ISEAL Alliance

The Fairtrade Foundation is seeking to recruit additional Product Certification Officers to be responsible for the product certification process for one or more specific product categories, including certification of new products and assessment of continued compliance for existing licensees and registered operators.

Deadline for Applications: 13 Sep 2010

Location: London, United Kingdom

Full Vacancy Announcement

The Fairtrade Foundation is a passionate and ambitious global development organisation committed to tackling poverty and injustice through trade. We are best known as the independent, not-for-profit body behind the FAIRTRADE Mark, a product label assuring consumers that their purchase helps disadvantaged farmers and workers in developing countries secure a better deal.

We are seeking to recruit additional Product Certification Officers to be responsible for the product certification process for one or more specific product categories, including certification of new products and assessment of continued compliance for existing licensees and registered operators.  The roleholders will be responsible for maintaining and developing excellent relationships with licensees and registered operators, providing high standards of customer service.  They will support licensees and registered operators through the Foundation’s certification processes, ensuring their full understanding of Fairtrade Standards and certification requirements; make decisions on product approval; and maintain accurate information in relation to certification and sales data from licensees.

You will need experience of working in a certification/audit/inspection or related role, together with knowledge of systems- and procedures-based working.  The ability to understand complex issues and to analyse information and data is essential, as are excellent problem-solving skills and a high standard of literacy and numeracy.  You will also need good working knowledge of MS Office; the ability to provide high levels of customer service; excellent interpersonal skills; and the ability to display discretion and respect for confidentiality.  Experience of working in a product certification scheme is desirable.

This is a really exciting time to become part of one of the fastest growing social enterprises in the UK enabling increasing numbers of producers to build sustainable businesses in the developing world. If you’re used to working creatively and want to be part of our exciting, rapidly expanding world, then this could be the job for you.

The Fairtrade Foundation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community

Closing date: Monday 13 September 2010 (10am at the latest).

Late applications will not be accepted.

First round interviews will be held on Monday 27 September 2010

Second round interviews will be held on Friday 8 October 2010.

To download an application pack (CVs will not be accepted), please visit the jobs page at www.fairtrade.org.uk, e-mail jobs [at] fairtrade [dot] org [dot] uk or write to:  Human Resources Officer, The Fairtrade Foundation, 3rd Floor, IBEX House, 42-47 Minories, London. EC3N 1DY

Salary:            £25,825 per annum at first scale point (pay award pending)

Please state ‘Product Certification Officers’ in the subject line of any email correspondence.