade products.
The key objective is to understand and manage the supply-demand balance for cocoa and guide cocoa operations of Fairtrade to ensure growth of markets and to maximize the impact of Fairtrade on cocoa producers worldwide. The Global Product Manager for Cocoa will liaise with the Fairtrade Labeling Initiatives who promote Fairtrade cocoa in their respective markets; the Fairtrade producers and Producer Networks representing Latin America, Africa, and Asia; other key stakeholders and experts in cocoa; and the internal units within FLO. The interaction is essential in order to devise and implement a global Fairtrade cocoa strategy.
OBJECTIVE/PURPOSE:
The main objectives of this position are to:
- Define (with key stakeholders) the short and long-term global product strategy for cocoa
- Manage the subsequent implementation of strategy – owning plans (short and long term) and managing forecast accuracy levels of supply and demand
- Recommend and take action based on plan and forecast:
- Contribute towards development of supply base that provides quality and continuity of supply; via producer-facing activity
- Help drive and guide business facing units to develop strategic sourcing plans for Fairtrade cocoa to maximize benefit to Fairtrade producers (market facing activity)
- Provide high level interaction, direction and information to all key stakeholders to ensure their ability to deliver against own objectives
- Share knowledge and communicate across the wider Fairtrade global network on the GPM strategy, plan and delivery for cocoa
- Provide insight into policies, costs, supply chain, trading practices, messaging, and pricing to maximize growth of the category and producer benefit
- Represent Fairtrade Labelling in the global cocoa market and at relevant conferences
PRINCIPAL ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Research, develop and maintain in-depth understanding of current, future and historical context of conventional cocoa operations and the Fairtrade market to inform strategy and plans. This encompasses comprehensive analysis of the supply chain (origins, processes, bottlenecks, producer base, key players, potential risk and opportunities) and external market (global potential, competition, demand, product formulation )
- Understand relevant issues in Fairtrade operational scope – pricing mechanism; social and environmental criteria, production (quality, processing), certification & inspection requirements – and its applicability to cocoa.
- Build and manage cocoa strategy and associated plans to achieve on-going demand and supply optimization.
- Coordinate supply and demand information with market facing actors (Fairtrade Global Account Managers; Labeling Initiatives Account Managers), supply chain actors and producers.
- Coordinate market strategies in collaboration with Labelling Initiatives to maximize the use of Fairtrade cocoa derivatives in a variety of products.
- Forecast cocoa demand against planned supply (short and long term). Provide updates, variations and reforecast against baseline on a regular basis.
- Recommend actions to fix cocoa supply chain bottlenecks and constraints and presents the business case for changes that lead to growth and impact of the category.
- Provide cocoa-specific guidance to other functions within Fairtrade Labelling, including the Standards and Pricing functions, Producer Services and Relations, and FLO-CERT.
- Provide sourcing assistance, guidance, and risk management to Labelling Initiatives interfacing with the market and with their accounts.
- Actively engage with cocoa advisors (experts, traders, and producers) and ensure producer involvement in the cocoa strategy.
- Communicate progress against cocoa strategy and plan, and make relevant information available to all key stakeholders.
- Coach, guide and mentor (future) direct reports and create a global team for cocoa.
SKILLS REQUIRED:
Knowledge/Job Specific Competencies (E= Essential; D=Desirable):
- Specific product knowledge and 3 – 5 years of experience of cocoa production and trade (E);
- Experience working in or with Fairtrade cocoa supply chains or with related standards, certification or development programs (E);
- Experience in managing cross-functional teams and groups (E);
- Understanding of cocoa manufacturing and product formulation (D);
- Prior work with forecasting, planning and data analysis and data management (D)
Professional Skills
- Outstanding communication and relationship management skills (E);
- Fluent English (E);
- Experience in managing, mentoring and coaching direct reports (E);
- Strong inclination for project management and meeting deadlines; (E)
- Fluent French and/or Spanish (E).
Personal Qualities
- Demonstrable ability to drive forward work on own initiative and lead (E);
- Demonstrable ability to motivate and enthuse others (E);
- Clear and demonstrable desire to improve the lives of cocoa farmers (E);
- Desire to work in a multicultural environment (E)
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
- This is a full-time position.
- An initial one-year contract is offered. It is envisaged that the contract will be renewable after the initial one year period.
- Location is at Fairtrade International offices in Bonn, Germany
- The office language is English
- Salary as per the Collective Bargaining Agreement for the Wholesale and Foreign Trade Industries for North Rhine Westphalia and Fairtrade International Company Agreement on wages and salaries, Group 6a, plus an attractive benefit package.
- Starting date as soon as possible
- 30 days of holidays per year
APPLICATIONS:
- Please consult www.fairtrade.net for more information on Fairtrade International and the Fairtrade system
- Please apply by email only, in English, with Curriculum Vitae and motivation letter to applications@fairtrade.net, citing GPM Cocoa in the subject line
- Deadline for applications is October 4th, 2011
- Please note that FLO is strict on compliance with the required qualification criteria mentioned above, and only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.
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