RSPO Vacancies 2018

RSPO is a not-for-profit, membership-based organization that develops and implements global standards for sustainable palm oil, with a Vision to “transform markets to make sustainable palm oil the norm”. With Africa being a frontier for oil palm expansion, and an emerging market for palm oil, the RSPO seeks to build an Africa-based team that advances the Vision of the RSPO in the region.

Job Description

Job Title: Assistant Manager Technical

JOB STATEMENT

The incumbent will provide on-going support to the Technical Manager in Africa in areas of technical matters, smallholder strategy, supply chain & membership as well as assisting in carrying out relevant outreach activities.

 FUNCTIONAL TASKS

·         Assist to provide support to RSPO’s constituents (especially those in Francophone areas) in the region on technical issues pertaining to RSPO Standards and Certification, both on the RSPO Principles & Criteria (P&C) and supply chain certification.

·         Support and keep track of technical developments related to the RSPO Principle & Criteria (P&C) and supply chain certification in Africa.

·         Provide support for RSPO members seeking certification as well as accredited certification bodies seeking advice in the conduct of certifications.

·         Monitor RSPO member progress towards fulfilling the RSPO’s objectives through frequent progress reporting updates.

·         Assist in the facilitation of RSPO’s awareness activities for stakeholders, as well as handle enquiries from stakeholders in Africa.

·         Contribute in the preparation of draft policies and proposals developed in terms of scope, budget, policy.

·         Assist in project management support to working groups in the form of logistics coordination and secretarial services as well as ensure periodic updates across all projects to multiple stakeholders.

·         Implement and/or monitor technical projects in Africa.

·         Maintain close rapport with service providers to ensure timeline and deliveries are met.

·         Communicate and engage with relevant stakeholders, including companies, government institutions, NGOs, and smallholders in coordination with the Outreach & Engagement Department.

·         Support and/or organize RSPO events that relate to the standard and certification process, including any trainings on the specific RSPO P&C and certification requirements.

·         Ensure development and maintenance of an easily accessible knowledge base on the RSPO standard and its associated requirements (i.e. HCV, compensation mechanism, New Planting Procedures, certification, etc.) for Africa.

·         Support with English-French translation of documents and communications.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCES & SKILLS

Education:

Minimum of a Bachelors Degree in Natural Resources Management, Environmental Science/Environmental Management, Agriculture, Forestry or related field.

Technical Knowledge & Experience:

• A minimum of 3 years working experience with the palm oil industry.
• Extensive knowledge of the palm oil sector/industry in Africa.
• A minimum of 3 years experience in implementing agro-commodity certification schemes. Demonstrable experience and knowledge in RSPO implementation is an added advantage. 

Essential skills:

• Technical proficiency in French and English.
• Proven training, stakeholder engagement, facilitation, and presentation skills.
• Knowledge in data gathering and analyses
• Proficiency in MS Office applications (Excel, Word, Powerpoint)
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.

How to Apply

Qualified applicants are invited to send their updated CV (in English) and a cover letter (in French), giving comprehensive details of relevant qualifications, experiences and skills to [email protected]