Standards Manager 4C Association Bonn, Germany

Position title:                       Standards Manager

 

Duty location:                      Bonn, Germany

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Report to:                             Executive Director

 

 

Terms of employment:         2 years with possibility to be extended

 

The 4C Association aims to unite all relevant coffee stakeholders in working towards the improvement of the economic, social & environmental conditions of coffee production and processing to build a thriving, sustainable sector for generations to come.

 

The 4C Association is the leading multi-stakeholder sustainable coffee platform and provides a recognized baseline standard as a first step in continuous improvement towards sustainability; promotes and partners with other standards and initiatives in the market and addresses the broader coffee sustainability agenda.

 

The 4C Code of Conduct was first created and tested in the field in 2004. The first review and revision of the Code, including Code indicators, took place in 2009-2010. Being a full ISEAL Alliance member, the 4C Association has to regularly review its Code of Conduct in line with the defined standard-setting procedure. The Code revision process and its outcomes are vitally important for the 4C Association and stakeholders.

 

1.    Role

 

The Standards Manager is responsible for planning, coordination and implementation of activities related to the 4C Code revision process and its maintenance activities. Furthermore, the Standards Manager will be working closely with, support and facilitate the Technical Committee’s (TC) activities and its working groups for (further) developing tools, modules etc. in a demand-driven way.

 

2.    Main functions and responsibilities

 

-      Manage the Code revision process, including local interpretation for prioritized regions/ countries;

 

-      Keep neutral position of the 4C Secretariat in this process;

 

-      Ensure that the 4C Association is in compliance with the ISEAL Standard Setting Code at all times;

 

-      Coordinate activities related to the Code revision/ setting with relevant stakeholders (primarily with the Technical Committee Core Group and expert pool, relevant colleagues at the 4C Secretariat for inputs and external parties as deemed necessary by the TC), as described in the Standard Setting procedure;

 

-      Support TC with elaborating Terms of Reference for specific work and coordinate together with the TC the process of recruiting experts from within the Association and/ or external consultants;

 

-      Monitor and report on progress of the Code revision/ setting process and propose actions whenever there is delay;

 

-      Regularly update and publish the work programs

 

-      Organize, facilitate and moderate TC (physical and virtual) meetings as well as meetings of related working groups;

 

-      Manage allocated resources (budget, time and technical facilities) and make them available as deemed necessary by the TC;

-      Be the contact point of the 4C Secretariat for the TC;

 

-      Make sure that the Association’s standard setting procedure is up-to-date and and in accordance with the ISEAL Standard setting Code at all times;

 

-      Collect inputs/ feedback from different stakeholders for the revision process through respective colleagues (feedback from verifiers and 4C Units via Verification department, regional colleagues, etc.) and share with the TC for consideration;

 

-      Set up effective communication channels for the revision process together with the TC Chairperson;

 

-      Together with the Chairperson, make sure that different perspectives/ interests are taken into consideration and balanced; Together with the TC Chairperson prepare progress update for council’s meetings and timely flag critical issues/ situation to the Council for further guidance or final decision;

 

-      Participate in council’s meetings when appropriate;

 

-      Represent the 4C Association on standard related aspects in relevant events;

 

-      Drive lessons learning and knowledge management from the revision process.

 

3.    Profile & Qualifications

 

-      University degree (or similar) in relevant subjects (agronomy, agribusiness, social sciences)

 

-      10 years working experience with standard(s)/ code(s) (ideally in sustainability standard setting organizations), with agricultural value chains, preferably in coffee

 

-      Excellent understanding of sustainability dimensions in the global supply chains, especially in the coffee sector

 

-      Expertise in integrated pest management, inputs and/ or water, waste water/ watershed management or climate change adaptation is a competitive advantage

 

-      Working experience with multi-stakeholder/ roundtable initiatives/ discussions

 

-      Strategic, systematic and practical thinking

 

-      Excellent coordination and facilitation skills, especially in managing stakeholder dialogues

 

-      Excellent representational and networking skills in an intercultural multistakeholder context

 

-      Excellent written and verbal communications skills in English and Spanish/ Portuguese

 

-      Results-oriented approach, positive thinking and good teamwork spirit

 

-      Ability to work independently and under time pressure towards defined objectives and goals

 

-      Willingness and ability to travel, up to 30% in peak project phases (including coffee producing countries)

 

-      Adequate computer skills (Microsoft Office and Internet)

 

-      Passion for coffee

 

Application Details

 

Contract We offer an extendable two year contract with competitive salary and a pleasant,challenging and dynamic working environment with a highly dedicated team.

 

Starting date As soon as possible

 

Location         Based at the 4C Offices in Bonn, Germany.

 

Application Please send your detailed application (cover letter, resume, references, salary historyand salary expectation) by email to staff@4c-coffeeassociation.org not later than 27^th March 2013.

Applications will be treated with all due discretion. The 4CSecretariat will acknowledge receipt of all applications. However, only the shortlisted candidates will be contacted. For more information about 4C Association please visit: www.4c-coffeeassociation.org.