ISEAL Alliance

The Producer Services and Relations (PSR) department at FLO is currently looking for a Regional Operations Consultant to oversee the translation of PSR strategy to the sub-region of India.

Deadline for Applications: 20 Aug 2010

Location: Bangalore, India

Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International eV (FLO eV) unites the producer-, market- and business-facing activities within the Fairtrade Labelling system. FLO eV develops the Fairtrade Standards; promotes the empowerment of Fairtrade certified producers by supporting them in gaining and maintaining Fairtrade Certification and capitalizing on market opportunities; and facilitates global Fairtrade markets, to optimize benefits for producers.

The Producer services and Relations (PSR) department at FLO is responsible for ensuring that Fairtrade Labelling delivers its agreed strategic objectives relating to improving the lives of disadvantaged and marginalised producers by:

• Translating the agreed Fairtrade Labelling strategy into robust and properly resourced operational plans (including clear objectives, outcomes and performance indicators) that enable development to happen through Fairtrade and maximize development impact
• Shaping and delivering a range of services and support programmes (such as technical, market and financial advice) that helps build the capacity of producers and assists them to enter and remain in Fairtrade
• Maintaining and seeking continual improvement in quality, transparency and accountability of all producer facing operations
• Identifying and developing opportunities for others to participate in the realisation of Fairtrade development objectives – particularly southern based
• Improving understanding of the organisation’s impact, both internally and externally, through monitoring and evaluation processes and feedback of such work into continual improvement programmes.

PSR is in the process of strengthening its operations in the sub-region comprised of India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Maldives. To support this initiative, PSR currently seeks to commission a:

Regional Operations Consultant – India Sub-Region

I. Terms of Reference

Overall aim of the consultancy

The Regional Operations Consultant – India sub-region will be responsible for overseeing the short term operations deliverables in the region and to oversee the translation of PSR strategy to the sub-region.

Principal roles and responsibilities:

• Coordinating the delivery of services done by local consultants known as Liaison Officers (LOs)
• Maintaining an overview of producer certification status and tracking progress on producer support
• Maintaining an overview of product availability in the region and of market opportunities for producers from the region
• Conducting research and analysis on key Standards and Strategy related projects
• Designing a collaborative strategy for the region together with the local producer network
• Proving information to interested traders and producers about Fairtrade and producer support

Expertise required by the contractor

Required:

• Fluency in English and in an Asian language (preferably a language relevant to the region of responsibility)
• Excellent communication, organizational, and analytical skills
• Working experience in the region, especially grassroots work with farmer organizations or workers
• Business development experience, supply chain expertise and/or development work experience (experience working with a combination of business and development is highly desired)
• Experience with one or more of the following: certification schemes, standards and standard setting

II. Terms of contract:

Consultancy contract for one year (160 days)

Starting date: as early as possible.

Contact person at FLO: Head of PSR Asia

Location for delivery of results. Consultant will be required to spend at least the first 2 months in Bonn getting acquainted with the system and meeting relevant team members and key stakeholders. Once this is achieved he /she will be based in Bangalore, India.

This is a local posting in the region and South Asian Nationals are strongly encouraged to apply. Foreigners should be advised that no visa support will be given for residence or work permits.

Tenders (CV, motivation letter and consultancy fee expectation) have to be submitted to: flo-psr [at] fairtrade [dot] net with the reference: Regional Operations Consultant, India

Incomplete tenders will not be considered.

Deadline for tenders: 20 August 2010

Only those tenders who will be invited for an interview will be contacted