Fairtrade Africa (FTA)
We Are Hiring: Standards and Certification Officer
We Are Hiring: Standards and Certification Officer
Fairtrade Africa (FTA) is the
umbrella network organization representing Fairtrade certified producers and
workers in Africa. It has four (4) regional networks – Eastern Africa; Southern
Africa; West Africa; and Middle East and North Africa.
Established in 2005, FTA aims to
effectively represent producers and workers within the International Fairtrade
System and provide services to them that contribute to the improvement of their
livelihoods. The FTA Board directs policy and strategic development of the
organization.
FTA Secretariat is located in Nairobi
where the operations are in the hands of the FTA Senior Leadership Team
(FTA-SLT). In enabling the members to have a strong voice in the governance,
strategy and the overall direction of the Fairtrade movement in Africa, the
FTA-SLT has the responsibility for directing and managing all FTA resources
including employees. The FTA-SLT has the overall responsibility of strategy
development and operational implementation.
Fairtrade Africa Purpose: To improve the socio-economic conditions of African
producers through increased access to better trading conditions.
About the Job: To contribute to the development and management of standards, in
particular of Fairtrade Minimum Prices and Premium and related standard setting
methodologies; and to ensure Fairtrade certification benefits African producers
through continuous analysis and feedback on certification decisions.
Team: Programmes
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Reporting Lines:
·
Post holder reports to: Social
Compliance &Risk Manager
·
Staff reporting to this post: None –
in coordination but working in collaboration with regional managers and
volunteers-from time to time.
Budget Responsibility: Yes
Duties & Responsibilities
Specific Tasks
Main functions
·
Management of projects to develop and
revise FLO’s Fairtrade Minimum Prices and Premium.
·
Supporting and developing
methodological improvements to FLO’s price setting processes.
·
Support training and communication on
FLO’s prices and price setting to FTA producer members
·
Follow through certification
decisions to maintain producers in the system
Main roles and responsibilities
·
Contribute to drafting, updating,
editing and translating generic and product specific standards (pricing
sections) and FT minimum prices and premium, both for products for which
Fairtrade standards exist and for new products; consulting with the Fairtrade
certification organization and with Fairtrade stakeholders, other organizations
and persons as appropriate;
·
Design of standard setting projects,
preparation of the necessary papers (progress and final reports) to the
Standards Committee and/or the Standards Director for decision making on
standards. If applicable design of such projects by tendering of those
projects, selection of consultants, guiding the consultant during the project
and final endorsement of the consultant’s report;
·
Comparative analysis of Fairtrade
standards and other standards (pricing parts), and contribute to defining
relationships between these;
·
Contribute to the development and
improvement of standards methodologies in pricing for Fairtrade labelling;
·
Contribute to discussions on
standards and policies of labelled Fairtrade, in particular within the
framework of the Standards Committee;
·
Ensure the updating of standards in
all of FLO’s information and communication;
·
Contribute to execution of general
(office) tasks related to work in standards and policies as they come up;
·
To collaborate with FLO, FLO-CERT and
LIs as necessary for the purpose of consistency in certification decisions;
·
Feedback certification decisions and
analysis into FT policy and standards development process
·
Support FTA members to remains
certified and to appeal certification decisions, where applicable
·
An organised, methodical approach to
work and ability to juggle competing priorities to tight deadline
Skills & Experience Required
Required
·
Educational background in
Agricultural science, Agricultural (economics) or development studies
·
Minimum 3 years relevant professional
experience
·
Professional experience with project
management and outsourcing of projects to consultants
·
Excellent communication skills both
in writing and verbally and analytical capacity to make complex issues easily
understandable
·
Advanced knowledge of smallholder and
workers social and economic conditions in developing countries
·
Excellent knowledge and understanding
of voluntary certification schemes
·
Strong motivation for Fairtrade and
its standard setting and guaranteeing system
·
Languages: Fluency in English,
working knowledge in French would be preferred
·
Professional experience of work in
international development, particularly small business development
·
Professional experience of work in
the not-for-profit sector
·
Experience in working with people
from different cultures and backgrounds
·
Ability to work with standard
operating procedures and fixed Fairtrade principles
Desired:
·
Post-graduate qualification in a
relevant discipline (environmental conservation, Standards and Certification,
sustainable development or a related field);
·
Expertise in sustainability
challenges in international supply chains, certification and labeling, ethical
standards and standards setting processes
·
Good knowledge of agricultural
markets, smallholder production systems and social standard system
Skills:
·
Excellent computer and good
organizational skills;
·
Effectively work as a team member and
independently, with a high-level of self-motivation and ability to set and meet
goals;
·
Poses strong research and analysis
skills, with exceptional attention to detail;
·
Pleasant, diplomatic manner and
disposition in interacting with colleagues and the general public;
Competencies:
The following are core competencies
required for the role:
·
Delivering results – Ability to
deliver high quality measurable results whilst at the same time maintaining or
even raising quality of work;
·
Passionate Commitment –Speaking confidently
and knowledgably about FTA and the work we do;
·
Knowledge management – working in a
way that promotes, information and knowledge sharing to the team and our
broader network
·
Embracing Change- This competency is
about showing are flexible and responsive to changing needs. It’s about solving
problems as they arise and welcoming new ways of doings things.
