Natural Resources Program Associate

Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) is a nationally recognized neutral third-party certifier of environmental and food safety claims. Founded in 1984, SCS offers technical expertise in program areas including forestry, fisheries, flower production, sustainable agriculture, pesticide residue free and organic food certification, food safety inspection and certification, environmental claims certification, green building product certification, and electric power environmental performance, and more.
The Chain of Custody programs are accredited by both the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). FSC Chain-of-Custody provides a system for tracking certified wood from the forest, through each stage of production and distribution, to the point of sale. SCS Chain-of-Custody programs manage auditing and certification for more than 800 clients in 31 countries. 

We seek a highly organized professional to join our forestry and fisheries chain-of-custody (CoC) certification team. This is a full-time hands-on position working with a small dedicated team of certification professionals. You will need to be a great communicator (written and oral) both with the team and with our clients around the world.

Position Overview:

The Natural Resources Program Associate supports the Director of Chain-of-Custody in the administration of FSC and MSC programs. The job entails technical assistance with standards and programmatic requirements, audit scheduling and audit quality control, and administrative support to all aspects of the certification programs within defined project responsibilities. The position also entails occasional field auditing.

Responsibilities:

* Project management: Coordination of CoC audits with clients around the world. 
* Technical assistance: The successful candidate must be willing to learn the technical aspects of FSC and/or MSC Chain of Custody requirements, and be able to communicate them effectively with clients and other program staff.
* Client recruitment and proposal preparation.
* Assistance in the development of internal guidelines for departments, clients, auditors and staff. 
* Organization and maintenance of data management systems and office file systems. 
* Support to the Director in recruiting, training, and communicating with consultants.
* Market research & business development assistance.
* Quality control, e.g., tracking developments in FSC requirements and coordination of programmatic changes.
* Performance of chain-of-custody audits. Field auditing is a minor part of this position.
* Other duties as assigned. 

Qualifications:

* Minimum B.S. or B.A. degree in a field related to Natural Resources. Preference will be given to a Masters Degree or significant relevant work experience;
* Complete fluency in English and work (or school) experience that involves professional written communication;
* Knowledge of German, Spanish or Portuguese would be a plus;
* Superlative organizational skills, ability to prioritize numerous tasks effectively;
* Experience with computers, including Outlook, Word, Excel and database management;
* An interest in environmental sustainability, forest conservation, and the missions of SCS, the FSC and the MSC will be a plus;
* Strong customer service and teamwork orientation;
* Initiative, good judgment, and ability to work independently under pressure in a changing environment;

Must be willing to work regular business hours, five days per week in Emeryville office. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Compensation: Mid 40s, exclusive of generous company benefits.

To Apply:

Please email resume and cover letter, including salary requirements and a description of how your experiences fit the needs and mission of our company to: amaizlish@scscertified.com and rhrubes@scscertified.com.