Continent Manager, Asia

Fairtrade is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect. FLO-Cert, an independent international certification company provides the credibility, trust and transparency behind the Fairtrade Label.

With over 2000 clients in more than 70 countries, FLO-CERT has become one of the world's leading social certification bodies -empowering over one million farmers and wage workers and their families in the global south through access to the Fairtrade market.

Position Overview: 

FLO-CERT GmbH currently has a vacancy in its Certification department for an experienced, customer orientated, service driven and energetic new staff member with an interest in FAIRTRADE: Continent Manager, Asia (m/f).   

Responsibilities:

Function:

Manage FLO-Cert's Certification Business Unit: Asia.

Core Responsibilities:

Manage a multi cultural and highly committed certification team within the fast growing and successful Fairtrade market. Due to the enormous success, the demand for products from Asia is growing rapidly.

The team currently consists of 11 staff members based in Bangalore (India) and Bonn (Germany) with a further trend to grow substantially in the next years.

Among other challenges it will be the core responsibility of the Continent Manager, Asia to manage the team as it improves and harmonizes the certification processes for producers, processors and exporters in Asia and integrates the high number of new clients into the ongoing audit planning process. 

Tasks:

• Develop and Manage the Business Unit's budget in cooperation with the Director Certification.
• Manage the Certification Teams in Germany and India.
• Manage the audit and certification process of operators in Asia.
• Manage the processing of new applications for certification.
• Together with HR, plan and supervise the regular training of auditors.
• Manage the process of assigning auditors.
• Manage the quality control of audit reports and take certification decisions where required.
• Assist in the development of departmental policies and strategic goals.

Reporting To:

• Director of Certification

Qualifications:

Necessary:

• Experience in managing a multi cultural team.
• Experience creating and managing budgets.
• Experience in managing externally-located teams.
• At least 5 years business experience in international trade and/or development.
• At least 3 years work experience in Asia.
• University level education (or equivalent) in a relevant subject (Business, Agronomy, Law, Economics etc.).
• An understanding of the issues connecting international trade, poverty reduction and sustainable development.
• Fluency in English oral and written.
• Team player, facility in dealing with different cultures.
• Excellent communication skills and analytical capacity to make complex issues easily understandable.
• Ability to organize.
• Flexible, creative, innovative and easily adaptable to change.
• Computer skills MS Office, Database.

Advantageous:

• Experience in Certification Systems (e.g. Fairtrade, organic, FSC, MSC, SA8000, ISO 14001, Globalgap etc).
• Proficient knowledge of 1 or more Asian languages.
• Environmental background.
• Technical knowledge of the products.
• Work experience in food processing industry.
• Experience with Customer Relationship Management Tools.

Compensation:

• Job Share: 100%.
• Position is based in the FLO-Cert Office in Bonn, Germany.
• Start as soon as possible.
• The office language is English.
• 30 days of holidays.

Application Deadline: 8th February 2010.

To Apply:

Please apply only via the FLO-Cert vacancy website. Follow here the application procedure for registering and submitting your application documents in English with curriculum vitae, motivation letter and salary indication to Mr. David Holzwarth.

Please consult FLO-Cert for more information on FLO-Cert GmbH and the Fairtrade movement.

Please note that only those invited for an interview will be contacted. Thank you for your understanding.