We Are Hiring: Finance and Administration Director
About Us: Fairtrade
Africa (FTA) is the umbrella network organization representing Fairtrade
certified producers and workers in Africa. It has four (4) regional networks –
Eastern Africa; Southern Africa; West Africa; and Middle East and North Africa.
Established
in 2005, FTA aims to effectively represent producers and workers within the
International Fairtrade System and provide services to them that contribute to
the improvement of their livelihoods. The FTA Board directs policy and
strategic development of the organization.
FTA
Secretariat is located in Nairobi where the operations are in the hands of the
FTA Senior Leadership Team (FTA-SLT). In enabling the members to have a strong
voice in the governance, strategy and the overall direction of the Fairtrade
movement in Africa, the FTA-SLT has the responsibility for directing and
managing all FTA resources including employees.
The
FTA-SLT has the overall responsibility of strategy development and operational
implementation. The Finance and Administration Director (FAD) is expected to be
an active member of this team.
FairTrade Africa Purpose: To improve the socio-economic conditions of African
producers through increased access to better trading conditions.
About the Job
The
Finance and Administration Director will be a strategic thought-partner who
oversees the Financial, IT, human resources and administrative management of
FTA. The incumbent will lead the business and drive the company’s financial,
human resource and IT strategy, planning and performance as well as mitigate
possible risks to FTA.
Team: Senior
Leadership Team
Location: Nairobi,
Kenya
Reporting Lines:
·
Post holder reports to: Executive
Director
·
Staff reporting to this post: Finance
Manager, HR & Admin Manager, IT Officer
Scale Level: Director
Budget Responsibility: Yes
Duties & Responsibilities
The
Finance and Administration Director will be a strategic thought-partner who
oversees the Financial, IT, human resources and administrative management of
FTA. Ensure, at all times, the availability of financial resources necessary to
meet the strategic objectives and the organization’s financial stability and
sustainability.
This
position requires the demonstrated ability to develop long term vision and
strategic planning, provide leadership for the organization’s operations, and a
high level of financial and operation planning including capacity building of
staff.
Specifically
a.
To manage, deliver and report on FTA’s current operations programmer support
through a network of regional support.
b.
To establish a high performing operations team. Lead, mentor, coach and develop
the team
c.
To work as part of FTA’s Senior Leadership Team (SLT), refining, developing and
improving operational approaches, compliance and systems, supporting the
Executive Director to build and deliver the most effective and sustainable
development interventions
d.
Support the ED in the consolidation of Board papers and liaison with Board
Committees
Key Responsibilities
A. Financial Management
·
Ensure good planning and budgeting at
continental and regional levels and compliance to FTA and Donor standards and
procedures. Develop strategies and tools to effectively manage, oversee and
report on FTA’s annual budgets, actuals and variance for statutory accounting
as well as management reporting.
·
Develop and issue of budget controls
and guidelines as per board instructions and financial policy.
·
Oversee the activities of Regional
Operation Managers and ensure appropriate policies and practices are
implemented.
·
Ensure compliance of the regional
programmes, with all FTA and donors’ policies and procedures for financial,
grant and asset management.
·
Ensure that FTA meets due diligence
requirements with regard to development of appropriate policies as well as
enforcement of policies with all staff and members of the board of FTA
·
Manage organizational cash flow and
forecasting.
·
Develop strong Internal Control
Systems for FTA and ensure its implementation in all FTA’s offices across
Africa. Manage the organizations risk by ensuring all relevant policies and
procedures are implemented effectively across all operations and programs
·
Drive the financial planning of the
organization by analyzing its performance and risks. Analyze the financial
climate and trends to assist Senior Management in making current relevant
decisions and creating strategic plans for the future.
