Project Manager

The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) is a collaborative process that aims to promote measurable improvements in the key environmental and social impacts of cotton cultivation. It plans to achieve this by developing targets that define Better Cotton, on a global scale, supported by the identification of the better management practices that are available to achieve those targets. 

The BCI will engage with interested stakeholders to: 

1. Define Better Cotton (environmentally, socially, and economically)
2. Develop corresponding performance-based and measurable targets; and
3. Promote their implementation in order to reduce key social and environmental impacts. 

Leading participants in the BCI Steering Committee (SC) are adidas, H&M, Gap Inc., IKEA; WWF, Conservation International Oxfam, ICCO , Organic Exchange, and United Nations Environment Programme. 

The BCI is open to all participants who subscribe to the mission and objectives of the project. Additional participants are being sought for the initiative's SC and Technical Working Groups and volunteers from appropriately qualified individuals are welcome. 

In order to keep the BCI on track and build momentum, there is a need for a Project Manager to facilitate and manage operational aspects of the initiative. 

The Project Manager (PM) is responsible for: 

1. Leading, facilitating and organizing the work of the BCI (includes planning management and organization of tasks).
2. Facilitating and supporting the work of the BCI SC. This includes but is not limited to taking and managing the notes for the group, planning meetings & agenda, answering questions, keeping the SC up to date on activities.
3. Representing the BCI SC to third parties (includes presenting the BCI to key stakeholders, introducing initiative, searching for support).
4. Fundraising (includes organizing and undertaking fund-raising activities with other SC members as appropriate).
5. Technical Coordinator support and management. The Technical Coordinator is responsible for the technical working groups that will develop measurable, result-based targets and indicators for specific issue areas. The PM will work closely with the Technical Coordinator and will ensure that the SC is informed and consulted as required on progress and any challenging issues.
6. Project management, developing work plans and budgets for the BCI, managing to expectations and outcomes identified (includes preparing budgets, overseeing expenditure and reporting).
7. Internal communication (includes maintaining contacts with all participants in the BCI and collating and reporting out information from participants on relevant interests, activities and results).
8. External Communication (includes circulating an update "bulletin", and developing/ posting information on dedicated web pages).
9. Reporting (quarterly - or as required - to the BCI SC and to any external sponsors).
10. Other tasks as may be reasonably assigned by the SC. 

The PM reports to the BCI SC for her/his work programme, activities and outputs. The PM will propose an agenda and will take notes of SC meetings, which will be held at least quarterly (physically or by teleconference). 

On a day-to-day basis the PM is supervised by a nominated member of the SC (to be determined depending on the location of the PM). 

It is envisaged that the Technical Coordinator will formally report to the PM. However, the PM and Technical Coordinator are expected to work together as a team in driving forward the BCI. They are considered as being equally important to the BCI and both are expected to work and interact directly with the SC in carrying-out their responsibilities. 

The position of PM is planned to be full-time, but a part-time basis could also be considered depending on the successful candidate. 

The location of the PM will be determined by the circumstances of the preferred candidate. A location in the USA or Western Europe are the preferred options. 

It is envisaged that the PM will receive a fixed-term contract from the SC of the BCI; the contract will be administered by WWF on behalf of SC members. 

The PM will be contracted initially for a 2 year period, with extension depending on a) satisfactory performance as evaluated by the SC and b) continued funding for the BCI. 

The position is jointly funded by the BCI SC members with the administration of this contract being handled by WWF. 

Profile of the Project Manager 

To be successful, the Process Manager will have thorough knowledge of some or all, of the following attributes. Estimated % time devoted to each area in parenthesis: 

a) People skills (40%) 

o Successful experience managing international stakeholder processes including ability to incorporate differing opinions
o Ability to work effectively with collaborators from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds
o Good relationship builder with the ability to listen well to people, ideas and the process
o Excellent verbal and written communication skills
o Proven track record in creating solutions with different perspectives and agendas
o Experience working with and leading teams
o Experience with meeting planning and facilitation 

b) Business and / or commodity experience (40%)

o Experience in cotton, textiles or other agricultural commodities
o Experience or knowledge of the international business/industry perspective (e.g. retailers, investors, traders, processors, or growers), in relation to agricultural commodities and / or corporate social responsibility issues/programs
o Experience or knowledge of environmental and social issues associated with cotton cultivation in one or more region, and systems for assuring raw materials or supply chain integrity. 

c) Project management skills (20%) 

o Complete fluency in English, with other languages being a significant advantage
o Proven success in managing to a timeline and outcomes
o Ability to work independently, to take initiative, and engage others
o Work collaboratively with, support and advocate for peers
o Approximately 25% Travel required
o Demonstrated ability to prioritize and multi-task
o Demonstrated ability to prioritize workloads and manage and lead multiple projects at one time 

Applications 

Interested applicants are asked to send a detailed CV and a brief covering letter by Wednesday 28 June 2006 (end of the day) to Richard Holland at WWF who will receive these on behalf of the BCI SC.