Standards & Learning Manager Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) Geneva, Switzerland

The Better Cotton Initiative is looking for a Standards & Learning manager to review, hold and share knowledge on the Better Cotton standard system internally and externally. S/he will be accountable for ensuring that the organisation continuously learns and improves in line with the BCI mission.
Background
Cotton is one of the most important and widely grown crops in the world, and with more than 90% of cotton farmers living in developing countries, cotton production is fundamental to the livelihoods of millions of poor farmers and workers. However, current cotton growing methods need to change as they are placing unsustainable levels of stress on the environment and the people who produce it. Change means using fewer pesticides, managing water more efficiently, improving soil health and bio-diversity, enhancing fibre quality, and improving the welfare of farm workers.

BCI exists to make global cotton production better for the people who produce it, better for the environment it grows in and better for the sector’s future.

BCI works with a diverse range of stakeholders to promote measurable and continuing improvements for the environment, farming communities and the economies of cotton-producing areas.

BCI aims to transform cotton production worldwide by developing Better Cotton as a sustainable mainstream commodity.
BCI’s specific aims are to:1. Reduce the environmental impact of cotton production 
2. Improve livelihoods and economic development in cotton producing areas 
3. Improve   commitment   to   and   flow   of   Better Cotton throughout the supply chain
4.    Ensure the credibility and sustainability of the Better Cotton Initiative

Building on the success to date where Better Cotton does create positive changes for farming communities, and is being bought by BCI retailer and brand members, BCI has set ambitious targets for the future, increasing Better Cotton volume production 8-fold by 2015 and 26-fold by 2020.

Our experience has taught us that the cotton market cannot be left to itself to make the changes happen. Our model for market transformation is based on focused, manageable activities by BCI itself and clear roles for other supply chain actors, partners and governments. Working with our members and partners, BCI will focus on the key drivers at both ends of the supply chain – supply creation/push and demand generation/pull.

Our Strategic Principles

 

• BCI is focused on effecting change

 

• BCI is firmly based on the traceability of Better Cotton

 

• Credibility and the multi-stakeholder nature are crucial to BCI

 

• Demand for Better Cotton is key to funding and influence

 

• BCI enables evidence-based communication within a clear framework

 

• BCI does not set a premium and pricing is a function of the market.

2015 Global Targets

Specific Aim	Global Indicator	2015
		Target
Reduce the	Better Cotton
environmental impact	hectares under	2 million
of cotton production	cultivation
Improve livelihoods &	Number of Better
economic development	Cotton farmers	1 million
in cotton producing
areas
Increase commitment	Volume of Better
to and flow of BC	Cotton bought by	1.5 million
throughout the supply	spinners
chain
Ensure organisational	Earned income as	75%
credibility and	% of global costs
sustainability of BCI

 

Job Description

 

The BCI Standards & Learning manager is responsible for ensuring that the Better Cotton standard system is designed and improved coherently and understood consistently worldwide. S/he holds and shares knowledge on Better Cotton internally and externally. S/he is responsible for identifying better ways of implementing the different components of Better Cotton on the basis of internal and external learning. The Standards & Learning manager will report to the Director of Standards and Assurance.

 

Responsibilities

 

Better Cotton Standard System

 

1.    To lead on the development of the Better Cotton standard and assurance model and mechanisms in order to focus on effecting changes at farm level and reinforce credibility.

 

2.    To establish and implement standard system review procedures in line with the ISEAL best practice codes, to ensure Better Cotton is recognised as a best practice approach to sustainability in sustainable agriculture

 

3.    To manage the application review process for the portfolio of field level projects on Better Cotton, in cooperation with key partners, to ensure cost-effective and change-effective programmes are being run by BCI Implementing Partners.

 

Knowledge management and learning

 

4. To develop organisational processes for learning within the organisation so that the organisation continuously learns and improves, and can therefore be agile, flexible and adapt its strategic direction.

 

5.    To ensure our members, partners and wider stakeholders benefit from BCI’s adoption of credible best practices and innovative approaches

 

6.    To identify best ways to collect, extract learning from and promote farmer training and trainer guidance materials developed by BCI Implementing Partners, in order to foster learning between partners.

7.    To advise on, and support the development of, IT systems which enable efficient and effective communication and information sharing between all stakeholders to support the credibility of Better Cotton.

