Closing Date:

Jan 15, 2018

Salary:

Competitive

How to Apply:

Please send your application (1-page letter and 2-page CV, including references) in English to

application@sustainabilityworks.eu before 15 January 2018 mentioning Program Officer Assurance, Côte

d’Ivoire in the subject line. Interviews are foreseen early February 2018.

If you have questions about this position please send them to siriki.diakite@utz.org with copy to the above email

address. For more information about UTZ, visit www.utz.org.

Job Description:

UTZ is a label and program for sustainable farming worldwide. Our mission is to make sustainable farming the norm. Sustainable farming helps farmers, workers and their families, to take better care of their environment and future generation.

UTZ is one of the largest programs for responsibly produced coffee, tea, and cocoa in the world, working across all continents with leading brands and retailers, such as Sara Lee, Mars, Nestlé, Heinz, Ahold and IKEA. UTZ’s field support network, standards and certification services, and traceability system enable markets to reward good practices.

In order to safeguard the integrity, consistency and credibility of UTZ’ high standards in Côte d’Ivoire, the Program Officer Assurance (POA) will assess performance and monitor compliance to assurance procedures and protocols. The POA will be part of the Africa regional team.

The POA works in close collaboration with the Regional Representative for West Africa as well as with the Amsterdam office, particularly with the UTZ Standards & Assurance department and its Global Assurance team. S/he reports hierarchically to the Regional Representative for West Africa and functionally to the Global Assurance team. S/He will be based in UTZ Abidjan Office with frequent domestic travel, plus occasional travel in the region and to Amsterdam.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

 Co-develops and implements a regional monitoring program on UTZ certification in alignment with the Global Assurance team and embed it in the UTZ program to protect UTZ codes and certification protocols,

 Facilitates, organizes and conducts shadow/parallel audits of UTZ certification bodies, producer organizations and supply chain actors and supports training of auditors on auditing procedures,

 Monitors the quality and effectiveness of the assurance procedures and processes and reports deviations to the Regional Representative and the Global Assurance team.

 Provides input for the development, implementation and execution of UTZ certification procedures and processes,

 Identifies assurance needs and aligns these with the Global Assurance team,

 Provides input to proposals for improvement of processes and/or procedures, tools and innovations relating to assurance and auditing procedures,

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS:

 Master’s degree (at least BAC+04 years) agronomy/rural development/sociology or environmental science or economy, other relevant qualifications may be considered

 Lead auditor course / proven auditing expertise and skills

 A minimum of 5 years in sustainability quality management in an agricultural multi-stakeholder context, preferably in the cocoa sector in Côte d’Ivoire

 Ability to support and facilitate training sessions

 Strong, independent balanced personality, realistic and integer.

 Fluent in French, able to communicate in English (written, verbal)

 Willingness to work and travel independently, spend significant time in the rural areas

WHAT WE OFFER:

Employment is based upon a 40 hours/week, and a one-year contract with an option to extend. UTZ provides a dynamic and international working environment with an entrepreneurial and innovative approach. UTZ is an equal opportunity employer. Starting date of the assignment is foreseen as soon as possible.

Programme Officer Assurance – based in Côte d’Ivoire

Vacancy

ABOUT US:

UTZ is committed to create a better, more sustainable world. We are the largest program for coffee and cocoa

and have certification schemes in other commodities including (herbal) tea, rooibos and hazelnuts. The UTZ

certified label features on over 20,000 different products across 135 countries. Companies such as Ikea, Jacobs

Douwe Egberts, Lavazza, Tchibo, Ferrero and many others have already recognized that, by sourcing UTZ

certified products, they can build the trust of their customers while supporting a better world.

UTZ is a global organization with offices in Amsterdam and around the world. UTZ works closely with its

partner networks in Africa, Asia and Latin America. UTZ and Rainforest Alliance have announced the intention

to merge in January 2018.