ISEAL Alliance

UTZ CERTIFIED is looking for a team member: Field Coordinator Asia. You define and coordinate critical processes and you monitor output agreements with partners. Recognizing the interests of all stakeholders you are a pragmatic, credible and inspiring ambassador.

Deadline for Applications: 3 Apr 2011

Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands

full vacancy announcement

Do you want to be involved in the international dynamics of sustainability, where ideals and pragmatism meet?

UTZ CERTIFIED is one of the largest sustainability programs for coffee, tea and cocoa in the world. Brands which have committed to buying UTZ CERTIFIED products are worldwide market leaders who buy their raw materials in large volumes. Sara Lee, Heinz, MARS and IKEA are, amongst many others, UTZ CERTIFIED partners.

The UTZ CERTIFIED label stands for an improved position of farmers on the market because they have been trained in improving agricultural and business practices which leads to a better quality product, higher productivity and a more efficient use of means. Environmental and social aspects are also equally addressed within the UTZ CERTIFIED sustainability program. This way, farmers become more professional which enables them to negotiate a better price for a better product.

Coffee beans, cocoa beans and tea leaves travel a long road from farm to cup. UTZ CERTIFIED has a unique online traceability system which can trace products back through the production chain, creating traceability and transparency. Through the traceability system UTZ can safeguard that products have been sustainably sourced, giving brands and consumers the assurance they need.

Since its foundation in 2002, UTZ CERTIFIED has developed into a multi-commodity program for coffee, cocoa, tea and palm oil with the ambition to expand into other products in the coming years. UTZ CERTIFIED is headquartered in Amsterdam with representatives in the US, Japan and Switzerland, and works closely with its partner network in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The Field Development department is looking for a

Field Coordinator Asia

UTZ CERTIFIED works together with major stakeholders from industry, government and civil society towards more sustainability in coffee, cocoa and tea. Producer groups in various countries have achieved UTZ certification. For example, Mars has committed to buying 100,000 tons of UTZ cocoa in 2020. You work on the up scaling of UTZ certification with international and local partners and UTZ colleagues, in particular our partner Solidaridad and the UTZ certification and traceability departments. You define and coordinate critical processes and you monitor output agreements with partners. Recognizing the interests of all stakeholders you are a pragmatic, credible and inspiring ambassador. You have the following responsibilities:

• Be the liaison for implementation partners in Asia (Vietnam, Indonesia, India, China, Sri Lanka)
• Together with local counterparts, broaden the implementation capacity for UTZ certification in the field
• Guard the credibility and market linkage of UTZ activities in producing countries
• Advocacy of the UTZ CERTIFIED programs with local stakeholders
• Organize relevant trainings and events in origin countries together with local partners and the UTZ certification and traceability departments.
• Fundraising, planning and reporting activities
• Additionally, members of the Field Development team will each take the lead on some global activities and themes, such as e-learning or agricultural productivity.

The field coordinator Asia reports to the Field Development Manager.

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS:

• Experience in commodity supply chains, understanding of the various actors and interests in market dynamics
• Experience in designing, supervising and evaluating strategies in an international (development) context
• Knowledge of sustainability and rural development. Knowledge of agriculture is a plus.
• Credible ambassador, communicative, connector with intercultural skills
• Work experience in Asia, or another non-Western region
• Self-starter and strong initiator within a group
• Strong communicator, verbal and written
• Fluency in verbal and written English. Command of additional relevant languages, such as Bahasa Indonesia, is a plus
• Master´s degree in development economics, agronomy, environmental science, or related
• Minimum 5 years of work experience, minimum 3 years in a related field

UTZ CERTIFIED provides a dynamic and international working environment with an entrepreneurial and innovative approach. Employment is based upon 40 hours/week. The position is based in Amsterdam and implies regular travel to origin countries. We can only consider candidates who have a work & residency permit for the Netherlands/EU.

This is your opportunity to create real value for a meaningful global sustainability initiative!

How to apply
Please send your application to thamar [dot] zijlstra [at] duurzaamheidwerkt [dot] nl before April 3 2011, mentioning Field Coordinator Asia in the subject line. Interviews will start in week 16. For more information about this position please contact Thamar Zijlstra: +31 (0) 6 41 89 98 46.

More information about UTZ CERTIFIED Good Inside: www.utzcertified.org.