 

8.    To enable commodities cross-learning in collaboration with other sustainability initiatives in order to build on existing best practices.

 

Research and Innovation

 

9. To establish and encourage a culture of innovation in the organisation, whereby ideas are easily transformed into pilot innovation projects that support the BCI strategic plan,

 

10. To carry out and/or contract research as required and in support of the BCI strategic plan to enable BCI to work building on existing best practices and knowledge and therefore avoiding re-inventing the wheel.

 

BCI Team

 

11. To take responsibility for collecting, analysing and sharing information from field level implementation and market linkages across BCI countries and globally in order to build on best practice and ensure that mistakes are not repeated.

 

External Representation

 

12. To present and disseminate findings and learning in order to facilitate increased membership and partnerships for BCI.

 

13. To contribute materials to communication pieces in order to build BCI and Better Cotton into a well-known and respected brand within and beyond the sustainable cotton sector.

 

Financial Accountability

 

14. To actively contribute to the financial management and reporting of the credibility unit, in cooperation with the Director of Standards and Assurance to ensure sound financial management.

 

15. To manage, as required, consultancy budgets and contracts in order to ensure efficient and effective use of financial resources.

16. To support BCI’s fundraising efforts in cooperation with the BCI Leadership team to ensure BCI is continually organisationally healthy and 100% financially self-sufficient by 2020.

 

Matrix Management

 

17. To support matrix management within the BCI organisation through strong internal partnering processes and behaviour, in order to ensure effective learning from the implementation of the Better Cotton standard system (from farmer to end users) and improvement to the system that maintains the credibility and integrity of Better Cotton.

 

Beyond these specific responsibilities the Standards & Learning manager is expected to collaborate on activities as agreed with the Director of Standards & Assurance to support the delivery of the BCI Strategic Plan.

 

 

Working Arrangements

 

The successful candidate will report to the Director of Standards and Assurance.

 

The position is full-time (40 hours per week) and will be based in Geneva, Switzerland. The Standards & Learning manager will receive a three-year contract, with a 3 month initial trial period.

 

Frequent travel will be required.

 

Salary Scale: 70,000- 85,000 CHF per annum – dependent on skills and experience.

 

 

Profile

 

To be successful, candidates for the learning and innovation role will have the following attributes:

 

Skills & knowledge

Essential

University degree, or equivalent higher education qualification, in a relevant field
Demonstrated interest in sustainability and international development

Excellent analytical and problem solving skills with a proactive approach to finding and proposing solutions to challenges within clearly defined boundaries

Creative and systemic thinker with attention to detail

Excellent English writing skills – ability to communicate clearly and concisely Very good facilitation skills

IT literacy, to include: Word; PowerPoint; Excel; Outlook Willingness to travel frequently and to carry out administrative tasks

Desirable

Good understanding of enablers and barriers to scaling up standards systems in sustainable agriculture Good understanding of project design, management, fundraising and reporting in agricultural development Academic background in rural/agricultural development and sustainability

Good understanding of best practices regarding knowledge management, learning and innovation

Good working knowledge of another language of interest to BCI (Chinese, Hindi, Urdu, Turkish, French and/or Portuguese)

Experience

Essential

At least 5 years’ experience of working with multi-stakeholder standard systems At least 3 years’ experience managing external consultants

Experience working in the agricultural /commodity sectors

Proven ability to use participatory design in groups, meetings and multi-stakeholder processes At least 3 years’ international working experience preferably in Africa and/or Asia

Desirable

Experience working with farmers

Proven ability to partner effectively internally to ensure successful completion of a program / project

Experience of developing and promoting a culture of learning and innovation within a dispersed organisation

Experience of working on socio-economic aspects of development in the context of global value chains, including promotion of international standards and best practices

Experience of working in both not-for-profit and profit-making organisations

 

Applications

 

Interested applicants with the required attributes are asked to send, in English, a detailed CV and a brief motivation letter (2 pages maximum) to BCI by email at nicolas.petit@bettercotton.org

 

Application deadline: Friday 8 February 08:00 GMT

Expected starting date: 1 April 2013

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only candidates short-listed for a telephone interview will be contacted.

 

The BCI is an equal opportunities employer, and is committed to good practice and transparency in the management of natural, human and financial resources.