Operations Assistant, Collaborative Initiatives

~ Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) is a global nonprofit organization that works with its network of more than 250 member companies to build a just and sustainable world. From its offices in Asia, Europe, and North America, BSR develops sustainable business strategies and solutions through consulting, research, and cross-sector collaboration. ~

We are proud to say that we have a team of some of the most talented and motivated people in the industry working in our global offices in Copenhagen, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Shanghai, and Tokyo. Visit our website for more information about BSR's more than 20 years of leadership in sustainability.

Position Overview

The Operations Assistant, Collaborative Initiatives Portfolio (CIs), operates as an integral part of the global BSR Operations team with a specific focus on BSRs Collaborative Initiatives.

This is an exciting time to join a growing internal team that is responsible for managing and developing BSR's compelling CI portfolio-providing dedicated support to the management of the portfolio as well as administrative, operational and event planning and logistics support to key BSR CI staff and CIs across the portfolio.

The Assistant will allocate two-three days per week supporting the administrative needs of individual CIs, one day a week for BSR-wide operational support, with the remainder of the time providing operational support for the overall BSR CI portfolio.

The Operations Assistant reports to BSR's Collaborative Initiatives Portfolio Director (based in Europe), with a dotted line to the BSR Operations Lead (based in the US). The Assistant will engage with staff worldwide to administer CI membership, organizational support and events management, and serve as an administrator point of contact for the portfolio.

Responsibilities

Administer BSR Individual CIs 

• Provide ongoing administrative and membership support to the CI project managers including via direct communications with members, administration and tracking of the prospective member pipeline, updating of contacts in Salesforce, and other operating software. 
• Support the CI project teams in the preparation, execution and follow up on in-person member meetings throughout the year - including: pre-meeting communications with members including pre-read materials, preparation of meeting agendas and meeting presentations, in-meeting note taking when required and follow-up actions as relevant.
• Support the CI project teams in the logistics and planning of in-person member meetings throughout the year, including finding appropriate venues, hotels and restaurants - working with members, vendors and contractors as required.
• Dependent on need, support CI project team on occasional research and project-work, with clearly defined parameters. 
• Perform occasional analysis and presentation of results on CI member engagement, recruitment, and other performance indicators for internal review. 

Administer BSR CI Portfolio Operations

Working closely with the Collaborative Initiatives Portfolio Associate Director: 

• Drive the contracting process for companies to join BSR CIs, including management of Docusign and follow up with individual company enquiries, as the main point of membership contact. 
• Track and report on engagement of companies involved in BSR CIs. 
• Coordinate quarterly CI portfolio performance reviews against budget and expected outcomes and impacts - compile effective analysis for review by senior management. 
• Conduct bi-annual feedback sessions with CI staff that enable insights to desired operational improvements - compile effective analysis based on feedback and propose solutions.
• Support management of and engagement with staff working on CIs, including via development of best practice sharing materials and coordination of quarterly meetings, including proposing agendas for learning and development discussions.
• Conduct annual Outcomes and Impacts analysis based on feedback from the CI teams, which contributes to BSR's broader reporting on Outcomes and Impacts. 
• Conduct research on collaboration models and collaboration as a medium for delivering BSR's mission of a just and sustainable world. Compile research and analysis that supports work on the strategic evolution of BSR's collaboration agenda.
• Coordinate with the CI Portfolio Communications Associate to regularly review and suggest updates for BSR website content on CIs as needed (homepage, events, articles, reports, etc.)
• Develop and monitor key performance indicators, including budget expenses, on CI-related operations work. 

Support overall BSR Operations Strategy 

• Support for internal operational improvement projects as defined by the annual BSR Operations Strategy. Illustrative initiatives include: contractor database management, performance metrics reporting, project pipeline management. 
• Provide Salesforce system administration support and collaborate within the BSR Global Operations team to continuously improve process integration with Salesforce and other operating systems. 

Qualifications 

• 2+ years of administration, operations and events planning experience with a company, nonprofit, or global organization.
• A minimum of a bachelor degree. 
• Experience administering multi-company / multi-stakeholder initiatives a plus.
• Experience working with key operational tools such as Salesforce.
• Experience supporting the design, development and delivery of internal training programs a plus.
• Experience collecting and interpreting performance data and making recommendations based on findings.
• Knowledge and experience related to business processes such as staffing, contracts management, performance management, change management, etc.
• Facilitation and people skills, including a demonstrated ability to work with other team members to achieve an objective.
• Knowledge of and experience working on issues related to sustainability/corporate social responsibility preferred.
• Excellent English-language written and verbal communication and editing skills.
• Strong/fluent skills in 2nd language an advantage.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented. 
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint. 
• Capacity to work and thrive in a growing, fast-paced entrepreneurial organization with a collaborative environment.
• High ethical standards and commitment to BSR core values of leadership, respect, and integrity. 

~ BSR is committed to developing an inclusive work environment where diversity of thought, style, culture and skill and is valued in support of individual performance and potential, as well as our business goals and mission. ~