·
Advise the Executive Director and the
Board on the best investment vehicles for the reserve funds and excess cash
flow.
·
Manage the annual audit process and
internal audits for FTA ensuring that audit recommendations are followed
through. Oversee the audit of consolidated
financial statements and completion of the audit report to be performed by an external Audit Company, support the ED in the implementation of recommendations from the auditor’s report.
financial statements and completion of the audit report to be performed by an external Audit Company, support the ED in the implementation of recommendations from the auditor’s report.
·
Ensure agreed standards and
indicators are being met across regions, monitor financial input at regional
level is to organizational and donor standards, Compliance check of regional
financial activity to internal and external standards, Set and monitor regional
policies, procedures of financial management,
·
Direct the day-to-day accounting operations
including oversight of accounts payable and receivable, and maintenance of the
general ledger. Ensure that all of the organization’s financial practices are
in line with statutory regulations and legislation.
·
Oversee the preparation of financial
l reports to internal and external stakeholders, including donor reports and
taking corrective measures in alignment with ED and Senior Management team.
·
Quality check of project proposals
and reports (internal and external.
·
Provide procurement and logistics
support to regional programmes and ensure effective procurement processes are
adhered to.
·
Remain up-to-date on best practices
in non-profit finance, business systems and internal control measures, and laws
regarding non-profit operations.
B. ICT Management
·
Oversee the management of the IT
environment (Hardware and Software) systems’ ensuring availability of services
and fit for purpose
·
Develop IT strategy for the
organization and disaster management plan
·
Give oversight on server back up and
maintenance of all FTA’s equipment and make recommendation to the management on
items that needs to be disposed or replaced.
C. HR & Administration
·
Ensure continental and regional level
structure and human resources to deliver organizational strategy and plans
·
Ensure implementation of HR policies
and procedures at continental and regional level.
·
Ensure consistency and legal
compliance of country and regional staff terms and conditions and remuneration
packages,
·
Ensure regional and country
compliance to FTA’s policies and procedures (contextualize where necessary) for
all support functions
·
Oversee human resource management
activities including strategic workforce planning, recruitment, employee
on-boarding, employee off boarding, resourcing, performance management, reward
and recognition, in line with FTA policies and procedures
·
Oversee the operational performance
of human resource development activities and the creation of a culture that
encourages strategic thinking and aligns to the needs of the FTA
·
Manage the administrative functions
as well as facilities to ensure efficient and consistent operations at FTA
Skills & Experience Required
Required
·
A Master of Commerce, Business
Administration or equivalent
·
A professional qualification in
Accounting e.g. CPA (K), ACCA or equivalent qualification
·
Over at least 8 years professional
experience in a not for profit international organization at a senior level
with team leadership responsibilities
·
Strong operational management
experience and capability (finance, people, IT, logistics and admin), including
geographical remote management
·
Expertise in IT based accounting,
budget monitoring and reporting systems including systems implementation.
·
Expert computer skills, including
Office, with advanced proficiency in Excel.
·
Excel in computer skills (Excel,
Word, Finance systems i.e.)
·
Proven experience in financial
management, formulating and evaluating business plans, budgets and finance
policies and procedures
·
Experience working with donors and
reporting requirements. (EU, DFID, USAID, OXFAM, COMIC RELIEF, CECED, etc.)
Desired:
·
Diploma/higher in Human Resource
Management or equivalent
·
Working knowledge of Hansa World
·
Working knowledge of French
Skills:
·
Excellent communication,
interpersonal and influencing skills. Well-developed ability to motivate and
persuade at high levels
·
Proven ability to lead and work
effectively with others to achieve results
·
Excellent analytical and critical
thinking ability
·
Organization
·
Superior written and verbal
communications skills
How to Apply
CLICK HERE to
download our job application form (CVs will not be accepted).
Completed
applications should be saved in the applicant’s name, and the position Finance
and Administration Director.
All
applicants should state how they meet essential requirements of the post and
include their email address, telephone contacts and three referees with contact
details on the application form and email to recruitments@fairtradeafrica.net.
If you have any queries, please call +254202721930 and ask to speak to a member
of the HR team.
Qualified
applicants will be subjected to background checks as condition of employment.
Application Deadline: 17 March 2019
Notes: This job
description is intended as a guide and should not be viewed as an inflexible
specification as it may be varied from time to time in the light of strategic
developments following discussion with the post holder. The post holder will be
expected to work to agreed objectives, which should facilitate achievements of
the key responsibilities in accordance with the Performance Review Process.